Originally Posted by Carol's Quilts
Just what kind of scraps are you guys talking about? When I say "scrap", that's what I mean. For about the past year, I have been making baby quilts for Quilts for Kids. If I need 1/2 yd fabric to cut 12 blocks, I buy only 1/2 yd. I'll square up the fabric and get 2 long skinny triangular strips from the edges, then cut my squares. Do you mean to tell me that you would use those "squared-up" skinny uneven strips to include in a quilt?
If I'm making a bed-sized quilt, I only do hand applique. After I cut all those curved shapes into flower petals or hearts or pieces of birds or whatever, there's nothing left but odd-sized, curved shapes that aren't good for anything but the trash bag. Say I have a 1/4 yd strip of fabric from which I cut a bunch of leaves or hearts arranged so that I get as many as I can from that fabric. Imagine rolling out cookie dough and cutting out cookies with a cookie cutter. That's the kind of scraps I throw away. Would you guys actually use those junky little pieces?
I only buy as much as I need and there is SELDOM anything usable left.
I can't afford to buy fabric just to store it because someday I might find a use for it. I buy what I need when I need it, and throw away the above-described scraps.
What kind of scraps do you save to re-use at a later date?
Carol~ scraps means something different to everyone. To me it would be pieces no smaller than 2-inches square. I keep anything that can be cut into a 3-inch square or a 1.5-inch strip for myself to use in a scrappy quilt some time down the road. I actually sort into bins for Christmas, Kids and the rest. I know... OCD is coming to mind here...lol
If I have something smaller like 2-inches to 1-inch squares or strips I'll save it in a bin in case someone on the board who is braver (crazier?) than I am is looking for itty bitty pieces for a project.
Anything smaller or weird shaped does go into the trash. Fabric is sooooooooo expensive that I can't just toss it. I never pay full price and I don't think my stash would be considered large by anyone...but it's mine and I love it! :mrgreen: