Iceblossom

It's all about perspective, Kalama! Probably as many (or more even!) people were glad that they didn't actually have to make blocks as were upset about the end waste.

I do modern strip piecing techniques. There is a certain amount of waste in that. There is a certain amount in my cutting large.and trimming down, but less than just what is left over from the end of a strip that doesn't get used up. Typically I use less fabric than one extra row of cutting correctly.

I don't mind making units and slashing through them for the setting, again, I do that sort of thing all the time. That's not the waste that bothers me. But unless I've done something really wrong (which includes making bad choices), I don't just cut up fabric to sew it and then discard it and that's what I'm objecting to. It was a bad use of my time in addition to my material.

For those that are fans of Bonnie's style or construction techniques, well, yeah, they are nice little HST units or whatever and I'm sure you can do something with them eventually. Again, not so much for me with my fabric selections and my style of quilting, and they do not have a place at all in my storage system -- other people are equipped to deal with such things.

My current theory is if the fabric doesn't get used up in the current project, out it goes! I am going to be able to use those leftovers and half blocks in the back, and I'm going to have blocks to pick and choose my layout. But no, this whole pile of trims and pieces and deliberate over-cuts in addition to my own counting mistakes and mis-cuts/redone pieces is going out the door when the top is done. (Or I think it is, haven't heard yet from my crumb quilter if she wants these trimmings, she's mostly been gone since the board redesign).

For me the equivalent of 6 blocks that I've already partially completed is a huge amount. To others not so much. It's not even the wasted fabric, I have plenty of fabric, but for others a yard is a significant amount of fabric/cost. I quilt for fun, but I don't do it for no purpose, there was no real purpose for this other than to fool me and to waste my time, energy and fabric. Again, I don't accept that but I'm going to figure it will be better next time.

Edit (if I came back in time): I'll have to go back through the beginning, but if this sort of thing is going to be used in the future, a "warning: there will be enough leftover sewn/cut units for a baby quilt" would be good for me to know in advance. The mystery can stay alive until we know what is used. And then as an extra gift maybe a plan for the scraps. They are definitely usable.