6 lockdown crafts ideas using our fabric offcuts
My mental wellbeing has taken a beating this year. The personal challenges of raising children in lockdown, distancing from family and job insecurity, to the wider societal impact of isolation, lost loved ones, and protecting our most vulnerable.
While it may seem trivial, one thing that brings real joy to my day is seeing the projects you have been working on using our Om Baby fabric offcuts. Your handmade creations using waste materials have uplifted and inspired me so much I wanted to share them with everyone.
There is much to be said for crafting to cut through the mind fog. Sitting down with a cup of tea, a needle and thread, and an idea, and shutting out the noise for an hour to create something with your own hands. So, whether it’s something to keep the kids entertained, pass away a rainy Sunday, or simply a reason to turn off the news – here are some of my favourites to try at home.
Awesome animal masks
Why spend money on expensive fancy dress when you can get your paints out, rummage through your recycling bin, and get creative. Simply paint a lion's face on cardboard, create holes around the edge using a hole punch and then thread offcuts through, looping them over themselves to secure. No glue necessary! Great as a mask or for a children’s wall hanging.
Fire-free fireworks
These fabric ‘fireworks’ make for a more home-made (less noisy!) attraction for your next celebration. These are super simple, but look amazing, and you only need toilet rolls, cardboard, fabric – and a drill. Check it out in action here
Thank you to Cherry @thepumpkin.seed for this fab mask and the fire-free fireworks and you can follow her beautiful collage, sketching and children’s crafts on her Instagram.
Beautiful bunting
One of my favourite local businesses, Rebel Bunting, creates bespoke bunting and patchwork cushions and quilts to buy or hire. I love the fringing she has added to our scraps to create this colourful birthday bunting, adding some pizzazz to any home celebration.
Thank you Rosalind @Rebelbunting for sharing and check out her website for all your bunting, cushion and quilt needs.
Theatre in a box
These little worlds within a box draw inspiration from our fabrics and in Laura’s own words “I immediately saw circus style curtains, floral ground coverings of daisies and dark blue water for the river & sea”. Great for you to let your imagination run wild and create magical places – seascapes, woodlands – based on places you enjoy. The boxes close up as well, so it can be packed up with the lollipop stick puppets and played with on the go!
Thank you to Laura at @TheJoyJournal and do check out her book for lots of mindful, creative activities for kids.
Cosy quilting
You can’t beat a traditional patchwork quilt for recycling waste fabrics. This machine-sewed number is destined for Jane’s dining room table, perfect for standing a large copper jam pan of fruit or an impactful vase full of flowers. It took about three days to complete and as Jane said “Due to the hand stamped, hand blocked fabrics it almost allows and encourages imperfections which is why I chose to hand quilt over machine quilting”.
Thank you to Jane @Olleyrogs for sharing this with us and a huge amount of gratitude and love goes to her as a long-serving NHS nurse.
Upcycling your wardrobe
This gives me serious outfit envy. I’m a huge fan of customising and reworking old outfits, over buying new, and this upcycled vintage skirt is a beautiful example. Breathing fresh life into old pieces and charity shop finds using waste fabrics help to extend their use and give you a one-of-a-kind piece.
Thanks to Sarah at @Magicalvelvet for this and you can find her reworked vintage and thrifted apparel over at her store Adorned.
