Scrap Fabric Project Ideas for Children's Bedrooms
Using recycled, repurposed and remnant fabric is a key part of what I do here at Studio Brûle. All the quilts are made using these types of textiles in order to create in the most sustainable way possible. While handmade quilts may be my main focus, I’m always looking for ways to use up the smaller scraps that can’t fit somewhere into a full piece, especially when it comes to fun things to decorate my son's room with.
Here are a few projects I’ve done over the years that might inspire you to do the same!
Scrap Fabric Name Banner
A custom piece for my son’s 1st birthday that now hangs on his bedroom door. I add an embroidered symbol every year to represent the year just passed.
Quilt Made With Scrap Fabric Pieces
My first ever quilt, made for my son while I was pregnant. All the block pieces come from previous projects and some of them are truly tiny! But, little by little, they all came together for a perfect quilt for my tiny guy. Even the batting is scrap in this one - it’s made up of an old dressing gown and some t-shirts!
Quilted Hot Water Bottle Cover
A last minute gift for my sister-in-law made using scraps and a free pattern from the wonderful fabric store Merchant & Mills. It would totally make a lovely cosy addition to any children's room too on a winter's night.
It was such a hit that it actually got featured on Merchant and Mills' Instagram and newsletter, and now it’s even on the product page itself to serve as inspiration to other makers. As a long term fan of their special fabrics, it was a very proud moment for me, I must say.
Scrap Fabric Initial Letter
A sweet little gift for my niece, Sienna. This is an easy one to do without a sewing machine and can even be stuffed with scraps to take things one step further. Small touches like this can be added anywhere in a child's bedroom for some extra fun and texture - on a bookcase, on a bed or even on the wall.
Cuddly Toy Made with Scrap Fabric
Speaking of using scraps as stuffing, this octopus cuddly toy is filled almost completely with tiny offcuts from other projects. The main fabric also came from my stash, so it was a very satisfying make to pull together without buying anything new. I used this free pattern from Pinterest to make it.
Scrap Fabric Board Game
This backgammon set definitely doesn’t get enough use in our house, but I love it nonetheless. It’s made using the bottom of a dress I was no longer wearing, some other small scraps and some stones collected from the beach. The best thing about it is that I was able to keep part of the dress pockets intact as a space to store the stones, as seen in the picture at the top of this article!
It's better for older kids due to the small parts, but it's a fun addition to a bedroom or play area.
Ottoman Pouf Filled with Scrap Fabric
Ending with the ultimate scrap fabric buster - the pouf! I’m sure most home sewists have made one of these in their time! It’s also perfect for old clothes, socks, tea towels etc. that have seen better days but don’t belong in landfill or charity shops. Functional and sustainable - what a win! I keep one in my son's room for him to sit on while he chooses a book, or for me to sit on at bed time.
If you like the look of a quilt but aren't so keen on undertaking the project yourself, I'd love to make one for you! Check out my shop to see what's in stock or get in touch to talk about a custom piece.