Scrap Stocking
Quilt a sustainable Christmas stocking with fabric scraps
Looking for a sustainable DIY holiday gift or decoration? Consider quilting leftover scrap fabric into a christmas stocking for a sustainable (and easy!) holiday delight!
![Sustainable scrap fabric christmas stocking](http://moderndarling.com/?brizy_media=wp-c406746457f9e863902282944220e0ba.jpg&brizy_crop=iW%3D394%26iH%3D394%26oX%3D0%26oY%3D0%26cW%3D394%26cH%3D358)
![Sustainable scrap fabric christmas stocking](http://moderndarling.com/?brizy_media=wp-06478c59f728c6444ebe7189c0b4bab6.jpg&brizy_crop=iW%3D394%26iH%3D394%26oX%3D0%26oY%3D20%26cW%3D394%26cH%3D354)
Homemade garments may not carry the weight of inhumane assembly, but we cannot absolve every home-sewn piece of ethical and environmental concern. Textiles produced for home sewists may also employ the inhumane and environmentally damaging practices that finished fashion does. To combat this reality, I try to be mindful of the fabric I buy and minimize waste by repurposing scrap fabric. For the past couple of years, I’ve saved and organized every piece of scrap fabric leftover from sewing projects. I now have a jam-packed bureau of small assorted scraps, in a wide variety of colors and patterns that all align with my aesthetic. These would-be-trash pieces have a lot of creative potential!
Sorting fabric scraps
I organize my scrap fabric into several categories:
![medium fabric scraps](http://moderndarling.com/?brizy_media=wp-d660e797f5732fb639084869677f85ff.jpg&brizy_crop=iW%3D409%26iH%3D307%26oX%3D0%26oY%3D0%26cW%3D409%26cH%3D307)
![small fabric scraps](http://moderndarling.com/?brizy_media=wp-0f1dd05653b3761fd423ae4a47a3f0fe.jpg&brizy_crop=iW%3D409%26iH%3D307%26oX%3D0%26oY%3D0%26cW%3D409%26cH%3D307)
![Large fabric scraps](http://moderndarling.com/?brizy_media=wp-e01992a60480ca562ba4b237cb4117cb.jpg&brizy_crop=iW%3D399%26iH%3D299%26oX%3D0%26oY%3D0%26cW%3D399%26cH%3D299)
![Largest fabric scraps](http://moderndarling.com/?brizy_media=wp-b2be514c4c5c85a2f15f5529f7390687.jpg&brizy_crop=iW%3D399%26iH%3D299%26oX%3D0%26oY%3D0%26cW%3D399%26cH%3D299)
- Larger than ¼ yard: these pieces have the most possibilities. They could easily be used for pocket linkings, sleeves, numerous other design details, and even small tanks.
- Between ¼ yard and a few square inches: the difference between this category and the next is somewhat nebulous and more about shape than size. These pieces are at lease a few inches wide so that they could be used for quilting pieces, small design details, or scrunchies and other tiny projects.
- Strips: mindful cutting often leaves long strips of narrow fabric. These are too narrow for seam allowance for sewing but can be used for braiding. Braided strips can be sewn into a thick, stiff fabric perfect for baskets.
- Tiniest: the tiniest scraps can’t be sewn or braided but can be used as stuffing in poofs or pillows.
For this Christmas stocking, I quilted pieces from the second category. I used three different colors: a striped cotton from the first dress I designed (below left), a white linen from one of my most worn blouses (below right), and a pretty but itchy fabric of unknown content I purchased early in my sewing that has been used primarily for testing fit.
Looking forward to giving this sustainable, one-of-a-kind Christmas stocking to my grandmother.
![blue and white striped dress](http://moderndarling.com/?brizy_media=wp-a074602fb21bbcee7e17621c8b76e6c4.jpg&brizy_crop=iW%3D669%26iH%3D502%26oX%3D83%26oY%3D124%26cW%3D409%26cH%3D377)
![white home sewn linen blouse](http://moderndarling.com/?brizy_media=wp-f9a99684b1895199593f58fd20bf3a51.jpg&brizy_crop=iW%3D409%26iH%3D409%26oX%3D0%26oY%3D16%26cW%3D409%26cH%3D376)