Just found out how much fabric gets wasted in a single factory run

I was reading a report from a textile plant in North Carolina and it said they throw away about 15% of the fabric from every roll as cutting scraps. That's a huge pile of material that just gets tossed or burned. It really hit me how much waste is built into making clothes before they even get to a store. Has anyone tried designing patterns that use up more of the fabric?

3 comments

3 Comments

torres.grant1d ago

Remember my buddy's failed t-shirt quilt?

hart.sage1d ago

Oh man, that just unlocked a memory. My cousin tried making one of those a few years back and it was a total disaster. The fabric kept bunching up under the sewing machine foot. She ended up with this lumpy, weirdly shaped thing that looked more like a sack than a quilt. Honestly I think it's still sitting in her closet half-finished.

dianahayes12h ago

Used to think those were a great way to save old shirts. Watched a friend try it and the stretchy jersey knit was a nightmare to work with. The whole thing got wavy and the seams puckered. Now I'm convinced you need some kind of special stabilizer or just accept it will look homemade in the worst way.