Mostly depends on you, I save some and I mean some 1 1/2" sqs. this come in handy for Minature Quilts. Generally I will start with the 8 1/2" square and then work myself down from there, til I can save no more, on strips, I usually do 2 1/2" width. Some I don't cut at all because I like to use those for my crazy quilting.