Upholstery Samples

Good Uses for Upholstery Sample Books

I need help.

I am caring for a sick husband looking for something desperately to do.

My son dropped off a HUGE box of upholstery and drapery samples and said, here mom, make something out of these.

Can someone help me with some ideas and help a woman stay busy while caring for an ill husband.

Marlene

I don't know if you found it already, but there is a panadiere pattern on The Artful Crafter that makes perfect use of upholstery samples. There is very little waste.

The fabric panadieres make great gifts. I make them to sell for $12 each and they're one of my most popular items.

Because of the way the sample books are put together (with coordinating fabric swatches), you can make the panadieres reversible.

I've done other things with upholstery samples but some haven't made it to the website yet.

Here are some patterns already on the site:

1. Double Eyeglass Case: These slightly oversize eyeglass cases are stiffened with the same clear plastic I use in panadieres. They have a soft cloth divider down the center to accommodate two pair of glasses.

No more need to rummage in your purse for your reading glass case and invariably come up with the sunglass one, or vice versa.

2. Quilted Trivet: A very easy to make trivet that can match your panadiere.

If anyone is interested I can add this pattern:

Post-it Note Holder: This is kind of like a compact; but it's designed to hold a pad of Post-it Notes. I use mine all the time, especially when someone else says, "Darn I don't have any paper to jot that down. Do you?" (See a picture of it on the eyeglass case page.)

The other idea that comes to mind, though I haven't done it yet, is to use the samples on the front and back covers of handmade books.

Readers: do you have any other ideas for Marlene's upholstery fabric samples? Please send them in.

Remember The Artful Crafter logo, "Helping Crafters to Be"!