When I bought the fabric for recovering my big board ironing board, I got 2 yards because I wanted to make sure I had enough lengthwise to cover it without having to piece it together. The fabric was much wider than was needed, so I cut off the extra width. I set it aside, thinking I might give it away at the freebie table at my local quilt group meeting (if we get to meet in person again). But as I was watching a flosstube video, I realized I could do something with it—something I didn’t have, and that might be useful now that I have at least some of my cross stitch mojo returning.
When I put away my stitching several years ago, I was just beginning to see people use “grime guards”—fabric casings that are put around stitching frames such as q-snaps that help keep the edges of the fabric in the frame from getting soiled. Since I mostly stitch in hand, and wasn’t stitching much at all, I saw no need to get one to use on mine. I searched for a tutorial and found one that gave me the dimensions (and calculations for non-standard sizes if needed) for the fabric and least needed. I tried it out last night and it fit great, and doesn’t get in the way. I made a couple of other sizes from the remaining fabric, and I’m really pleased to have made some pretty grime guards from scraps! Sure, I could buy some, but when you have the scraps and the skills, why not save that money for other things like more fabric? Ha!