So, you ordered our sustainably-made fabric swatches. Then you picked out the perfect color and material for your new sofa. And now you might even be lounging on our Essential Sectional or kicking your feet up on our Essential Ottoman while reading this blog post. But what happened to your swatches? Sadly, they may be currently sitting abandoned and unused in a corner of your home, and throwing them out is the last thing we want to do.

Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to upcycle our swatches and other fabric scraps into brand new items or gifts! Here are 10 DIY projects that are easy and useful: 

Drink Coasters

Protect your furniture from getting marked by cold or hot drinks with a fabric coaster. They’re also super easy to make — just gather some of our swatches or fabric scraps and sew them together. (*It also doesn't hurt that our fabrics are stain and scratch resistant).

Kids’ Toys

Bring a homey feel to your kids’ toys by using fabric scraps. The options are endless — create dollhouse curtains and blankets to accent their existing toys or make eye-catching stuffed animals and play mats for your little ones.

Cleaning Cloths and Napkins

Perfect for dusting or wiping up small messes, you can repurpose our swatches by sewing them into cleaning cloths or napkins.

Gift Bows

We all know how wasteful wrapping paper and bows are when it comes to presents. Opt for a reusable fabric bow to top off your gifts (and check out our sustainable tips for holiday gatherings!).  

Patchwork Clothing

Whether you’re covering up some rips and stains or making a whole new piece of clothing, using fabric scraps for a patchwork-style look will give you a unique style that won’t break the bank.

Key Ring Pouches

Keep your essentials on hand with a small flap pouch to hold your daily items or go even smaller with a chapstick holder so you’ll never lose your lip balm again.

Cord Wraps

Pesky cords and cables making a mess at your desk or behind your furniture? Keep them wrapped up with a strip of fabric — we recommend our velvet swatches for a luxe look. All you need is your sewing skills and some Velcro!

Scented Sachets

These handy little pouches will freshen up any space and make great gifts as well. Stitch up some leftover swatches, fill with dried herbs or uncooked rice mixed with your favorite essential oil, and tie with a ribbon.

Dog Chew Toy

Keep your pets and the environment happy by reusing your fabric scraps and braiding them into a doggy chew toy.  

Sharing is Caring!

If crafts aren’t your thing, you can turn your swatches over to a friend or family member who’s looking for some new, environmentally-friendly furniture! Not only will you be able to let them know about a female-owned and sustainable brand, it’ll also cut down on greenhouse gas emissions from shipping. We’d call that a win-win situation for everyone involved, including Mother Nature.

Let us know in the comments if you try out some of these ideas or if you’ll be passing on your Sabai swatches to friends and family!