My leftovers batting dilemma...and solution
 

Someone here mentioned putting fabric leftover strips (very tiny pieces) into a pillowcase, sewing it closed and taking it to the animal shelter. I realized that was something I could do with my batting scraps.

I had originally thought I might like to make up some of the pillow panels that I have and use this leftover batting as stuffing. Then, I had a lady make a whole quilt around a pillow panel, and decided that really, I'd rather do that. So, that still left me with my bags of leftover poly batting scraps from all those charity quilts I've been making. What to do?

So, I had my son bring them up to the main floor today (they've been in a basement guest room). I dumped them all out, and then took out all usable good-enough-to-cut-up pieces of fabric, and took the larger batting pieces, and went ahead and cut them into 6"squares for rag quilts that maybe I can teach some girls how to make. The leftovers batting and poly cotton blends went into either pillowcases, or pillowcase-like pieces of fabric I sewed together. Some smaller (very small--smaller than 1.5" width) cotton scraps went to the paper/burn/recycling bag.

I thought I'd end up with about 20 of these pillowcase type things. I'll take them to the animal shelter on Monday--there is one about 3 miles from here. I ended up with 35! My cats spent the day, until I pulled out the batting from under them--enjoying the batting and fabric scraps!

It isn't really what I would have preferred to do, but I do feel so relieved to have that HUGE task done. Now I know what to do with my scraps, as I go. I could have thrown them away, but couldn't bring myself to do that with something that seemed perfectly usable. Now I feel good about all those scraps, even if it did take all day to trim and sort and make pillowcase like things.

The pile (most of it):
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Cats enjoying it:
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Our cat who LOVES batting! He found it first. His name is Skagway.
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Finished 35 beds/pillows for the animals!

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Plus, I ended up with one kitchen sized trash bag full of fabric scraps needed to be trimmed into squares and strips, and 2 more bags of (large trash size) of cut up 6" squares batting which I did today for misc. rag quilts. I'll approach the two girls who often come over on Sunday afternoons and find out if they want to learn to make a rag quilt or two.

Aside from fixing dinner, a couple of gelatin desserts, and a couple of errands, this is what I spent the day doing!

Wonderful idea, will have to keep that in mind for our animal shelter.

You had a very productive day! And the animals will appreciate all that bedding. :)

That was a really big project, you have to had felt really good when your were finished :)

Judy in Phx, AZ

I wasn't really sure how full to make them. I tried to fill them up only about half full so the animal, whether cat or dog, could scrunch it around and make it comfortable for itself.

I love doing this sort of thing with my scraps! I sometimes use old pillowcases (mine, or from a thrift store). When it is 1/4 full, I sew a straight seam across, then stuff another 1/4 full, sew across again, etc. That way when the humane shelter throws them in the wash, the stuffing doesn't all migrate to one end. I love your pillows! Good for you!!!

There will be a lot of animals very grateful for what you did today -- thank you for doing it for those who can't thank you themselves.

I see your pets were 'product testing' as you went. You performed an amazing feat - 35 pet beds in one day! You will be very welcome at the shelter!

thanks for sharing!

That's wonderful! Thank you for thinking of our four legged friends. Your the best!!!

That was an amazing amount of batting scraps! You were productive in getting them all made. Generous of you to donate as well.