I am a serendipitous quilter and do my cutting "wholesale" rather than waiting for a specific project. I put together between 100 and 150 tops a year for charity so this method works best for me. Also, I have my big cutting table and mats on the screened in porch so I do the bulk of my cutting about a week at a time in spring and fall. I have a smaller cutting setup inside for whatever I need to fill in. Since almost all of my quilting is done targeting the oft forgotten young adolescent and preadolescent male population, most of my colors and themes work well together anyway. There's always some already cut inspiration ready to get my creative juices flowing and my fingers itching sew!
No, I do not use the same pattern over and over and frequently just start putting blocks together as the fabric speaks to me. No complaints yet! My go-to sizes are 2.5",4.5", charms, 8.5" and layer cake sizes. Often the scale of the print dictates my cutting but not always - I hate waste! I buy some precuts but mostly cut my own. Pinked edges aggravate me! Plus, commercial precuts are presented so beautifully, i find myself subconsciously delaying using them. Not the case with my self made precuts. No cutsie ribbons to slow me down!
As to your plan for your half yards, cut them up and use them! I think you and I could quilt together without a hitch and have a blast. I would recommend that you not leave the last three inches but turn it into an extra 2.5" strip.
Last edited by mhollifiel; 02-09-2016 at 08:48 AM.