cutting scraps question
 

I'm organizing my scraps and (pretty much) using the suggetions garnered from Bonnie Hunter's system as well as that of the person that wrote the "cut the scraps" book.

Pretty much what I'm doing is cutting them into 5 1/2, 3 1/2, 2 1/2- inch long strips, if they are big enough. OR if not, I'm cutting them into the squares suggested by the above ladies.

I have a question for those that do this type of thing. I have several big pieces and I don't know whether to strip them into the 5 1/2 inch strips or leave as is.

For example: one of my pieces measure about 18" by 17". Leave or cut? What would you do and why would you make that decision?

Looking forward to the answers you get on this.

I would leave the larger pieces intact - until you have an actual use for them.

Why - for example: if the pattern calls for 4.5 inch squares, and my strips are 5.5 inch strips, then I would be wasting an inch, and if the strips are 3.5 inches, then they are too small.

I'd leave them intact. Cutting them up limits what you can do with them.

I don't cut that size piece until I'm ready to start a scrap quilt. Then I know what I'll need.

I agree with Dunster..... I keep sizes about that size in one container and the smaller ones in another. At the end of sewing, I always run a small scrap thru so I don't waste the thread and I don't have to hold onto to the bobbin thread. GOOD LUCK with getting organized!!

I leave pieces that large alone util I am ready to use them. I KNOW if I cut them I would want them bigger.

If charm size+ a tail I cut the tail. If it has a tail but I can get a charm or bigger out of it, I cut the tail off. It that tail is long enough for a strip then I put it into the applicable scrap size bin. If the tail is 5" wide then I may put it into a charm bin. A piece 18x 17, I leave intact. You may want that for 9 charms +. I have pieces like that and pin a post it on it with the size.

If it approaches FQ size, I would leave it alone

I cram all my scraps in scrap drawers so why am I in this conversation....pure curiosity about organized people :)

Me too! I long to be organized but somehow it never happens. It's always on my New Year's resolutions list.

I too would leave the larger piece intact. If it was oddly shaped, say for instance like a huge square, with a smaller square attached, I would cut the smaller square off (perhaps... depends on my mood that day, and if I am cutting with a particular project in mind... for instance, last summer, I cut a HUGE bag of scraps into usable pieces, with a Jacob's ladder quilt in mind...) You sort of have to know what kind a quilter you *are* or think you will *be* lol

Bonnie Hunter uses many thrift store shirts in her quilts. She always says to leave the back section of the shirt whole for big blocks or backing pieces.

I purchased the book scrapetherapy by Joan Ford [Cut The Scraps!] Her method is 2in 3 1/2 and 5in. squares. I really enjoyed the book and looking forward to giving the method a try.

I don't purposely cut scraps into specific sizes until I'm ready to use them.

If they are fairly large I just fold them with the rest of that particular fabric.

If they are 3" or less strips I may put them with other strips of similar width.

The smaller scraps I'm trying to organize into light, medium, dark.
But right now they are still just a pile. Lol!

my method too!

I am going to start cutting mine into 5 inch squares, Hexagons and a few other shapes. Sizes that I commonly used and easy to stack and look nice. I am sure I will still have a ton left. I also will keep the larger pieces, but till cut into square so that I can neatly stack them. Scraps so easliy get out of control. I find that I use them more when cut into shapes.

I am reading this one out of curiosity since I would never get that organized....I have a huge stash and go in and cut what I need when I need it. I give the scraps to the art teacher at the middle school where I teach; she teaches quilting to the 8th graders each year. She has amassed quite a bunch from me and others! To me, 17 x 18 is not a scrap so I'd keep that one to use later....unless I hated the print and if so, I'd send it along to the art teacher.

I don't have the extra time either to be that organized but I agree with earlier posts that I would leave your larger pieces uncut until you need them for a specific project.

I combine Bonnie's and scrap therapy and put them in the scrap therapy boxes. I have 7. The strips I put in pizza boxes and I am running out of space for strips. I have regular sized bag, a paper box, 3 medium plastic boxes and 4 medium to small pile of scraps to cut. Don't know when I will get them as I have so many other things planned.

I have been trying out Bonnie Hunter's leaders and enders idea....I am making a lap quilt which calls for 37 WOF 2.5-inch wide strips, so I am stitching small and odd shaped pieces into crumb blocks in between cutting the threads. This is so much fun I have to remind myself to get back to the lap quilt now and then! The next strap project will be patch blocks out of the square pieces already cut up from scraps.

I do not cut up large pieces until ready to use them. If I have odd shaped pieces I don't think I can use as is, I will cut them into 10" squares, 5" squares, 4" squares or 2.5 " strips. If it's a piece I don't like, I will cut it up. Someone said if you don't like it even after you cut it up, you didn't cut it small enough! HA

As I have a specific pattern that uses 2.5" squares, I cut all my fabric scraps. It does seem to take forever but I want to make a scrappy. I have the hubby help while he watches sports to divide them into general colors and then I refine them. Then pack them into a 14 X 14 scrapbook pages container. I don't have a lrge amount of scraps as I only purchase fabric as needed for specific quilts. Will soon need additional box!!
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I agree with you - if you have a larger piece, no point in limiting yourself too early. Also would leave you more "wiggle room" should you decide to applique or something like that.

Marysewfun

I would leave intact.

I want to try Bonnie Hunter's Sister's Choice so I've been cutting a lot of 2.5" strips, if it's smaller than that I cut 2" or 1.5", the shorter neutrals I've been trying to cut into 2.5" x 6.5" pieces. And if it's small, then 2.5" squares or 2" squares. Smaller than that goes into a crumb basket. Slightly larger, if I can get 5" squares, fine, if not then smaller squares or strips.

I leave my large pieces whole unless I don't particularly like them, then they're cut down. Most of the quilts I'm interested in right now either use 2" or 2.5" strips, though I am putting aside assorted smaller sized strips for strings.

I like to square up my scraps but leave them in the biggest piece I can. Experience has taught me if I divide into smaller pieces I will need bigger pieces. I do love my stash.

You don't need another box- you need to make a quilt. You have plenty pieces to make a beautiful quilt. Can't wait to see it..

ditto. but I have cut plenty of 5.5 sq for the I spy I am collecting for my grandson. but I have cut the smaller pcs into 2.5 squares for the scrappy I am doing for a nephew.

I use some of my mother's clothes in each of my daughter's quilt so they hve some of grandma there. love Bonnies thinking!

I would definitely leave the larger pieces. You never know when you might need a larger piece for a project and you have it on hand can be such a time and money saver.
Mariah

I would leave as is, you might someday need to cut more than one square or rectangle of that color.