Bedspreads such as chenille spreads lend themselves to being used for craft projects. Whether you are making a rug, handbag, or holiday decoration, a bedspread can be the perfect material for your craft. This is a page about crafts made from recycled bedspreads.
This is a rug made from a queen size bedspread that I found for $2 at the thrift store. The bedspread had bleach stain spots on it, but as you can see, they aren't visible in the rug.
Approximate Time: Three days
Supplies:
one queen size bedspread
scissors
kite string
yarn needle
large crochet hook "q"
Instructions:
Begin with a freshly laundered bedspread. Using scissors, begin at one end and cut one continuous 2 inch wide strip, until the entire bedspread is cut up.
Roll the long fabric strip into a ball as you cut to keep it from getting tangled.
The most time consuming part is the cutting!
The bedspread fabric was quite thick, so I thought the stitching would be easier and last longer with some old kite string I had in my craft supplies. I just used a large crochet hook and did the basic chain stitch for the entire length of the cut fabric and rolled it into a ball as I chain stitched it.
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Once the chain stitching was complete, I threaded the yarn needle with kite string and began lacing the stitches together the same way a braided rug is stitched.
The stitching goes a bit under the topside stitch on one side, then under the topside of the stitch on the opposite side.
If this sounds confusing, look at a braided rug and check the stitching. It will make more sense to you then. In fact, that's how I decided the kite string would be hidden.
This rug isn't an area rug size, but just the right size to go at the foot of my bed. If a larger rug is desired, just use two bedspreads.
I bought a printed, ruffled bedspread, which I suspect is about 40 years old, for $1 at the thrift shop. In good shape, it was a little faded, which made me not want to use it on the bed, but gave it a sort of "vintage" patina. I took it apart and made several matching items to perk up my bedroom. It was fun to see how far I could make that dollar stretch! I have enough fabric left to make a few accent pillows. It was twin-sized. Sometimes you can find two matching twins, which would really give you something to work with!
Approximate Time: Various
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Supplies:
used bedspread (mine was a twin)
baskets of desired sizes
tray
journal
jar(s) with lid(s)
pillow forms (not shown)
hot glue
white glue
ribbon, trims
Instructions:
Lined Baskets:
Place fabric in basket, leaving an and extra inch to turn under. Trim.
Cut "darts" in corners (or every few inches if basket is round).
Hot glue fabric in place, starting with the bottom. Turn under raw edges to meet with top of basket.
Add ribbon bows if desired.
Jewelry Tray:
Use a tray made of porous material, such as wood. Cut fabric about an inch larger than tray.
Wet fabric and wring out.
With foam paint brush, paint glue on front of tray.
Attach fabric, removing bubbles. Add glue around edge on other side and press down raw edges.
After 48 hours, seal with varnish.
Pretty Jars:
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With a vintage jar, I used the same method for covering the lid as I did for the tray and then trimmed the raw edge with ribbon.
Valance: I made this by removing one whole long side of the bedspread, keeping ruffle attached and adding a rod pocket at the top.
Hope Chest Cover: I used the other long side of the spread and just hemmed the raw edge.
'Nite Notes' Journal: Cut a motif from the fabric, attach with hot glue, add title with 3-D paint.
What better way to give your home a touch of spring than with a bed spring bunny. This bunny head is made using an old chenille bedspread, a recycled bed spring, and a few other odds and ends you probably already have in your craft supplies.
If you have any of those old chenille bedspreads around, put it to good use and make a handbag. I made this one to show off the pink center in the daisy. That part is the flap of the bag.
I have a very old Bates "Queen Elizabeth" pattern woven white cotton bedspread I purchased for $10 at an estate sale. It was an awesome find and I've enjoyed it so much, but now it has developed quite a bit of wear (and even a few holes) in the top, due to being used and washed almost weekly for the past year (the cat sleeps on it too). The sides and top/bottom are still quite good. I need suggestions for crafts I might make from it. I've seen suggestions on using chenille bedspreads for crafts, but this is a much heavier material.
This is a rug made from a queen size bedspread that I found for $2 at the thrift store. The bedspread had bleach stain spots on it, but as you can see, they aren't visible in the rug.
