Are you stuck with a yard of leftover fabric and don’t know what to do with it? Using that last yard of fabric can be a challenge. You don’t want to waste it, but don’t really know what you can make with it either.
Whether you’re a beginner sewer who wants to try a small project or a seasoned pro stuck trying to figure out how to use a yard of fabric, there are a lot of fun things you can sew! You can try something complicated or stick with something simple that will be a great learning experience.
We’ve put together a list of 15 things you can sew with just one yard of fabric. Give some of them a try if you’re learning to sew or whenever you have extra fabric lying around that you don’t know what to do with.
These ideas can be a great gift for friends and family, and you don’t have to stress too much because the stakes are low! Here are 15 cool projects to try:
A Coin Purse
You know by now that carrying coins around in your purse, your wallet, or any other bag is a quick way to get it nice and dirty.
That’s why coin purses exist in the first place! They keep all of your coins in one place and stop them from rubbing up against other things in your bag or your pocket. You can probably sew a few coin purses with a yard of fabric, so make several and hand them out to friends.
A Tie
Ties aren’t hard to make and can be a fun project with a single yard of fabric. Make them skinny or fat depending on which style you like and you can even try something new to make a fashion statement.
Of course, the pattern of your fabric will influence whether you want to make a tie with it, but making ties is a good learning experience nonetheless.
A Toddler Dress
If you or someone you know has a toddler girl or a baby girl, then a yard of fabric is enough to make a beautiful, simple dress.
All you have to do is sew the yard together with neck and armholes cut out and you have a lovely dress they can wear around the house or while they are playing in the yard.
Smock
If you do a lot of art in your house, then you can always use another art smock. A yard of fabric works great for when you want to make a smock for a kid. It keeps spills off of nice clothes and prevents you from having to do as much laundry every week.
Another great thing about smocks is that no one expects them to be perfect! If you mess up a seam, no one will care.
A Baby Bib
Babies breeze through so much clothing every day because they’re always drooling, spitting up, or spilling on themselves. With a yard of fabric, you can make a nice little bib that you can put into the rotation without having to go to the store to buy extras.
A Shoulder Bag
A yard of fabric can make a nice shoulder bag that you can sling over a shoulder on your way to the store or the park with the kids.
Make sure to sew the straps nice and tight for when you pack things like water bottles and toys inside.
Doll Clothes
Doll clothes are great because they’re small. If you’re a sewer, you can have tons of fun making clothing for kids’ toys.
They’re fun because you can make them as complex as adult clothing without having to go through as much fabric.
Doggy Clothes
OK, so dogs aren’t usually as small as your kids’ dolls, but the concept here is the same.
Give making some doggy pajamas a try or just make your puppy a t-shirt for when things get chilly outside.
Chair Upholstery
Do you have any old dining chairs with stains on them from spilled drinks or messy child eaters? With your extra yard of fabric, make a new chair covering that will hide the stains and refresh the chair.
Your kids will love sitting on something more colorful and will think the chair is brand new.
Pot Holders
If you cook in the kitchen, you can never have too many potholders. Potholders work great to prevent heat burns on wood tables or granite countertops.
All you need is a bit of cotton to stuff into the potholders to give them some padding and you’re good to go.
A Kleenex Box Cover
For people who have allergies, there’s always a tissue box within reach. Some people don’t like the way they look, so you can class things up a bit and sew a cover to make them more stylish and homey.
A Pillowcase
Pillowcases are one of the easiest sewing projects out there because there are only a few seams and it’s all straight lines.
If you’re an expert sewer with a yard of fabric, find someone you think will want to learn how to sew and teach them by making a pillowcase together.
An Apron
We’ve already mentioned smocks, but if you’ve got a solid color or a cool pattern, then why not make a cooking apron with your one yard of fabric? It’s a bit more complex than some of the other sewing projects on this list, so be prepared to spend a little more time making it.
A Hat
You can make a surprisingly cool hat with a yard of fabric. Whether it’s for you or a child, it’ll look great and keep the sun out of your eyes.
A Catch-All Bag
Everyone could use an extra bag or two around the house. Give sewing a supplies bag a try!
You can sew something that you can toss string, needles, and sewing tools inside to help keep you more organized and ready for more projects.