From Fabric Scraps to Showstoppers:
Five creative ways to repurpose fabric strips
3. Custom Fabric Strips: Ready-to-Embellish Borders
I folded the raw edges of each strip inward to meet in the center, clipped them in place, and sewed down both sides for a clean finish. These double-folded strips can be embellished later with beads, buttons, or trims like gimp and lace.
Idea starter: Use them as handles for tote bags or edging on journal covers.
Creative Problem Solving Meets Textile Art
Today’s creative challenge? Turn narrow, leftover strips of upholstery fabric into something of lasting value. While these strips may seem limited by their length and width, they’re actually bursting with potential. I decided to treat them like raw inspiration—waiting to become finishing touches for projects not yet imagined.
Here are five inventive ways I gave these scraps new life—ideas you can adapt, personalize, and build upon for your own creative adventures:
1. DIY Fabric Buttons: Tiny Accents, Big Impact
By cutting the strips into circles and hand-stitching around the edges, I created fabric-covered buttons. I placed a plain button in the center and pulled the thread tight, gathering the fabric into a neat, tailored puff. These can be further embellished with glitter, lace, or beads—and used either gathered side up or down for two distinct looks.
Uses: Great for jackets, tote bags, art dolls, or even hair accessories.
2. Textured Surfaces: Add Dimensional Detail
Using a simple basting stitch (by hand or machine), I stitched abstract patterns into the fabric, leaving long thread tails. When pulled, these threads gather the fabric, forming a richly textured surface. This effect adds instant dimension and tactile charm to anything—from pocket flaps to layered textile art.
Pro tip: Contrasting thread creates a dramatic stitched effect.
4. Woven Patches: Mini Masterpieces in the Making
For a more artistic twist, I took coordinating fabric strips and wove them together into little patchwork panels. These can be cut into various shapes and sizes, creating dynamic surfaces to sew onto bags, garments, or mixed media canvases.
Creative bonus: The patchwork can become the entire focal point of your piece.
5. Ruffled Trim: Salvage with Style
Some strips had one finished edge—perfect for turning into ruffled trim. By gathering the fabric into loose pleats and stitching it in place, I made lengths of soft, textural fringe that are as useful as they are pretty.
Style tip: Ruffled trim adds elegance to doll skirts, pillows, or cuffs.
Why This Matters:
This kind of creative reuse isn't just fun—it’s sustainable, cost-effective, and deeply satisfying. Instead of discarding fabric remnants, I now see them as creative gold. Whether you’re a seasoned textile artist or a curious beginner, exploring embellishments like these opens up new possibilities—and saves beautiful fabric from the landfill.
Let’s Keep Creating Together!
If you're as excited by fabric transformation as I am, sign up for my newsletter where I share creative challenges, behind-the-scenes process videos, and one-of-a-kind art drops.
💌 Join the journey. Create with joy. Waste nothing.
We need your consent to load the translations
We use a third-party service to translate the website content that may collect data about your activity. Please review the details in the privacy policy and accept the service to view the translations.