Because Japanese kimonos are built out of rectangular pieces of fabric, there is very little waste. Western clothes, however, are odd shapes, curves and diagonal lines. That means there are piles of leftover scraps. Unless they are very tiny, I keep them. They are way too beautiful to throw out.
The downside? Lots and lots of scraps. I tried to use them up by piecing jackets and coats, but just couldn’t keep up. I needed some other solution.
A friend suggested scarves. An excellent idea! A great way to use up all the odd pieces that were way too small to make into anything else, but too precious to toss.
I gathered a group of scraps in complimentary colors and patterns, pieced them together and voila! A scarf! A new something for my customers. They fit everyone, added color and pizazz and, an added benefit, can keep you warm. And for me, they helped to use up my leftover bits and pieces.
Plus they’re fun to make and relatively quick to sew up. I was on a roll.
Up until very recently, every scarf had been a combination of different fabrics. They were odd bits and pieces from my scrap bins. Then a customer asked for a scarf to match a particular jacket she had bought.
I was happy to oblige. The original kimono had a traditional design with more flowers along the hem that grew smaller, opened up and spread out towards the top. The leftover pieces matched color-wise but had a wide variety of shapes and designs. Because the pieces ended up with parts cut off it added an abstracted feeling. I loved it! A very cool effect.
Formal kimonos are a perfect resource for this because they are more like a painting. There’s a lot of variety in just one kimono.
After I take it apart and recut it for one of my coats or jackets, I end up with quite a few leftover odd pieces. Although not enough for a jacket there is enough for a scarf.
These are still waiting for their final reincarnation,
But the scraps from this pretty jacket
ended up in this scarf. The fabrics are related to each other but have a totally different feel and look than the jacket.
How about this coat in purples,
compared to the scarf. The scraps are not only different shapes but also, and I love this about them, odd bits of the original design.
I posted a story about making this skirt a week or so ago,
No scraps discarded! They ended up in a couple of scarves, including this one. [by the way, the others have found their forever homes, but this one is still available in my shop.]
It’s really fun to take something that had a particular design, cut it up and rearrange it into something new. It’s like a puzzle. I have to figure out how to use these odd pieces and blend them together into something new. I’m not so good with crosswords or Wordle, but give me a pile of fabric scraps and I’m there.
That doesn’t mean that I won’t stop making scarves from a variety of colors and patterns, that’s fun too. That’s a different kind of puzzle.
Want a little more about making a scarf? We made a 30 second video of one from start to finish, check it out here.
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