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-   -   What I use leftover batting for.. (https://www.quiltingboard.com/general-chit-chat-non-quilting-talk-f7/what-i-use-leftover-batting-t302769.html)

donna873 02-04-2019 01:41 PM

What I use leftover batting for..
 
My swifter mop it is a lot cheaper and does a lot better job than the store-bought ones

trish b 02-04-2019 01:49 PM

What a clever idea, thanks.

meyert 02-04-2019 02:49 PM

funny I may have to try that with those small pieces of batting - better than wasting them

ppquilter 02-04-2019 03:31 PM

Great idea! I use left-over backing and batting for my small/wall/doll/mini quilts too.

BSKTLOFR-QUILTER 02-04-2019 03:54 PM

I pin a small piece of batting to my shirt and throw thread ends on it when sewing. Works great when I'm hand piecing or quilting.

Darcyshannon 02-04-2019 04:23 PM

I will have to try it. We have lots of hard wood floors

Garden Gnome 02-04-2019 05:04 PM

Are we talking about polyester batting or cotton, like warm and natural?

willferg 02-04-2019 05:30 PM


Originally Posted by BSKTLOFR-QUILTER (Post 8205475)
I pin a small piece of batting to my shirt and throw thread ends on it when sewing. Works great when I'm hand piecing or quilting.

Good idea! I'm getting tired of going out of the house with a speckled look all down the front of me.

newbee3 02-04-2019 08:05 PM

I also use my scraps of batting to clean the rails on my longarm

WMUTeach 02-05-2019 04:36 AM

I use my clippings and small trimming pieces or those pieces too small for projects for the stuffing for dog beds for our local shelter. The dogs and yes, cats, don't mind lumpy they just like to be off the floor or the cage wire and these can be tossed in the washer if needed or just tossed out if too soiled.

This is our quilt service project and we have made dozens of them just from out scraps of batting or small fabric scraps.

luvstoquilt 02-05-2019 06:38 AM

What a great idea! Thanks for the tip.

Sewgood 02-05-2019 06:52 AM

I've been cutting my long narrow pieces into strips for jelly roll rugs...I just made one last night using leftovers of a FQ pack. I usually end up cutting my own fabric for the rugs. Leftover binding strips work great!

teddy300 02-05-2019 01:54 PM

You can use small pieces as an "eraser" to clean a white board

JustAbitCrazy 02-07-2019 02:21 AM

I made some washable swiffer pads with scrap cotton batting in the middle between towel and muslin. They clean the floor much better than the disposable ones.

IrishgalfromNJ 02-07-2019 10:47 AM

What great ideas. I love this thread.

selm 02-07-2019 11:27 AM


Originally Posted by JustAbitCrazy (Post 8206662)
I made some washable swiffer pads with scrap cotton batting in the middle between towel and muslin. They clean the floor much better than the disposable ones.

Do you sew the layers all together? How are your pads attached to the swiffer?

JustAbitCrazy 02-07-2019 05:03 PM


Originally Posted by selm (Post 8206887)
Do you sew the layers all together? How are your pads attached to the swiffer?

These are for the swiffer pads that use batteries to squirt cleaning fluid from a bottle.

I use prewashed towel and muslin. Actually the towels I used were thin old ones with the stitching coming out around the edges, which were fraying. You know, not pretty, but too good to throw out.

First I measured the bottom of the swiffer mop and cut a piece of paper and a piece of muslin that size. I laid the paper over the bottom of the swiffer pad and marked in pencil where the ends of the two scratchy strips are. Then I used a lightbox and ruler to trace those marks onto the muslin with a fine sharpy permanent marker. I used that muslin as a template and transferred those marks with faint pencil lines onto all the pieces of muslin for all the pads I wanted to make.
Next I stack the pad I am making this way: (all pieces are cut to the same size as the muslin)
With the muslin and towel on top of each other (right sides together if you're using a print instead of muslin) and then the batting on top (or bottom, if that works best for you, it doesn't matter). Stitch all around the sides with a quarter inch seam, leaving an opening in a short side for turning right sides out. Trim excess fabrics from the corners, turn right sides out so the towel and muslin are on the outside with the batting hidden inbetween them, and topstitch the opening closed very close to the folds (The seam allowances get folded to the insides there). Then cut two strips of 3/4" wide velcro---the soft side only, not the scratchy side---the correct length to end where your marks are on the muslin. Sew those around all sides of the velcro onto the muslin, following your pencil marks for placement, and through all layers. The velcro strips will stick to the scratchy strips on the bottom of the swiffer just like the disposable pads do, even better, actually. Ta da! It's done! The towel side is the cleaning side, the muslin side adheres to the bottom of the swiffer.

These pads are slightly more difficult to push around than the disposable paper ones, which slide very easily. But because of that, they clean much better. The disposable pads generally only get dirty on the leading edge, whereas these washable pads get dirty all over. Everyone I've made them for (family) loves them and wants more. No one, including myself, thinks they are hard to push around, even the elderly relatives.

One more thing: you can reuse the swiffer cleaning fluid bottles if you invert the empty bottle to dangle the lid in almost boiling water for a minute or so. The lid will twist off then and you can refill the bottle with whatever you want, it will seal shut again and not leak. I have yet to do this, but there are many Utube videos demonstrating it. Those disposable pads and cleaning bottles get expensive pretty fast. Every little bit helps. Plus this is eco friendly.

judykay 02-10-2019 07:32 AM

We have a group of ladies who make pet beds , I donate my scraps for the filling. Some I use for the swifter but some are to narrow and the pets appreciate them .

maviskw 02-11-2019 06:31 AM


Originally Posted by BSKTLOFR-QUILTER (Post 8205475)
I pin a small piece of batting to my shirt and throw thread ends on it when sewing. Works great when I'm hand piecing or quilting.

I have secured a piece of batting to the top of my sewing machine and another one at the edge of the waste basket. It's nice to have them handy. And they work !

Grace creates 02-11-2019 07:12 AM

Very good idea for a swiffter


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