I love that you reused the thread. I also subject myself to the pain that is delicately unpicking a garment to salvage those little scraps.
I've wanted to try adding an underarm gusset to my bodices as I think they would help with arm mobility since my current bodice and sleeve blocks fit weirdly at the hinge of my shoulder.
By the way, have you seen the community Sewing, Repairing and Reducing Waste?