Jewelry From Fabric Scraps

Every time I upcycle something that involves fabric, especially something like clothing, there are tons of scraps left over. Sometimes, they’re unusable, and only good for certain projects. Other times, especially when it’s not the type of material that frays, they can become headbands, bracelets, necklaces, and, even sometimes, rings. The amount of jewelry that can come from what most people deem as, ‘garbage’, can actually shape beauty that can adorn anyone. 

If you’re the type of person who, at doctor’s offices, still wear masks around so you don’t get sick and don’t get other people sick, what can become garbage can also become materials for your next project. Each elastic, known to wrap around the ear to keep it in place, can be removed and turned into hair ties or knotted bracelets.

Now that we’re out of the Covid days, this might not seem important, but think of all of the other things that are like those masks that we can turn into jewelry. The elastics can count as fabric scraps, and become something new that we can either use as necessities, or use as adornment.

Depending on what you have at your disposal, you can turn sleeve cuffs from sweaters into bracelets, or the strips from hemmed jeans into knotted and braided necklaces or bracelets. If you’d like, you could also combine different colors, types of fabric, and maybe, maybe even beads, to create something more eclectic that matches your style better.

When I make this type of jewelry, I call it a type of, ‘garbage jewelry’. Instead of being like, ‘Oh, this is trash, I should throw this away,’ I look at it and say to myself, ‘I wonder what I can make out of this.’ Combining scraps, colors, types of fabric, sometimes beading, and different types of materials help make use of what you would just want to get rid of.

There are many other ways to make ‘garbage jewelry’, and those will be covered in future articles.

Until then, keep in mind that anything is possible. If you have places where you keep your crafting supplies, keep those places nice and organized. It’ll help you fit what you have there much, much better. You might even be able to make your repertoire of supplies grow.

As you ponder what I’ve said about jewelry from fabric scraps, I hope you look at what you have in your arsenal of materials, and learn to see how many different ways there are to make bracelets, necklaces, and other adornments out of what you already have. You might even be able to make braids from leftover ribbon, and glue them to jewelry posts for earrings.

As you ponder what I’ve said, I hope your creativity rains ideas upon your head.

Anything is possible.