Sometimes, as quilters and sewists, we just need a "quick win." We want to use up some fabrics and just make a thing (as opposed to starting or working on a thing). These patterns are for that. 

(This post contains affiliate links)

Here are some of my favorite patterns and ideas to use up some bigger chunks of fabric. These make great gifts and home decor items, and can help you feel like you made a leap of progress, even if you only have a little time to sew. You've likely made most of these projects, or projects similar to them, before, but it's nice to have a easy little list to jog the memory when we feel stuck or uninspired. Speaking of inspiration, these are also great projects to make if your quilting mojo seems to have taken a vacation and you just need a little fabric therapy. 

Easy Stash-Busting Patterns

(Incidentally, these all make pretty good gifts, too!) 

A Classic Tote Bag

I’m such a tote bag junkie— throw all my stuff in and go! Especially in the warmer months, it’s perfect for a water bottle, book, and quilt or towel to take on the green. Or, stuff a handmade tote bag with some goodies for a really fun gift. This tote bag is made with a panel, but you could use squares of fabric just as well.It's a simple construction, but it turns out classy and gorgeous. If you're learning free motion quilting or if you wanted to add a little extra personalization, make it with quilted panels on the outside. 

Easy Zipper Pouch

Zippy pouches are a fun way to use smaller pieces of stash fabric or to use practice sandwiches from quilting. Not to mention practice installing a zipper! This tutorial demonstrates with quilted pieces, but regular or interfaced fabric is an easy substitute. By the way, if you're making a pencil pouch, 9x5 inches is a pretty good size to cut your fabrics. 

Burrito Pillow Case

Using over a yard of fabric just doesn't get easier than this burrito pillow case! Make one for each of your quilts for an easy way to store them! And, since those pillow cases are primarily for protecting quilts, this is the perfect opportunity to use up uglyyyy fabric. For prettier fabrics, they make amazing gifts or donation items.

Easy Mug Rugs

Check out my quick and easy tutorial because a mug rug is the perfect way use up some pretty scraps or an orphan block-- plus another great excuse to practice your FMQ! I’ve also started using pieced mug rugs (using 2 1/2 inch squares) as a way to teach kids and new quilters because they have all the key steps of quilting: piecing, quilting, and binding. Huzzah!

Throw Quilts

Obviously an entire quilt isn’t as fast as some of the other projects above, but sometimes you need to use a little more fabric. Dogwood Blossoms (far left) is fat quarter and bold-print friendly, Perfect Fit (center) is great for strips, solids, and other basics, and Polaris (Far right) is a great scrappy quilt (though I recently started a version with fat quarters and am loving the effect!).

Resources

• Summer Stash Busting 2023 full lineup

• BLOG: How to Shop Your Stash

• FREEBIES: If you’re wanting to try your hand at FMQ or use up some scraps with foundation paper piecing, you’ll love our Quilting Rockstar Library Resources

• FREEBIE: The Quilting Rockstar Set List is a perfect way to organize your works in progress. Download it for free here:

PS Don't forget to pin this post so you can find it later!

Share this blog if you found it helpful: