At last, after all the unpacking and washing that always has to be done at the end of a trip, and several urgent banking and other life-managing things to be done that couldn’t wait, it was a bit tantalising to unpack things like the large quantity of scraps and snippets I was gifted by a fellow textile artist :
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.alisonschwabe.com/weblog/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Lorraine-scraps-blog.jpg?resize=500%2C375&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.alisonschwabe.com/weblog/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/raw-scrap-strip-appl-w-neon-blog.jpg?resize=500%2C488&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.alisonschwabe.com/weblog/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Pieced-scrap-strips-w-neon-thread-blog.jpg?resize=500%2C395&ssl=1)
In 2019, I used this technique of over sewing of raw edges strips for a small work “Bush Colours” https://www.alisonschwabe.com/weblog/?p=5818 . It’s always bothered me a little that those strips didn’t stay entirely flat but sort of rose up in the middle, and I’ve since realised that although I love the raw edges and don’t want to ditch them, by using a little Misty Fuse or similar bonding web along just the middle on the back of the strip, the fabric will stay flat when it’s been stitched over. I use a hoop of frame to avoid the fabric being pulled sight, as I have a tendency to pull the stitching a little tight.
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.alisonschwabe.com/weblog/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Samples-gold-oversewn-snippets-smooth-and-frayed-edges-blog.jpg?resize=511%2C182&ssl=1)
Tags: pieced scraps, scraps