Scraps of surplus fabric are finding fresh purpose fighting winter chills. The Catalytic Foundation has engaged the Dunedin Curtain Bank to sew about 500 sustainable bags for its Big Warm Up initiative The fabric bags will be filled with essentials such as blankets, jackets and warm socks for people living in hardship across New Zealand. Dunedin Curtain Bank manager Belinda Le Lievre said volunteers and staff were using excess fabric and offcuts to sew the bags. ‘‘Sometimes we get donated materials that are not suitable for making curtains out of but they might be great for making a bag,’’ Ms Le Lievre said. Catalytic Foundation chief executive Teresa Moore said rather than using heavy plastic, having a sustainably produced carrier was a better alternative. This is the first year the campaign has rolled out nationally and already it has received requests from about 200 charities for more than 1500 bags.…