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Is your mountain of thrums growing taller and taller? Here are 11+ clever ideas for putting them to good use.
1. Weave Inlay
Add weft accents to shawls, tote bags, pillows (scroll to page 66), and handwovens of all sorts.
Sunset Reflections by Rebecca Smith. Photo by Matt Graves
2. Make Knots
Repurpose them as knotted cut pile or for rya knots. (Not all that fond of knots? See #5!)
Project: Memories of Norway Rya Pincushion
Memories of Norway Rya Pincushion by Anita Osterhaug. Photo by George Boe
3. Weave Bands
Make hanging loops for your towels using a backstrap loom.
Photo via Long Thread Media video
4. Get Felting
Make dryer balls, or get the kids busy with felt beads (scroll to page 24).
Dryer balls by Kim Canon. Photo by Roger Canon
5. Weave Courduroy
Lots and lots of thrums? Make a fluffy rug without tying a million knots!
Double Corduroy Rug by Rosalie Nielson. Photo by Joe Coca
6. Get Stitching
Sew your handwoven scraps together with thrums, or use them to add an embroidered touch.
Photo by Sara Lamb
7. Weave Potholders
Group them into bundles, and use as pattern weft in structures such as overshot.
Project: Thrum Potholders (scroll to page 53).
Thrum Potholders by Margaret Gaynes. Photo by Joe Coca
8. Make Spacers
Bundle thrums that are a bit wider than your current warp in groups about the same diameter as mop cotton. Tie a knot in each end and use them as spacers between projects on the loom.
9. Make Stuffing
Fill up pillows, oven mitts, or stuffed animals with washable thrums.
When Pigs Fly by Margaret Stump. Photo by Matt Graves
10. Weave Zanshi
Knot your thrums together end to end while you watch TV or listen to a podcast, and use the results as warp or weft in zanshi towels. Don’t worry about keeping like colors together—the random order makes for a lively towel, and the occasional knots add texture.
Zanshi towel woven by Tom Knisely. Photo by Long Thread Media
11. Re-Spin Them
Turn your leftovers into new yarn. Learn how in Angela K. Schneider’s video course, Spinning Garneted Fibers.
Angela K. Schneider demonstrates how to prepare loom waste for carding and then spinning. Photo via Long Thread Media video
Bonus Ideas
Use them to decorate jewelry.
Readers suggest weaving mug rugs; using them for needle felting; making dish mops; and donating them to art classes.
Do you have more ideas for ways to thrums? Please tell us about them!