Thread: Question about scrappy quilts

I separate scraps by fabric type (flannel, quilter's cotton, homespun, etc.) and also by design type (children's, florals, holiday, batik, etc.) and also by color. I store pieces smaller in a FQ in plastic shoeboxes with labels. They stay pretty flat that way. I don't cut them up until I'm ready to use them, but sometimes that means there is so much to cut that I don't get started, so I can see the benefits of both systems.

I started cutting a lot of my scraps into 1 1/2, 2, 2 1/2, 3 inch and so on. I saved mixed greens containers from the produce dept. and have them nicely lined up on a shelf. When I was making charity place mats for Meals on Wheels, I just grabbed a handful of already cut squares and sewed them together randomly. What I like about the size increments is that I can use the 3 inch size to make HST's to put with the 2 inch (finished) size so I have more options.

I try to cut my scraps into the biggest size strip or square they can make. They store better than a box full of jumbled scraps that have to be ironed to straighten them back out, and they are ready to go when I want to play with them.

I love cutting my scraps and organizing the strips and squares. It's therapeutic for me....

I wouldn't mix flannels with cottons in a quilt. Save the flannels for their own quilt or backing. Homespuns occasionally make their way into a quilt with regular cottons, but I prefer grouping them with my recycled shirts fabric.

I think using different fabrics in a scrappy quilt would bring a lot of interest to it. I would suggest that a lightweight fusable interfacing on homespuns will help stabilize them an reduce fraying. Other than that wash every fabric first for shrinking, even if it is just a wash in the sink and then dried in a dryer bag or pillow case.

Have fun creating your special scrappy!
peace

I don't mix cottons and flannels in the same project. Don't use homespuns. I do keep my scrap strips in bins, and the odd shaped pieces get used for 3" crumb blocks. I use the crumb blocks to include in making charity projects. They add great color.