ruby2shoes

Reading the posts here I like the idea of having a collection of strips and squares made up of leftovers, all ready to put together into a scrappy quilt. What is the handiest size to cut for strips and squares when you are dealing with all your leftover scraps?

katier825

What would you like to make someday? I looked for some patterns I hoped to make in the future and started cutting some sizes for those. I'm sure at some point I will have more than enough to make a few different scrap quilts.

What I end up cutting from my leftovers mostly are 2-1/2" strips, 2-1/2" squares, 4-1/2" squares, 5" squares, 6" squares. I don't bother cutting triangles usually, but if I have leftover, I save them. I do save some narrower strips if I think I will use them in paper piecing or other small projects.

PaperPrincess

Is there a size that you seem to use over and over again? I would cut that size. If not, here's a link to Bonnie Hunter's scrap users system:
http://quiltville.com/scrapusersystem.shtml
She has dozens of free quilt patterns that use these sizes.

luvstoquilt

I like 2.5 inch strips, 5 or6 in squares, triangles I sew as I go into squares. They make great leaders and Enders. I also save 2.5" squares. Love those scraps and scrappy quilts. I donate a most of them.

dunster

This method works for many people, but I don't cut fabric until I'm ready to use it. I feel like I'm keeping my options open that way. The down side is that there's a lot of cutting to be done before I can start a quilt.

ManiacQuilter2

I agree with Dunster. I don't cut until I have a pattern picked out.

notmorecraft

I don't cut until I have a pattern but leftovers get cut into fat quarters, 2 1/2 " strips, 5" strips or squares depending on piece of leftover 1 1/2 " strips basically something I can use at a later date.

tessagin

Same here. I have scraps but only from left over. Don't cut ahead unless you have a pattern.