What do you do with selvage edges?

Selvage edges sewn together in long rows.

Even tiny pieces can become the start of something big!  The pieces in the middle were just large enough and colorful enough the use - I just couldn't send them to the rubbish bin.

Of course sometimes you need to cut the selvage wide enough to be able to sew it together - I was a little bit more generous with these edges because of the original project that they came from.

Here again are some tiny central pieces that were the beginning of this block.  As you can see I sewed these all together just going in circles, so to speak, until I was satisfied with the size of the block.

  So you have a bunch of selvage edges just laying around, just what do you do with them?  Why you sew them together to make a great piece of fabric.  Then you make the fabric into something useful or fun or perhaps something to hang as a piece of interesting wall art.  Sometimes you can even use it as a sew in non-stretch stabilizer on clothing items in seams that you don't want to stretch.  What ever you do with your stash of selvages they can be interesting challenges to find ways to use.  I myself am making runners for my table and maybe some hot-pads.  The pictures above show everything in progress.  This is a project that you can do a little bit here and there.  Before you know it you have a big piece of fabric that you might have otherwise tossed into the waste bin.  It will add color and visual texture to what ever you apply it to.  Check back to see what the finished product will look like, hopefully this weekend!

Rhode Island Mini Quilt Challenge

For my 100th post I am inviting viewers to a small challenge, if you are not a viewer you can certainly join in on the challenge - all are welcome.
   Have you ever been to or lived in or perhaps vacationed in Rhode Island?  Rhode Island is the smallest state of the United States.  It is also the 13th state and one of the original colonies.  Rhode Island was also the first state to declare independence from England.  For such a tiny place there is so much history.
There are also things that are indigenous and unique to RI.  It really is a wonderful place to be.
   The subject of the mini quilt is Rhode Island.  You can base your quilt on facts or fiction, a vacation memory or just a drive through the state.  The small state has many sites historic and otherwise as well as many interesting and little known facts.   There are many possibilities.
  
So the challenge is:
                                       To make a small quilt
                                        with three layers
                                        (top, batting and backing)
                                        measuring 13" by 13",
                                        which is bound
                                        either by fabric
                                        or stitching.


  Send to: Dyeing For You, 275 Harris Avenue, Unit 221, Providence, Rhode Island, 02909.  Please send with return postage so that you will receive your quilt back.  I will try to use your packaging if possible to return your items. Please insure your quilt item if you want insurance.  If you would like to inform me that your quilt is in the mail that is fine, that way I can be on the lookout for it.  I will also send confirmation of receipt via this blog.  All correspondence is through this blog.  Your mini quilts will be displayed on this blog after the submission deadline.


Deadline: October 13, 2011
Your quilt must have a sewn in or sewn on label on the back of your entry with your name and address on it.  Also, if your piece has a title this would be a good place to put it. 


I can't wait to see what everyone sends!
Kathleen