How to Take Paper off of Fabric Samples (plus how to take the sample books apart & craft ideas!)

[@ScrapFabricLove]

What do you think should I try a fabric sample quilt? Or would you stick to tote bags and cushions with this kind of fabric?

[@helentucker2060]

I think you should try a quilt!!! If the fabric is heavy, maybe a rag quit!

[@ScrapFabricLove]

I am so tempted! I probably will 😉

[@elliefox1419]

All those fabrics were so pretty and bright.... yeah, a quilt would be cool. I gotta look for some of those, fun!!

[@lesliesteinhauser2595]

Those fabrics were very interesting. As long as they’re not super heavy. You would make a quilt to show them off.

[@ScrapFabricLove]

They are roughly the same weight or some of them a bit thinner than denim.

[@lesliesteinhauser2595]

I used to work for a company that made awnings and of course those fabrics are vinyl or Sunbrella‘s. They also did window treatments. This was back in the 1990s they would give me the old books. My mother would meticulously remove the fabrics samples and she made a small, I think they were 2 x 2 squares hand sewed a quilt. I still have this quilt today. She would also save the pictures of how the fabrics were used if they had a pretty theme to them and fold them in half and use them as notecards to send to people or attached to gifts.

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Love it! Your Mom sounds awesome!

[@diannplatt-roberts8692]

Thank you! I have samples but have never known how to take the paper off. I make a lot of dog/cat beds for animal shelters and these work great because the fabric tends to be heavier.

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Glad you got a useful tip from it!

[@katehenry2718]

Super! Shelters appreciate cushies for their critters... especially those made with love specially for them.If your own ark is full you can support the shelter with these and pheramones from Chewie that keep the doggies calm, and some cash now and then. If the doggies shred them it is a big doggie toy.

[@Loridye3605]

Fantastic idea!!! Love it. What a great idea to take the upholstery fabric and combine it with denim to make a quilt! You have the best ideas. Thanks as always for sharing ❤

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks! I think it might work well. I might be a bit nervous washing it but you gotta try these things!

[@Loridye3605]

@@ScrapFabricLove Absolutely Kristen☺️

[@anjamaas7140]

A samplerquilt would be awesome with all the different fabrics from 1 or 2 lines. I just bought a samplerbook with quiltingcotton of candys. I'm so happy with that. I'm going to make a quilt with candy-jars in a cabinet

[@ScrapFabricLove]

That sounds fab!

[@NolaTheAlamoChiliQueen]

❤❤❤ this video! Great info. Back in 2020 I was going through my mom’s fabric stash & she had lots of these. I soaked them in hot water with a bit of fabric softener. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed this! Back in the day… when I graduated from high school, my aunt made me a “beach throw” (like the block you show at 16:00). It wasn’t finished on the back, just raw edges. It was about 5’x5’, great for picnics, etc. I loved it! FANTASTIC video Kristen, you are so creative!!!

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks so much! Glad you liked it! I am definitely inching closer to making a quilt with some of these!

[@NolaTheAlamoChiliQueen]

@@ScrapFabricLove I have denim & heavier fabric I’m hoarding. I hope to gather enough to make a throw for each of my nieces. 🤞Fingers crossed I get that done.

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Brilliant - I am always drawn to denim for quilts. It feels so nice and gives such a good weight.

[@chrislittebrant5235]

Good Day Kristen, I never thought of those. Those are beautiful fabrics. When I was younger I used a lot of upholstery fabrics and reupholstered a few pieces of furniture. I hope you have a good week. 🥰 Chris Raleigh area NC

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks! Hope you have a good week too! Thanks for watching!

[@DsheaCreatingandConsuming]

Thank you, very useful information. I just bought a sample linen book from a thrift store for 1 dollar. I plan on using the hot water method. Surprisingly it was pretty simple to pull apart the book.

[@francesrivera3569]

You're creating a monster lol. I just won a bid on eBay for a book with smaller samples. I figured for just over $20 US with shipping I can try this. On the flip side; thanks to you and others, I am working a lot more out of my stash and playing with my scraps. I just ordered a bunch of inexpensive muslin for string piecing, a little bit of hardware for lanyards and key chains and an Accuquilt and strip dies. At least the muslin and hardware was purchased with gift cards I received for Christmas 🤣. Thanks for sharing your ideas with us!!!

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Glad you are having fun having a play! Apologies of course for enabling the eBay habit but I’m an addict myself so I’m not great for counselling restraint in that quarter 😂

[@FredaM]

Such a great idea! If I find some of these fabric books I would love to make some tote bags. Thanks for sharing.

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Glad you liked it!

[@cherylcheryl7588]

It must be a testament to the kind of day I had today but I completely enjoyed watching you dismantle that book! You certainly are a thrifty lady…I would never be able to spot opportunities to be frugal like you do! Kudos 👍

[@ScrapFabricLove]

😂 hope the rest of your day goes better! Thanks for watching!

[@mojosbigsticks]

I used to work in a soft furnishing department, and got to take all the sample books home! If the books are old and very dry, the glue tends to leave a residue, and you'll have to trim it off. But hey, at that price it's a small loss!

[@ScrapFabricLove]

I think the ones I have used are relatively modern so I’ve not had that issue but good to know! Thanks!

[@wilycat5290]

Wouldn't have given a thought to fabric sample books, but now maybe so..... Thank you for the video 😊👍

[@gisellejones1139]

You're a very resourceful person with good ideas!!

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks!

[@emmaholloway2516]

Thank you for sharing your advice! I've been avoiding pulling the rest of my fabric sample books apart because of how long it took me to do it originally.

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Hope these methods work for you!

[@josiegitto8928]

Great video , They are hard to tackle with ,even wallpaper samples . A great way to use up the heavy duty cardboard covers is ironing pads or small design boards for quilt blocks , easy to do ,TFS

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Good ideas!

[@patriciam4861]

Thank Kristen!! (From Pat in FL)

[@GinaGrowe]

I LOVE your pink sofa! So pretty - I need one...or in lavendar or turquoise - I'm not picky ;-) Thank you for the video - terrific idea even though I've only seen paper sample books and not fabric ones.

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Glad you liked it! My ‘sofa’ is really a big armchair I bought ex display to brighten up my sewing room 😀

[@blairseibert1778]

Thank you. I just gave away a lot of fabric samples because I wasn't sure what to. The large paper edge's limited thanks. I had no idea I could actually remove the paper. Thank you again

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Glad you will be able to use them next time you get some!

[@CraftedByChristyShop]

This was VERY helpful!! Thank you

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Glad it was useful!

[@lyndapatrick8303]

Great tips on the paper removal! I was given a box of fabric samples & have been making bags with them

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Fab! They are perfect for bags 😀

[@angieallen4884]

Thanks for the great ideas! I love the idea of a denim/fabric sample quilt! I have a great blanket a friend made for me from denim and ticking and it is such a great thing for picnics and other sitting-on-the-lawn activities. It is in my car all the time for spontaneous picnics or just-in-case problems like getting stuck in cold weather. It is heavy and warm.

[@ScrapFabricLove]

My favourite quilts are usually denim ones - so warm and so soft at the same time.

[@bethperrine6431]

I picked up several sample books from a designer for free. She was happy to save them from landfill as she usually trashes them. My fiancé used an oscillating multi-tool (about $20 usd) to quickly cut the screws/bolts & needle-nosed pliers for the staples. Thanks for the hot (tub) tip too! -eager to see what your samples become

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Keep that fiancé around! He sounds like he comes in handy 😂

[@Lsu2012Bama]

What a great video! I’m going to checkout my local furniture companies!

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Good luck finding some good samples!

[@emilie1365]

Great ideas, as always! Thank you for sharing! PS: Wow dismantling a sample book is a workout in itself. I would have to start with a upper body warm up 😉

[@ScrapFabricLove]

It probably looked worse than it was 😂

[@carolinelvsewe]

Very cool and helpful. I hope I can find some fabric this way. Thank you!!

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Glad it was useful!

[@lilinmichigan]

very inspiring. glad to have your videos and tips.

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks!

[@giovannacasadio9600]

I get these samples for free from a guy that fixes sofas near my house, I have taken them apart and taken off the paper of most of them but your way is a lot quicker, I would put them in the washing machine to spindry after so that they dry quicker. Thanks for sharing.

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Good idea with the spin!

[@deliad8826]

Hi Kristen. I had never thought to repurpose fabrics in sample books until your great video! I am looking at a book I reserved from our library entitled, “wonderful one-patch quilts” by Sara Nephew and Marci Baker. On page 11 under the Fabric heading is a section called Decorator Fabrics and discuss exactly what you did on your video!!! A bit of serendipity and had to share.

[@ScrapFabricLove]

How fab! You must be fated to make one!

[@deliad8826]

@@ScrapFabricLove 🥰

[@clairemanning521]

Brilliant video, thank you 😊

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks so much! So glad you liked it!

[@heatherrj9980]

So helpful!

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks so much!

[@michelehidgman3864]

I use the Upholstery fabric with Jean material and make picnic quilts

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Exactly what I was thinking…great minds! Does the upholstery fabric wash okay?

[@michelehidgman3864]

Yes it does. But the ones I've made don't get washed alot. My daughter keeps one in her car for both warm weather and winter weather.

[@mrgarner4796]

Thank you!

[@paulamcclellan8436]

Beach / picnic blankets ,

[@dakin7612]

The clear vinyl would be great in a project bag.

[@raisavaz]

Hey! That type of binding is called screw and post binding. If you look up a video on how to make one you might find an easier way to dismantle it. Or you could just look up how to undo/dismantle one. Hope this helps.

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks! I think I just need to rope my husband into holding the other side while I yank 😂!

[@jenmckitrick]

I have two fabric sample books I got for free at a quilt guild meeting. I'm dying to rip into them now!

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Oh cool! Have fun!

[@ingquisitive]

I was gifted a 40 gallon bin of fabric samples like that. I used a flat head screw driver to pry the head of the post up and then squished it with a pliers so that I could get the material off. It was a long and arduous process, but it is done and now I have a ton of scraps... I'm not always sure if I came out the winner. lol

[@ScrapFabricLove]

That sounds like a lot! I think you must be the winner there!

[@yoshiew05]

Maybe a carprnter’s pry bar to open the books?

[@ScrapFabricLove]

If you have one definitely worth a try!

[@valerievalagator6780]

Every time you grabbed that serrated knife I braced myself for carnage. Glad you did not get hurt.

[@ScrapFabricLove]

😂 yes probably not the tool best suited for the job. I just grabbed the closest thing from the toolbox 😂

[@laurabarber6697]

🎉❤🎉 thanks

[@nancymathisen9707]

I’ve gotten some samples that had glue that wasn’t water soluble. Rubbing alcohol dissolved some of those.

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Great tip! I’ve never come across any of those but thanks for when I do!

[@sallysmith6543]

Love this! Brought back memories from my teaching days when the art department used to have lots of these books and used the fabric for mopping up paint 🤦‍♀️. Needless to say, I swooped the best ones for fabric I wasn’t going to use. A screwdriver is better than a hammer for getting the staples out 👍

[@sallysmith6543]

Swapped- not swooped 😜

[@ScrapFabricLove]

I remembered after I have a staple remover in my little upholstery kit 😂 I am so impatient I just grab the closest thing usually!

[@Sybil_Detard]

Would make a beautiful quilt. I'm thinking kawandi, but then, I am on a kawandi kick right now.

[@noemir8262]

I'll try to send you a picture of a hand bag that I'd like to replicate with home decor fabric samples. I'm wondering if a warm hair blow dryer would work or a heat gun (using proper safety measures of course). I have to be careful in my home about what I allow to go down the drain. Glue particles wouldn't be good. (ancient plumbing).

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Maybe the iron method would work best for you then? I’ve not tried a hair dryer but in theory it could work! No harm experimenting as long as you are safe with it!

[@katehenry2718]

Maybe soaking in a bucket would be enough. Pour out the water outside in a place where dried glue particles wouldn't be a problem. Gravel driveway???

[@noemir8262]

@@katehenry2718 💡great idea. Thank you!

[@Mickey-jn8hz]

I saw some yrs ago with screws….that one seems hard to do.

[@sarahann6209]

Acetone nail polish remover. The remover needs to contain acetone. Paint it on the paper and the fabric side where you think the paper is. In other words making sure it is saturated. The paper slips right off!! The remover evaporates readily so you have to work quickly or reapply if necessary. Also best to work with ventilation. I gave my samples a quick warm sudsy wash to clean up remover residue.

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Interesting! Not sure I could handle the smell myself but good tip.

[@nancymathisen9707]

Crowbar and bolt cutter.

[@ScrapFabricLove]

😂 if only my tool collection was that extensive !

[@lynne3124]

Not too hot steam iron on the paper which peels straight off honey.

[@dakin7612]

You almost need a crowbar to remove the fabric from the book, LoL.

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Yeah it was tough!

[@AfricanLitany]

Ironing is the worse idea ever. Now I have tacky fabric. How do I work with that now

[@ScrapFabricLove]

If ironing didn’t take all the glue off use the second method and wash the glue off with hot water.

[@ltyrell405]

I would not want to run all my hot water down the drain :(

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Fair enough

[@normafulford1417]

What a waste of our precious resource--water!! Use the iron, save the water!!