Repurpose/Recycle

44 comments
My idea of going green is using vintage fabric and re-purposing fabric where possible. And speaking of vintage fabric - I've got a great FFF coming up Friday. You won't want to miss this. I had a goodie box arrive today and I can't wait to unveil it. Thanks Lori!!
Here is my sad large and well used heating pad. It gets passed around quite a bit at our house. And in the trip around the house the blue (ugly) fake flannel hot pad cover got lost. We've been substituting pillow cases since that but that is a terrible substitute for a heating pad cover.
So here is one of my 3 quilted roller shades that were in a bay window in my house. Excuse the really awful red ribbon. That is a different story but the fabric was rolled on a dowel and the ribbon wrapped under the rolled fabric shade and tied in a bow. I hated the ribbon and soon after I made the shades we remodeled the kitchen and these shades did NOT go with the tile back splash or the new counter top. So they were less than 6 months old when I took them down. It is just squares of fabric with batting in the center and the dots on the back. I put right sides together and turned it inside out to form the shade. Last year I made some hot pads and zipper bags with the other 2 shades. I blogged about it here. And that is a better view of what the roller shade looked like.
Back to the heating pad. I'd been thinking I need to make a cover for the heating pad for a while now and then I thought of the shade fabric. I wanted something a little insulated in the heating pad but not too thick and this was just the trick. Within 15 minutes the whole thing was completed since the edges were already finished. I took the lazy way out and stitched the top closed with larger stitches. I didn't have Velcro and snaps would be metal and might get hot. I thought about buttons to close it and then I just decided to sew it shut and forget about it. I can unpick to wash it.

One problem fixed!

-nanette
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44 comments

Sherri said...

Great idea...and so cheerful! I love it when I think of a way to re-use something. My Dad grew up during the Depression...and it seems a strange thing to say...but I'm always grateful for the lessons I learned from HIS experiences!

rachel griffith said...

oh yayyy!!!
SUCH a great idea nanette!!!
and it's SUPER cute!!!
hi-5!!!

Nedra said...

Great idea! At my house we call those "heating pads", where a hot pad is what we use in the kitchen. Believe it or not, we got a heating pad for a weddding present and it still sits in the closet and has made all the moves with us. It would be a good idea to bring it out during the cold winter months!

Three Birds Inspired said...

My heating pad looks horrible and it simply NEVER occurred to me that I could make a cover for it! I swear, you would think I didn't own 5 sewing machines! Thanks for the great idea.

Kritta22 said...

Nice work!! that;s so cute.

Elaine/Muddling Through said...

Well, aren't you clever! And that is so much more attractive than the covers they arrive wearing. :)

MichelleB said...

What a great idea! And what a great cover. You cracked me up with the just sewing it shut. I would have pondered how to close the thing forever.

Sandi Linn Andersen said...

Oh, funny! I couldn't figure out from the picture what the white wrinkled thing was!!! And then you said "hot pad" and I could see where the cord was ....... and the light bulb went on!! Cute idea! I got a heating pad for Christmas (has a soft blue fleece cover) and it was just what I asked for! My husband wanted to know what I wanted and that was all I could think of because we have one we share and sometimes we both have aches that need the heating pad!Now we have "his and hers heating pads"! Are we (referring to me and my DH) gettin' old or what?!!!
:-)

Carla said...

Very clever and pretty!

em's scrapbag said...

Very cheerful and quite clever. You sew girl!

Messy Karen said...

you've made a very cheerful cover. i also love to repurpose/recycle.

Gracie said...

See! This is why I have to read my blogs. Never would have thought of that and mine has that hideous blue fake flannel cover that gets all scrunched. I'm going to make one too. Thanks for the idea.

Farmhouse Blessings said...

That is sooo clever! I would want to use that hot pad every day. Who knows, maybe I would hang it on the wall! LOL It's lovely.

Smiles,
Lea

Cara said...

Awesome! What a great use to such pretty fabrics! Plus now it is cheery if someone is using it to soothe an upset tummy! Wonderful!

Jane's Fabrics and Quilts said...

Wow, great idea and with the extra padding it will not get to hot. I have mine on my quilting chair and set it to low for my back, but also it makes me feel nice and cozy!

Candace said...

Like Sandi - I looked at that first picture and thought you were going to tell us about a heated pet bed (our cat sleeps on one that looks like that 24/7!) Then when you revealed your idea - great, Nanette! I would have never thought to recycle curtains that way - gosh, darn, you are a clever gal - and "green", too!
Cheers!

Eileen said...

That is a great way to use things that have been packed away and don't have a use anymore. It will be so warm and cheery. I would have it on my lap right now!

Annette said...

I have one of those hotpads with the pillowcase cover. (The pillowcase never stays in place and leaves uncomfortable frustrating wrinkles.) I always think I should make a cover but never get around to it. Now I am inspired.

Abby and Stephanie said...

Terrific use for the darling roller shade. Now you can still enjoy it and not have to look at the ugly heating pad! :o)

Cathi said...

What a great idea -- super way to re-use the shade! If one needs the heating pad, at least it will look cheerful! :-)

Patty said...

Very nice! I like being able to use up old stuff too; it always saves money.

Unknown said...

What a terrific way to recycle. I absolutely love the shade. The colors are fantastic and now when you use the hot pad, it will put a smile on your face, love it!!

Betsy said...

excellent idea with the shade.
i bet it was pretty

CJ said...

So very cheery too! Ours is a ghastly 70's orange crinkly fabric. Retro or not it is UGLY! But alas I have to many other things I would rather be sewing so will make a cute cover for it?? No. I will just admire yours. ;)

Momoo said...

Like another reader, I wondered about you hot pad, I couldn't imagine why you were using something that looked so bad when you had just made so many cute hot pads. Nice cover for your heating pad as we call it here in MI.

Momoo said...

Like another reader, I wondered about you hot pad, I couldn't imagine why you were using something that looked so bad when you had just made so many cute hot pads. Nice cover for your heating pad as we call it here in MI.

Thimbleanna said...

Huh. Well who knew? Our hot pad cover is all dirty and really needs to be replaced -- it never occurred to me to do so. Thanks for a great post -- your cover is adorable!

Unknown said...

Great fast finish! I think I have the same ucky flannel on mine still :)

mo said...

Very nice! I didn't think about the snap heating up- hopefully I gave enough clearance on mine that it won't burn little round dots into my dad's neck! Might have to revisit that! I just discovered your etsy shop and am excited to get my purse kit. Let me know when you will have more of the baby tumbler quilt kits available!

Anonymous said...

Wow, how cool was that? You've gottn good use out of the old curtins. Good for you. Rae Ann

Lurline said...

A gorgeous cover - I can see why you are quite proud of it - heaps better!
Hugs - Lurline♥

Tudy said...

Hi I am new to blogging and love the idea of reusing one thing to make another. I try to do that all the time.

Nice blog.

Shari said...

A very attractive cover for something so utilitarian. Well done on re-purposing!

Fran said...

What a great idea and so cheerful too. Just looking at it would make you feel better when you had to use it. Think I'll try something similar for mine. Those fake flanel things are very ugly aren't they?

Material Girls said...

Nanette,
I had to smile when I saw this, I live with the heating pad right next to my bed, (mine has and ugly blue cover also)I have some boo boo blocks that I know what I am doing with now. Kudos to you my friend!!!! You really are amazing!!
nadine

Amanda Jean said...

i love it!!! did you make all that little patchwork? it's so cute and cheery. i'm glad to see that you can re-use it!!

Karen said...

What a great idea...I never would have thought of it. Way more colorful than any you would see in the stores. Just the cover alone would make you feel better;)

Dawn said...

Nanette, it turned out so cute!! A heating pad that looks like a minature quilt..it gets better and better!!

Mimi Sue said...

Cute as can be. I love to find different ways to use things. Very green. Mimi

Busy Little Quilter said...

I need to get a heating pad so I can make it such a cute cover!

Unknown said...

Wow, that is such a cute clever idea.

I have having a giveaway on my blog. I hope you will join in.
Teresa

Anina said...

Snuggly and warm! So pretty!

Anonymous said...

That heating pad cover is soooo cute! And your potholders are so wonderful Nanette. I want to make some to hang as they are way to pretty to use! For messy me anyway.. x

Nan said...

What a perfect use for the shade! Great idea, Nanette. Thank you for sharing.