Do you have an overflowing box of fabric scraps and no idea what to do with them? Instead of letting them pile up, why not turn them into something beautiful and useful? Fabric twine is a fun, relaxing, and surprisingly addictive project that helps you repurpose even the smallest scraps.

Like many crafters, I struggle to throw away leftover fabric—I always think, I might need that later! As a result, my scrap collection keeps growing. That’s why I was so excited when I stumbled upon the idea of making fabric twine. After rediscovering it during MadamSew Let’s Sew It Challenge—“Sew something with scraps”—I finally gave it a try. Now, I can’t stop twining!

Here’s what I’ve learned so far and how you can start your own fabric twine journey.

- You can make cord out of scraps.
- You can sew the twine together with a zigzag stitch on your home sewing machine and make baskets, placemats, bathroom mats,...
- You can just use old worn out clothes and fabric scraps!

As the image below shows, it is defintely a work in progress. In my next blog post, I will let you know how to make a nicely shaped basket.. But for now, I’m still practicing :-)

Zero waste, baby!

I’m warning you, this is a time consuming occupation. However, you can do it in front of the television while watching your favorite show. So when the sofa calls, curl up in a corner, take some fabric strips and start twining :-) And the best thing is, your scrap box gets emptier.

- Fabric scraps (in assorted colors) cut in 1 inch wide strips.

- Fabric scissors
- Optional: large spools to wind your twine on or just make a large ball

It doesn’t matter what material the scraps are made of, but the fabric cannot be too thick or rigid. You’ll need some length though, as the shorter the strips, the more joins you will have in your twine. Take a 10” minimum length. Make your strips 1” to 1.5” wide. The thicker the material, the narrower the strips.

Use a different mix of colors and prints to make your twine interesting.

To start, tie two strips of different lengths together and make a knot. Make sure when you tie the knot that you leave a little tail so that you have something to hang on to as you work.

Twist the strips separately away from you, to the right. Then twist each strip around the other towards you - cross it over - and hold it with your thumbs. Repeat this motion - wind away from you & move a strip over towards you. Make sure you wind your fabric tight. This way it will stay together and become quite strong.

When you are at the end of one of the strips, you have to make a join. Take a new strip. Leave a tail of 1” and wrap the first 1” of the new strip around the tail of the previous strip. Don’t pull the new strip but wrap it tightly around the other strip and continue winding both strips around each other.

Make sure both of your strips don’t end at the same spot or the join will be weakened; that’s why it is best to start with one short and one long strip and always check the length of each new strip you add.
Just continue adding strips until you think your thread is long enough.
Trim the little ends or threads that stick out of your twine if necessary.
When done, end with another knot.

Tip: It helps to have moist fingers. You will work faster and the twine will become a bit tighter.

If you want to see what I made out of the twine, go to the next blog that shows how to sew the twine into nice home projects and accessories.

Making fabric twine is a fantastic way to reduce waste while creating something unique. It’s a slow but satisfying process—you can even do it while watching TV! Plus, the more you twist, the emptier your scrap box gets. I’m still practicing. In the meantime, if you have any fun ideas for using even the tiniest fabric scraps, let me know!

Looking for more sewing projects you can do with fabric scraps? Check out our blogs that focus on projects that you can do with small pieces of fabric.

Got questions or want to share your creations? Drop me an email at an@madamsew.com or join the conversation in our Facebook group and on Instagram using #madamsew. I’d love to see what you make!

Happy twining!

An
Sewing aficionado and keen sewing blogger/vlogger.

Download This As A PDF Guide

MadamSew Fabric Shears