Norfolk sailmaker’s ‘patchwork quilt’ sail a ‘unique’ solution for recycling cloth scraps

A Norfolk sailmaker has found a colourful solution to save material offcuts which would otherwise be wasted.

Jeckells, based in Wroxham, used leftover small pieces of brightly-coloured spinnaker nylon to make a “patchwork quilt” effect sail.

Previously the company had sent its scraps of sailcloth to be recycled by various companies on its behalf, to fill dog beds or to be used by schools in arts and crafts projects.

But the sailmaker feels creating more patchwork sails could work alongside its current disposal method for cloth scraps.

Chris Jeckells, managing director of the seventh-generation family business, said that although the time needed to make the patchwork sails doesn’t make them the cheapest solution, it is a “totally unique” idea.

“Whilst we always do our best to ensure nothing is wasted, the new ‘patchwork quilt’ cruising chute offers a further string to our bow in terms of marketing how truly innovative we are,” he said.

Story by Bethany Whymark for the Eastern Daily Press.