“Industry, perseverance, and frugality make fortune yield.”
~ Benjamin Franklin
One of the things I love to look for in thrift stores are lovely floral sheets (but of course you know that if you are a reader of this little blog ♥️). However, these repurposed projects can be prepared with any style pattern you love and is a fun and frugal way to add to your household linen supply. I shared a project with this twin sheet awhile back and now I'd like to share what was done with the remaining scraps of fabric.
First off, I'm thrilled with how I was able to make 12 new napkins without the use of a sewing machine! I’m in love with this “snip and rip” process. I call them “prairie” napkins ♥️ A step-by step tutorial is shared HERE if you are interested!
I was also able to make up some "prairie style" tea-towels!
I know these projects may seem unnecessary when you can purchase and use the plain flour sack towels... But I believe in the benefits of cultivating beauty in the home on the smallest scale and using the brain endowed by the Almighty for creative pursuits (even of the simplest kind). There must be something therapeutic when you mimic the master Creator and become a designer as well. It is also quite rewarding to do these types of projects with frugality in mind — using the scraps of what you have around you to transform and renew.
To make the set of 12 dinner napkins, it was necessary to tear off all four corners of my thrifted sheet. I then used those edges to embellish the hem of these flour sack towels. Being the edges of the sheet were hemmed on one side, all I had to do was hem the ripped edge and sew onto the border of the flour sack towel for an easy cottage style tea-towel.
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“The ordinary arts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul
than their simplicity might suggest."
~ Thomas Moore
The third project is repurposing the leftover strips of the sheet into cottage-style ribbon.
This is such an easy and fun way to use up the last of your scraps of anything really. Simply snip the fabric and tear it into strips. Pull off any stray pieces of thread and iron it nice and pretty before folding it up or storing it on a spool. This sweet ribbon will decorate gifts, tie up bundles around the house or be used in any way you can dream up!
Obviously you make these to taste. A calico fabric or sheet would make homespun ribbon. A geometric sheet or fabric would make a modern ribbon. A larger floral print would make a romantic one.
I'll also admit to splurging on some wooden spools to give this project a little special boost (and make them a bit more gift-able).
This is the last project made with this sweet thrifted twin sheet. Jar covers! All you need are some squares and/or circles cut to the proper size of the jar and you have a darling final use of all that fabric! These can be used for home-canned foods or fermenting projects such as kombucha, sourdough starter, etc.
“I just try to look on the bright side of things; that helps one amazingly. Why, you’ve no idea how much goodness and sunshine you can get out of the most unpromising things, if you make the best of them.”
~ Louisa May Alcott, An Old-Fashioned Girl
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It kind of amazes me at how much goodness was created from one twin sheet! Imagine what you can do with a larger size. To make a dozen dinner napkins, embellished tea towels, homemade ribbon and jar covers from one piece of fabric (which all cost less than a few dollars) makes me quite happy! Do any of these ideas interest you? Do tell!
Very cute ideas.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much ♥️♥️♥️
DeleteI love all of these projects, JES! I actually thought of them just this very day as I pulled a thrifted tablecloth out of the cupboard. I bought it years ago to repurpose the fabric as it doesn't fit any of my tables. Now I have a small garden table that I would like to make a cloth for and it will leave me with leftover fabric. I think it is so much more fun to dream up what to make with it than it would be to go out and buy everything new. There is such satisfaction and happiness in creative industry and thrift.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more Kelsey ♥️♥️♥️
DeleteI've really been needing some inspiration lately and you have certainly helped!!!! Thank you for posting this and all the beautiful ideas. I'm going to give each one a try - they would make lovely gifts. Mary S.
ReplyDeleteOh that makes my day Mary ♥️♥️♥️ Thank you for sharing!
DeleteGreat projects! I love the cottage ribbon idea!
ReplyDeleteThank you ♥️♥️♥️ that is such a fun and useful and EASY one too! ♥️
DeleteI love these cute ideas! They look like they might fit the bill for handcrafts for my girls this upcoming school year. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYes, these are things I would have done when homeschooling my daughter too ♥️ and I would have her put some away for the future in her hope chest ♥️
DeleteLovely projects, as always. Another way that I have used up leftover fabric is to use it to weave with. I just tear the sheet into thin strips, tie them together, and using a flea market table stand and a couple of cheap yardsticks, I created a loom. I would make rugs, mats, hangings, etc. And yes, when I start blogging again next year, I will do a post on how to do what I just described!
ReplyDeleteI ♥️ that idea! I can't wait to see the tutorial ♥️♥️♥️
DeleteMe thinks you have a knack for finding beauty. That's a charming print and I love that you cover the jar lids. I do that once in a while (for gifts) but don't ever seem to do it for my own pantry. It sure does add a note of extra care :-)
ReplyDeleteIt sure does! I do that to my smaller batches to make them extra special ♥️♥️♥️
DeleteThese are just delightful projects you've made! It is amazing how many wonderful things you have made with just a sheet! Knowing that it was a cheep sheet to makes it even more splendid!!! Thank you for sharing! Loved the ribbon...that was a great idea for the scraps.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jennifer! The ribbon is so fun to use also! ♥️
DeleteYou are so good at making things look perfect, JES!
ReplyDeleteYou are too sweet ♥️ It really is that these are easy to make ♥️
DeleteSuch lovely projects, simple, yet delightful. I have recently pulled two printed pillowcases out of circulation ( as I hung them on the line to dry last week I realised that one had a rip right through the middle!) so I might be trying one or two of these ideas. Another thing I sometimes do with cotton prints is to make beeswax wraps in sizes custom made to fit my dishes.
ReplyDeleteThat is a great idea!! I have been wanting to try that very thing ♥️
DeleteI love these projects that you made from a beautiful floral sheet. JES, your gift for taking simple things and seeing the lovely possibilities is inspiring. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYou are so welcome ♥️ thank you ♥️♥️♥️
DeleteBonjour , je vous écris de France et je souhaite vous exprimer toute ma gratitude et toute ma joie à la découverte de votre blog. Mon anglais n'est pas très bon , aussi j'utilise un traducteur pour lire vos précieux contenus. Je vous trouve merveilleusement inspirante et toute la paix et la douceur de vos écrits sont un véritable baume pour mon coeur. Merci infiniment!
ReplyDeleteSophia
♥️♥️♥️ Merci ♥️♥️♥️
DeleteOh my gosh. I love. I have two sets we had for a sleeper. I saved because I live them. One will make fun napkins. The other all of your ideas! So perfect. I will blog about and come by and give you my link! And give you credit! Glad to see you posting!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fun plan ♥️♥️♥️
DeleteSuch lovely creations from a thrifted sheet! I always look for sheets when I'm thrifting, but most often find solid ones. The little touches of beauty you've created inspire me. Thanks so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThank you Laurie... may you find a lovely printed sheet soon ♥️♥️♥️
DeleteLovely, Jes, and so useful as well as pretty. Unfortunately I never see pretty sheets in our local op-shops. I look, but to no avail. :-(
ReplyDeleteThat is really too bad as I know you would create AMAZING things with them!
DeleteHopefully soon ♥️
Well, we have a Father who hears, so I shall be praying. Thank you for ALL your wonderfully beautifully ideas!
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