What Are Creative Uses for Fabric Samples?

Patchwork Cushions

• Sew together small fabric samples to form colorful and eye-catching patchwork cushions for your home. Use a sewing machine to make the sewing process easier. For a contemporary home, pick out fabric colors that match with your decor, or for a country home, opt for a vibrant, eclectic mixed style. For added interest, finish off your cushions with a sequin trim or sew small beads onto the front of the cushion cover to enhance the design.

Applique Fabric Picture

• Use small fabric samples as the basis for creating your own unique applique fabric wall picture. Select closely woven fabrics that are light to medium-weight, plain or patterned. Choose a design to applique onto the fabric and draw a simple outline on the reverse of the fabric. Use a sewing machine with a zig-zag stitch to attach the fabric samples together, then sew on your chosen design. Frame your finished design and hang it on a wall of your home.

Fabric Covered Footstool

• Cover an old footstool with the fabric samples to provide new life to an old item. Choose medium to heavyweight fabrics that will be long-lasting and durable. Use several sample pieces of fabric creatively sewn together. Staple the fabric to the underside of the footstool. Look for fabric colors that blend in with your existing soft furnishings or wall paint colors.

Fabric Covered Memo Board

• Pick a few favorite pieces from your fabric samples and use them to make a fabric covered memo board. For an easy-to-achieve project, simply cover a pre-made cork memo board with fabric. Sew the pieces together so the larger whole is big enough to stretch around to the back of the memo board. Carefully fold over the edges of the fabric and glue or staple them down to the back of the memo board. Finish by adding taut lengths of decorative ribbon, zig-zagged across the board, so pictures or postcards can be popped underneath. Secure the ribbon on the back of the board with staples.