I am having a great time quilting with my vintage sheets… but all of the trimming can lead to some waste.
To use as much fabric as possible I
- Tear 5″ strips from the sheets and pillowcases
- Square up the strips
- Cut the strips down into 5″ squares, also know as “charms”
- Cut the remainder into 2.5″ strips, to be sewn into 2″ 4-patch squares
- Cut the remainder into 1.5″ strips, also to be sewn into scrappy squares
Sometimes the pillowcases have a contrasting trim or the hem is uneven on a sheet which leaves me with some odd scraps of fabric. I take these strips of fabric and the scraps left from squaring up my strips and wrap them into balls to be crocheted into rugs.
Here’s a quick tutorial!
Collect your quilting scraps. Fabric selvedges work great, or scraps from squaring up strips. You could even use up a fabric you don’t like by cutting it into 1/2″ strips. The strips should be at least 1/2″ wide and less than 1″.
Overlap two strips by about 1″.
Fold the overlap section in half.
Make a small snip into the fold through all layers.
Unfold. Thread the end of the top piece through the slit made through both layers and pull through.
Pull tight for a neat knot with no scrappy tails.
Save the rag balls to be crocheted into rugs. I will be saving these scraps for a rug for my laundry room. I think the colors will go great with the 1930′s scheme I have there.
I will be sure to share a pattern, but if you cannot wait, use a size “K” crochet hook, chain the width of your desired rug, and double crochet to your heart’s content.
This tie method works great with t-shirt rags as well.
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