If I don't know how I will use them I cut off the waistband, then cut off the side seams and hems. cut off the inseam and center back seam and the fly and center front seam. That leaves the back pockets intact in case I want to use them later. The pieces fold flat and easy to store until I have enough to make a project. The exception to this is if I want to use the top portion to make a purse our of the top part, then I just cut off to legs and open them up.