Blog on Emalolabella

Scrap-fabric project: drawstring dice bags, bingo-card pouches and a board-game tidy

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Board-game nights have made a proper comeback. A typical modern set comes with dozens of small pieces—tokens, cards, dice, player pawns—and most games use plastic bags or cardboard inserts that fall apart after a handful of plays. Pre-loved fabric scraps are perfect for this. A few offcuts from a larger garment project can become a full set of storage boxes, and they’ll outlast any game insert.

Why scrap fabric works for game storage

Board games live in homes where they’re opened, packed away, moved to friends’ houses and unpacked again. Commercial storage solutions are often flimsy. What you need is sturdy, flexible, and washable—exactly what pre-loved denim, canvas or linen scraps provide. A piece the size of a tea towel can become a drawstring dice bag. Larger pieces can line or form a compartmented tidy. Because you’re using scraps, the project is cheap, and a bit of colour-mixing or pattern clashing in your finished pieces is actually part of the appeal.

Visible Mending: A Beginner's Guide for UK Readers

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Visible mending means repairing a hole or worn patch so that the repair shows on purpose. You cover the damage with a patch, then stitch around it with thread that stands out. The stitching holds the repair together, so it matters more than the patch itself. You can do it with a sewing machine or by hand, and it suits jeans and other sturdy fabrics.

Why it is getting attention

The UK Sustainable Fashion Week ran from 26 September to 4 October 2026. According to FashionUnited’s round-up, it included more than 340 community activities across 41 regional hubs. Some of those events were practical. In Bristol, a slow fashion festival included clothing swaps, visible repair stations and denim upcycling workshops. At another event, old jeans were turned into tote bags.

What to Do With Clothes You Never Wear (UK)

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Most people have clothes they no longer wear. You can donate them to a charity shop, put them in a textile bank or take them to a recycling centre, sell them, or repair them and keep them in use. The right choice depends on the condition of the item and on what your local council accepts. As a simple rule, clean clothes in good condition should go to a charity shop or be sold. Damaged, dirty or wet items need a different route, so check your council’s rules first.