The 'Remnants' of a Simple Life

How many times have you taken a look at all of the bits and pieces left over from other projects, and wondered what in the world you are going to do with it? These are often called ‘Remnants’. But don’t toss them out. Instead, get creative – you’re only limited by your imagination in all the ways these can be used for other fun projects!

Transcript

How many times have you taken a look at all of the bits and pieces in your home, and wondered what in the world you are going to do with them? Most of it are leftovers from projects that have collected over time. And if you’re married to someone like the Country Boy, the reason it’s all piling up is because, as he says, ‘it’s all good stuff and will surely come in handy for something!’

I would love to tell you I’m married to a hoarder, but in reality, there is some serious wisdom behind his words. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve sifted through his junk piles only to find the exact thing we need to complete a project.  These junk piles also have come to our aid through bartering. He and his cronies often visit each other just to check out their junk piles. Inevitably, something is found that is needed, so the bartering and trading begins. 

My biggest…um…collection (yeah, I like that word better than ‘junk’) is stored in my craft room. Some people call them remnants, and I like that word even better. It gives you the feel of something useful. 

But in all honesty, those ‘remnants’ can create a massive pile of things that need to be stored. And if stored and not used, one day you may find yourself buried under an avalanche of scraps of fabric, yarn, and other craft supplies. Rather than dig your way out, maybe it’s time to use up some of those bits and pieces. And with just a bit of ‘thinking outside the box’, you can probably find plenty of things to do with them.

Keep in mind, using up these remnants is less about saving money or cutting costs, and more about using up what you have in order to prevent waste or to create space. For some projects, you may still have to purchase other supplies. And, we may not have time to make a large project but projects using remnants are usually small and can take less time. Or, as in the case of yarn, you can use up all those bits and pieces to make Granny Squares. One square doesn’t take a lot of time to make, and once they are all done, you can spend a quiet weekend when you have more time to put them together. 

Even better, with Granny squares there are so many designs you can create. Recently, I used a bunch of thin cotton yarn bits and pieces to make Daisy squares. I made two, then put them together using a simple single crochet. When I was finished, I had some fun mug rugs to use around the house. I’m also thinking of seeing what other yarn I have stashed and making a few sets for Christmas stocking stuffers. 

If all you can see are piles and piles of bits and pieces and aren’t sure what you can do with them, here are a few ideas:

First, let’s talk about fabric. There is an endless list of how small pieces can be used. Quilt pieces are the most common. If you have two matching pieces that are at least 8-1/2” square, then you can make a hot pad. For this you will need Insul-Brite, a product used in hot pads for heat resistance. (I also add a layer of cotton batting to mine).

Everyone can use a rice bag. These are small rice-filled bags that can either be heated up in the microwave or placed in the freezer to help ease the pain of bruises or bites or reduce swelling. They can be made in almost any size.  For mine, I used a 3-1/2” x 5-1/2” piece of cotton for the front, and a piece of flannel cut the same size for the back. Sew the two pieces together by hand or machine, using a 1/2” seam allowance. Leave a small space at the bottom to turn your work. Get a funnel and stick the small end in the open space and fill your bag with rice. Then sew it closed. You can also embroider the top piece before you assemble your bag. And – if you have any leftover bits of dried lavender or other herbs, you can mix those in with the rice before you fill it up.

You can also do a similar project and make sachets. For these you can use bits of muslin for a more ‘old fashioned’ look, or fun fabric prints. The only difference is you would fill your sachets with dried herbs instead of rice.

I use scrap fabric to make drawstring bags. These can be made in sizes from small enough to hold tiny items such as jewelry when you travel, or used as a purse-sized sewing kit, all the way up to duffle bags for overnight trips. You can also use them to wrap a gift. I also use fabric to make totes. This year, I’ve made totes that are about 14” x 16” to use instead of stockings for Christmas. This way, the ‘stocking’ is part of the gift and can be used for other things once all the goodies have been emptied out.

Instead of yarn, you can cut fabric pieces into 1- 1/2" to 2” strips and tie them together to crochet either coasters or rugs. Oh, yeah, there really are endless ways to use up all those fabric remnants.

Next up is yarn – We’ve touched on those Granny squares, and in addition to using them to make mug rugs, they can also be used to make throws, afghans, tote bags, coin purses, eye glass cases and more. If you make small ones, oh, I would say around 1” square, you can attach them together to make a run of trim for a fabric tote or the edging for a skirt or blouse.  A friend of my aunt’s actually used this size to make a full-size tablecloth. She used three different shades of blue plus white and it looks like a picnic cloth! You may not have enough scraps to be so specific, but if you have an overwhelming amount of cotton crochet thread, you may have enough to make a very colorful tablecloth!

Another fun idea for scrap yarn is to make a striped Draft Dodger. Knit or crochet a strip approximately 8” wide. Add yarn as necessary until you have a length that is at least 4” wider than your door. Fold in half lengthwise and sew or crochet the side and one end together. Fill with cotton batting, then sew or crochet the opening closed. 

When we were knitting dishcloths one year, my friend Lorea used up all her bits and pieces of Sugar and Cream yarn to make a dish draining mat. It’s very convenient to keep it next to the sink to place a few dishes that have been washed and need to drain. The dimensions of your project will depend on the amount of yarn scraps you have.

Some of us enjoy the hobby of scrapbooking. Most of our paper remnants can be used for that, but paper pieces can also be used for other things. Strips of paper can be woven together to make greeting cards. They can also be used for mini notepads or journals. And if you have the skill, use it to make Origami masterpieces!

Now that your mind is working overtime on what to do with all these remnants in the craft room, let’s check out the kitchen to see what we may be able to play within there.  

Take a look in your cabinet. Do you see all those bottles of herbs and spices that are almost empty? Why not see which ones will work together and create your own spice blends? With some basil, oregano, fennel, and rosemary, you can create an Italian Seasoning mix. 

Does your pantry have bags or jars of beans that are too much to waste but not enough for a meal? Mix them all together and create an 8-bean soup mix (or a however many beans you have mix).

When you looked in your refrigerator, did you find pieces of an onion, a bell pepper and a jar with only a few olives left in it? Then you may be able to add a Bits and Pieces Pizza to the meal plan. 

You may find an array of old jars, a strainer with a handle missing, or other items. Take those jars and make Mixes in a Jar to give as gifts. You can fill them with cookie, muffin, baking, pancake or spice mixes that will please almost everyone on your gift-giving list.  That strainer? Tie on a few strands of fishing line and thread it with shiny beads. This can make a fun windchime, or a plant hangar. 

One place I love to find remnants is in the workshop. I can always find bits and pieces of wood to use when I want to make building blocks for kids, small looms, or even a drop spindle. 

And the garden is another great place to play with remnants. First, when you prune your flowers, think about drying them and using them with some of those paper remnants you have to make fun wall hangings or add them to the greeting cards. You may not use a full envelope of seeds, so with the remnants, you can make seed tape or create a greeting card using seed paper. When trimming grape or other vines you can make wreaths. And you can combine the kitchen and garden by using rusted cookie cutters as holders for winter treats for birds or make bird feeders out of old glass or plastic plates and bowls. I have a bird feeder that is a combination of an old luncheon plate and a bud vase. The bud vase is glued to the bottom of the plate in an upside-down position. When it’s dried, I slip the bud vase over a large rod or stick, place it in the ground, then fill the plate up with birdfeed. 

You may not be sure what to do with all those bits and pieces in your house, but all those remnants can be useful. Just think outside the box and consider all the ways you can use them. But just beware – you may come to a point where you have very few remnants remaining. At that point, it’s time to start working on a few new projects so you’ll be able to save up more remnants for your next small projects! 

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Thanks again for stopping in. I will see you next week on Living a Simple Life with a Back Porch View. And while you are waiting for the next episode, grab that glass of refreshment, pull up a rocker, and sit back for a while. It’s time to relax and enjoy.