DIY Fabric Headbands
Headbands are a stylish and practical way to use up long strips of fabric, and they’re ideal for both kids and adults. Our easy DIY headband tutorial and twisted headband version offer great step-by-step guidance for beginners. These small but satisfying sustainable sewing projects can be customised with bold prints or subtle florals, depending on your style, and are perfect for gifting or everyday wear.
Fabric Flowers for Décor or Gifts
Fabric flowers are a delightful way to turn even the tiniest remnants into something beautiful. You can use them as brooches, hair accessories, or summery home décor accents. They are a great way to use up scraps of material and all those odd buttons that seem to collect over time! Use the flowers to add a handmade charm to table settings and gift wrapping, or string them together to make a fabric flower garland.
Sew a Fabric Scrunchie
Turn your leftover fabric into scrunchies for a sustainable sewing project that’s fashionable as well as functional. This quick and easy make is ideal for beginners and only requires a 50cm strip of fabric plus elastic. Choose organic cotton or recycled fabric scraps and sustainable sewing thread to align with the goal of sewing sustainably, and enjoy creating colourful, reusable hair accessories that help to reduce material waste.
Create a DIY Fabric Bookmark
If you love books as much as you love crafting, a DIY fabric bookmark is a charming way to combine the two. These sustainable sewing projects are great for gifting and ideal for using up different fabric remnants in contrasting or clashing colours and patterns. Add a tassel or embroidered initials for a personal touch, and always opt for sustainable sewing thread to keep your projects as eco-friendly as possible.
Sew a Glasses Case
Protect your glasses or sunglasses with this DIY fabric glasses case. This works well with two contrasting fabrics but you can use complementing schemes if you prefer, or just stick to one type of fabric. For extra plushness, you can interline the case with leftover fabric lining to give a quilted effect. Be sure to customise the size so your glasses fit neatly and if you’re gifting your case you can add features like button closures or embroidered details.
Craft a Cord Keeper
Who hasn’t despaired of all the cables that seem to multiply around the home? Well, in under 20 minutes, you can tidy up your tech space with a handy cord keeper! This make is our simplest yet and is perfect for using up the tiniest of fabric scraps. We love this clever item for keeping earphones or charger cables neat and it’s ideal for travel. Add a popper or Velcro closure using sustainable sewing supplies, and enjoy one of the most practical sustainable sewing projects that’s great for reducing clutter and waste.
Fabricate a Fabric Doorstop
Stop your doors banging closed in the summer months with a decorative fabric doorstop. All you need are four fabric squares and a strip for the handle - these can be from the same remnant or use different materials to create a patchwork effect - and some sustainable sewing thread to stitch them all together. Choose a sustainable filling such as rice, beans, or lentils to add weight, making your doorstop functional as well as fabulous!
Beautiful Eco-Friendly Bunting
Brighten up a celebration or decorate your home and garden with charming fabric bunting. Use mismatched prints and colours for a cheerful, rustic look, or go for coordinated themes. This is one of our favourite sustainable sewing projects as it’s reusable, washable, and a perfect use for fabric offcuts. Plus, it's a wonderful way to teach kids about sustainable sewing supplies through fun, family-friendly crafting.
Tie A No Sew Fabric Wreath
This project coudn’t be easier for using up even the smallest of fabric scaps. It’s great for keeping young children entertained too as there is no sewing involved! Simply cut any leftover fabric into 15cm long strips, take a metal wreath frame and start tying the strips to the circular frame. Make sure there are no gaps - the more bunched up the fabric the better - and then trim off any long ends. You can do this to colour coordintae with a room, or to celebrate the different seasons, as we have done with this DIY autumn wreath made entirely from fabric scraps.
Personalise A Drawstring Bag
You can never have enough drawstring bags and this is a great make if you have slightly larger pieces of leftover fabric (around 50x55 cm). For a beautiful lined finish, choose two complementary patterns and stitch them together as shown in the video. Create a pocket to feed a ribbon or cord into, which will act as your drawstring and carry handle. And there you have it - a drawstring bag that’s tailored to your needs, whether that’s for home storage or simply for taking to the beach!
Ready to start sewing sustainably?
With our fun DIY projects, it couldn’t be easier to make good use of fabric scraps, even if you’re a beginner crafter. It’s the ideal way to keep your creativity flowing and your environmental impact low. If we’ve inspired you to take on other DIY projects, take a look at our full range of How To Guides to find your next project.
