My very first selvage projects!

I save the "doodle" cloths that I use to make sure my tension is correct for each quilt I quilt; and also to practice the design I'm getting ready to put on the quilt.

I do a lot of quilts over the year, so that's a lot of  "doodle cloths".

I turn these into zipper bags for Christmas presents.

I wanted to spruce them up, because the same people get them year after year, so I decided to start saving selvages to embellish them.  Here is my first attempt:

As I started saving the selvages it seems like every one around me got in on the project.  The LQS, Quilters Corner put a jar out on the table in the classroom labeled

"Selvages for Mary Ann".   My friends at all my sewing activities (who will most likely be the recipient of some of these zipper bags) bring me ziploc baggies full of selvages every time we meet.  Then, I go home with the selvages that are cut at

the activity that particular day.  So they have added up pretty fast!  I really like the way they spruced up the looks of the little bags.

For these bags I just sewed the 2 1/2" pieces directly on to the quilted "doodle cloths"

Then I overcast the edges with a decorative stitch.

Happy Quilting!

Many bags later

Many bags later I have a few to show for my time.  You may recognize some of those as Humbug bags, but actually in a parallel universe, I also created this little bag and called it a "grab".  After I had made many, many of them, (no pattern, of course,)  I see the pattern for the Humbug bag and go,  "Hmmmmmmmmmmbug"  Oh well.  I actually have 13of these little cuties made so far, they all didn't make it to the couch for the picture.  Just think of all the little bags you can make with your doodle cloths.  A lot of the students I have taught to quilt don't make doodle cloths, don't check there tension before starting on their quilt, don't practice their designs before starting their quilt and then they spend precious time taking out quilting on their quilt.  Trust me, this takes lots of time!!!  When you make a doodle cloth, you work out all the kinks and start the quilt ready to go. And have a  piece of quilted fabric when it's time to make a cute little gift.  Now the quilting on these little bags is not the best, but they are little and the quilting doesn't show up that much.  Try it.

Happy quilting