scrap buster challenge

In remembrance of the fall that wasn't, I've been busy crafting loads of fall inspired coasters and table runners - my sewing room is littered with browns, oranges, reds and creamy yellows. The scrap buster challenge at SewMamaSew got me thinking about how I could use those very last scraps to decorate my own home for the season. (A girl only has so much room for table runners). So I made these:

The jar sleeve project uses strips of scrap fabric to transform an ordinary glass jar into a fancy container for all things fall - branches, dried grasses, etc. You could also gather a bunch of different sizes for a stand alone centerpiece.

You will need 1. clean glass jars and 2. SCRAPS.



3. Sew scraps together that "fit" the jar you want to cover. They don't have to be the same size or the right size, they just can't be too small. You will trim everything together, so don't worry if there are long and short pieces or the ends don't align. Continue sewing scraps together until you have enough to wrap around the circumference of the jar.



4. You should now have a single piece of strips (I'm going to call this the block, but yours will be more linear that a block) - press these so the seams lie flat. Align the markings on your cutting guide with one of the seams and cut off excess fabric to straighten up the block. Do the same on the other side, this time using the opposite cut edge as your guide. Cut off enough fabric on this side to get the sleeve about the right size compared to the jar (leave 1/2" for seam allowances in addition to the height you want your sleeve to be - I didn't measure, I just eyeballed, but you could certainly be more exact). (5.)



6. Check the block against your jar and mark the fabric at the point it overlaps 1/4". Cut at this mark, so the sleeve will be snug around the jar when you sew the ends together.



7. Fold the long sides (top and bottom of the sleeve) down 1/4" and press. Sew these down using a zig-zag or straight stitch, so now top and bottom are finished edges.

8. Fold the block in half with the right sides together and sew the short side, forming the sleeve.

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Place over the jar and add a bit of twine or ribbon to finish the look. I think this would also be a great project to add some warmth to a wine bottle as a hostess gift, or for gifts of jams and other "canned" presents at Christmas.