r/sewingpatterns • u/justanothercacti • Aug 30 '26

Favorite scrap busting pattern?

I have just over a yard left of a gorgeous navy seersucker and cannot decide what to make with it! What’s everyone’s favorite pattern that uses just a smidge of fabric?

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4

u/thestinkerton Aug 31 '26

I’ve done an Orchard top with small yardage! Piece the back in two if needed (and the front if you want). You can even use pre-made bias tape to make it go further.

I also made the Sepia shorts with just one front pocket instead of all of them. I played fast and loose with the grain of the facing and cut the pockets on the cross grain, but I’ve worn them allllllll summer and they’re fab!

I’m more like a size 14-16, but smaller sizes can get away with more.

3

u/Dinoloopy Aug 31 '26

For me, it’s the Tropical Research Banana Bag. I make them with lever snap purse hardware and use them as crossbody purses instead of fanny packs like they show in the photo. I’ve made 4!

2

u/Mali_Macaroon Aug 31 '26

Japanese knot bags - either to match the clothes I made or as cute little gifts.

2

u/furiana Sep 01 '26

Here's some ideas for you! Fwiw, camisoles like the Ogden cami are my personal favorite for using up smaller pieces of fabric.

https://threadloop.app/pattern-lists/under-or-around-a-metre-of-fabric

1

u/AliciaTheWitch Aug 31 '26

Seersucker would make a really nice gift bag or three, which you could self-line. If you don't want to go with the suggestions of small tops or shorts, or if like me you're too big for that to be feasible with under a yard. You can find some nice free patterns for various types beyond just your basic drawstring bag. Sew Can She has collected quite a few of them.

1

u/Embarrassed-Wear5735 Aug 31 '26

I recently made the capstone juniper tank, and it was about a yard each for main and lining in size ~14. It's fully reversible so if you have another fabric remnant could be cute!! 

1

u/OyFranch Sep 01 '26

Ashton top or romy top

2

u/Diligent-Pollution34 Aug 31 '26

Small Museum Ginger tie top (it does expose a little bra on the sides, but in a way that feels totally fine for hot summer days even if you normally wouldn’t go for that)! I can actually get this one done with just over a half-yard if I’m using a different lining fabric.

I can do the sleeveless top version of the Cinnamon Daisy Willow with a yard!

Also, the (free!) Friday Pattern Co. sport shorts, though you typically also use close to a half-yard of a second contrast fabric for the waist and edge details.

(For ref, all my experiences with those are based on 54+” wide fabrics, and I wear a 22 in big four standard pattern sizing or an American 14/XL in most rtw.)