Our 4-H Clubs were recently given a large box of Ethan Allen samples. They are riveted onto metal hangers and have paper labels serged onto them. So they take some prep work to be able to use. Most are 24" square and in beautiful colors - for furniture.

Suggestions on how we can use them?

Judy

I made some pot holders from those samples.

I've made hand bags out of them. I also used them to recover my sofa in a crazy quilt way.

I thought of purses, but that's probably above the skill level for these kids. Pot holders would probably work though. It's such heavy fabric that it's not easy for the kiddos to work with or even cut.

Thanks for suggestions.

I have used upholstery material for backing on my smaller 'quiltlets.'

ali

tote/shopping bags/purses...placemats...table toppers....floor quilts (rugs)... jackets

what she said :D

A simple tote bag would not be hard for kids to make...join the squares to make a larger one or make a smaller one using just one fabric.

I used sample with demin to make a rag quilt.

I used samples to make "church bags". They are little bags with paper, crayons, and little things inside to keep toddlers busy during a church service. Just basically a little tote with grosgrain ribbon for handles.

You could also use the samples for different size pillows - solid one side and a print on the other side.

Horse blankets or pet beds

We have an active 4-H Horse Club and a Rabbit Club, so maybe something for animals would be good idea.

Thanks for helping me think outside the box.

I like the simple tote bags ideas. That should be a simple project for beginning sewers.

I would like to see a picture of that please.

Zippered pouches for the kids to keep stuff in. One can never have enough zippered pouches :)
Or snap pouches... or velcroed pouches.
They are a cinch to make and are instant gratification for a new sewer.

quilts for dogs :)

beds for dogs to give to the local humane society. We are making some and have several people saving all their fabric scraps, trimmings etc. to fill these.

Pat

What about oven mits?

Have to make sure they are cotton so they don't melt.

Here are some of the church bags I made from upholstory and home dec. fabrics and what I put in them. They are easy-peasy to make.

I thought about hot pads with these too, but be careful as some upholstery fabrics have nylon or polyester that melts easily so just be careful which ones you select for that purpose. What about slippers?

They make beautiful pillows, especailly with a bit of trim. Also make great handbags since they are stiff enough that you don't need to use interfacing. I made a bunch of pincushions for friends with some of the more girlie prints.

They make great throw pillows.

A friend gave me some and I used them for fussy cuts for a churn dash pattern. Came out great!

Thanks for all the good ideas.

When you make dog blankets, is there any special size or regulations when giving them to a shelter? We don't have one here (small town) so we would have to find one in an area town. I think the kids would like to make things for dogs.

Also, the bags and totes are popular with them, so that's a good idea.

Check with the closest shelter and see what sizes they need...at our shelter, they use different sizes depending upon the size of the cage/box, etc. they have them in....