If you want to get rid of the really small pieces, there a bunch of us that are making postage stamp quilts, and 2.5" quilts. We would be thrilled to take those off your hands. We need variety in our swaps.

I cut them first into 5" squares, if not enough for that, 4 1/2" squares and if not enough for that, 2 1/2" strips. I do not let them pile up anymore. Last year I spent an entire month cutting up scraps! Never again.

Do you really know what kind of people are on this Board? "The greatest people in the quilting world". I no longer feel like "The crazy lady scrap hoarder'. I don't cut anything until I find a use for it (and I know I'm going to find a use). I can't bring myself to throw out a scrap so it goes in the proper drawer or tote and sooner or later ends up in a quilt.

Dingle

there are ladies on this QB who would take any size scrap. some make postage stamp quilts, some make doll quilts or small wall hangings, etc. you get the drift. If you don't want them post on the QB in the Free offers or PIF section.

My thoughts too. Thank goodness I just had them in a bin. I have discovered the fun of making fabric bowls with 1" pieces wrapped around clothesline. Like peanuts, hard to stop at one!

piney

Many creative people here and many ways of doing things! I've discovered scrappy quilting and cut my leftovers into 1.5", 2", 2.5", and 3.5" strips and squares a la Bonnie Hunter. I find I'm sewing MORE by having the pieces ready to roll. I buy fabric in smaller pieces (usually 1/3 yard) for strips when I feel the urge to buy fabric - gets me lots of options and usually easier on the budget. If I need larger pieces for a pattern, I hit the stash or buy what I need, especially borders and backgrounds. There's definitely no right or wrong way...just keep it fun. :-)

I just finished cutting a bunch of scraps. They started in a drawer, all scrunched together so I pressed them and layed them on a TV tray to keep them flat (mostly strips). I cut mine into 2 1/2", 2", 1 3/4" and 1 1/2" squares. Don't know what I'm going to do with them but at least they are all cut :) DH commented that it appeared I was desperate to save the fabric, but hey I payed for it so I'll use as much as I can!
kathyd

Sounds like a great system. Thanks for sharing.

I cut mine into strips mostly: 6.5", 4.5", 3.5", 3", 2.5", and 1.5". Smaller pieces are used in my 3.5" crumb blocks!

*The Postage Stamp swap- using 1.5" squares- is going if you'd like to join in~ :)

How much did your pieces shrink when you starched them?
Had you washed your fabrics first?

Generally speaking, I think anything smaller than 1-1.5" wide is too small to really be useful.

Gosh, I used to cut up my scraps into my lumber yard....1 x 4, 4 x 4, 2 x 4, etc.
Never failed when I found a project pieces were just out of size so I still put them in large bins and when I see someone needs scraps, I send them a box. And I use them myself for scrappy quilts and such.
I do however, keep 1.5" x wof and 2.5".
Gylene Fitzgerald has awesome pineapple templates and polygon plates for that size.
And 2.5 " well, we know there's always jelly roll quilts to do.
Like everyone's reasoning here.

I've been putting mine in a bag as is & I'm always going through it looking for just a little piece of this or that & I usually find something I can use! I have lots of fun going through that bag of brightly colored scraps & I'm very protective of them. Almost as protective of them as my stash!! LOL! :-)

I don't cut them up, just sort by color. If I cut them, then they may be the wrong size! I like to do paper piece as well as a variety of piece work.

Oh is this so true -- I gave away a 1/2 yard of focus fabric because I could not find the coordinating fabrics. You guessed it, when cleaning my sewing room I found the coordinating fabrics but now I have no focus fabric (sigh).

I cut a lot of my scraps and created a monster!!! On the other hand, this winter when I need to make a quilt quilt, it will be neat to have alot cut! I cut 10" blocks, 3"x6" blocks, 5",4", 3" blocks. Anything smaller than that I cut a thimble blocks.

If you've got enough space in your sewing room to keep your scraps, don't throw anything away!!! Anything can be used for something along the way and scrap quilts are beautiful. I even use "crumbs".... sew them all together in any way that takes your fancy and then cut them back into 4 1/2" squares, sew them together either with or without sashing. Good luck!!!

I pitch all of mine into a container and do not cut them until I decide to do a project.

Thanks for all the input. I think I will be cutting them for scrap quilts. If they are already cut I can just grab some and sew the 4 or 9 patches when I'm in he mood for some less complicated piecing.

Elfi, your crumb quilts are beautiful. I've been saving my crumbs but haven't tried one, yet. Thanks for the inspiration!