Scraps, scraps ... and less scraps

When, a long time ago, I kept my sewing purely to dress making, I could easily get rid of small scraps of fabric.  That was such a long time ago.

Then, later, I also took up patchwork.  Now I can't get rid of the smallest of fabric - because it could be used in a quilt in some form of the other.

Lately, I've been cutting up those bits of fabric and cutting them up into 2", 3 1/2" and 5" squares and putting them aside to use in quilts.  I pinched this idea from the magazine "Quilt Your Stash" (great magazine).  This stash of bits and pieces was building up.  One of the things I'd like to work on in 2015 is reducing my fabric stash.  Making this ironing board cover  was an endeavour to work towards the reduction of fabric.

In my last post I had made a simple ironing board cover for my mini ironing board.  However, my regular sized ironing board was in need of some renovation.

Ah, my regular sized ironing board - my mother's from the 1950's, solid steel - hernia worthy.  I always made fun of this with mum, it's very heavy.  However, I long ago realised that when making evening dresses, that modern ironing boards did not meet the grade and tended to topple over with the weight.

When my wonderfully stylish mum (to the very end) passed away- here's a picture of mum in her hey day, I made the decision to hang onto the ironing board:

Ah, when I need to get it out I remember why I probably shouldn't have hung onto it.  We live in an apartment, so I have to continuously take it out and put it away; it's just one of those things that need to remain out all the time. Otherwise it's back breaking work.  So useful though for dressmaking, especially bulky items. So, it's here to stay.

I could have made my ironing board cover in an instant with one piece of fabric. No, I decided I would make it from my 3 1/2" scrap squares. Good thought when I began; "why did I do this?" thought whilst making it; "Great idea" I thought when I finished.  I'II never make one like this again. However, I feel it was worth doing for myself to have a cover with a difference.  I think us sewers are probably good at giving away our work, and sometimes not so good making household things for ourselves.

As I said the cover was made from 100% cotton scraps, so here it is:

The underside is an Ikea fabric, left over from curtains in one of our bedrooms:

All done now, am very happy with it.

Until next week, where I'II show you how one pattern can look so different with two different adjustments from my favourite magazine "Ottobre".  I didn't realise until I looked through my stash how much green fabric I've actually purchased - and it's not even my favourite colour!

I digress, I'II save this for next week.

Happy sewing everyone.

Sandra