Laundry Bags and Thread Scraps

Another thing I learned in Houston while watching a demonstration is that hospital laundry bags are water soluable!   And so much cheaper than buying water soluable stabilizer at Joann's!  I bought 25 huge bags from a medical supply company, split them when a friend.  The bags measure about 24" x 36".

I have a paper bag taped onto my sewing table to collect thread scraps. I'm sure there are other uses for water soluable materials but I take the thread scraps - sandwich them between two water soluable pieces of stabilizer, free motion to keep the threads together, rinse in warm water, let dry and then use the pieces in my quilts.

Step one: I cut open the laundry bag and laid it on my cutting table.

 Step two:   dump my bag of thred scraps - you could also add pieces of ribbon, small fabric scraps, etc.

 Step three:  spread out the thread and the put another sheet on top.

Step four:  Here's the sandwich.  Pin the layers together as best as you can to help hold the threads in place.

 Step five:  Sew - either freemotion or straight stitch - in both directions to keep the threads in place.

 Step six:  Dunk it in warm water, you will feel the plastic melting away.  Lay it out to dry.



You'll be left with this really cool colorful thread piece that is all stuck together and can be cut into shapes.  

In the past I've cut it up into different shapes...trees for Christmas cards:

Leaves:

What could you do with your thread pieces?