Cutting scraps
 

Finally taking the time to tame the scrap monster. I won't tell you how many containers I have but more than three.

Just wondering what sizes are the best to trim. I know 2.5 squares are used in many patterns as well as 5" but what else.

So you scrappers...what size are you trimming?

I am one who doesn't pre-cut. When I have a pattern in mind, that is when I start cutting. Most of my scraps are strips so they are not hard to contain them. I sort them by color.

When I decide to ( tame) some of my scraps I keep in mind what I tend to use most. Some may recommend specific sizes I would probably never use- so I cut to my ( style) of quilting. I also cut the largest possible first, then work my way down. (9-10" squares, 6 or 6 1/2" squares, 5". I also cut rectangles ( bricks) and strips as long as possible in widths I can get- often 3", 2 1/2", 2", 1 1/2" & 1" . 3/4" strips go into my Basket of strips for lockerhooking and wrapped clothesline projects. Think about the projects you make, and try to cut into sizes shapes you would use.

I'm working to reduce my fabric stash. I cut 3" squares for scrappy 16 patch blocks and 1.5" to 2" strips for scrappy string blocks.

Take a look at Bonnie hunter's site. She has a scrap system, with sizes to cut an scores of free patterns
http://quiltville.com/scrapusersystem.shtml
Patterns
http://quiltville.blogspot.com/p/free-patterns.html
at the top of the pattern page, she has a chart that lists what sizes are used with what patterns so if you get a bunch cut of a particular size, you can go right to the patterns that use them.

I quit pre-cutting. Now I just lay a square ruler on them and see the approximate size they would be squared then put them in a bin of that color status. Larger pieces on bottom and work up to smaller.

Several years ago I decided to cut my scraps and went to Bonnie Hunter's site. Cutting by her directions I filled three drawers of one of the small roll around plastic carts. But I have found that I have only made one quilt from those scraps, as I see a scrappy pattern I like and it uses different sizes then what I cut. I guess I should stick with patterns from Bonnie Hunter's site. (grin)

I am in the process of doing mine now. I've been quilting since 2009 and have boxes of scraps. The boxes were overflowing. I cut what I thought I would use the most. Squares in 6,4,3.5,2.5,2 and strips in 2.5 and 3.5 strips. Any bricks just got put in a separate box. So far I'm halfway done and what used to fit on two shelves now has room to spare on one. Now to finish 4 more boxes.....

I am another who does not pre-cut. I just keep whatever as I also like to paper piece. You just never know what size you need for those projects. Also, I'm not a scrappy quilter so I just have hunks of leftovers - no 'stash' per se.

I cut my pieces as I find a quilt I want to make. In the last month I've cut strips for and made two string quilts and a "spool quilt." Now on to the mock cathedral window jeans quilt. When it is completed I will have pulled 50 pieces from my stash - a fat quarter or less and used them up. Managed to consolidate two drawers to one. The empty drawer quickly filled up with Star Wars fabric!

I cut scraps to 2.5, 2, and 1.5 squares. Then any left over go into a mini log cabin bag. I only cut them into squares when they can't be anything else but a 2.5 square, larger scraps and strips stay in their color bin. The scraps go into 2 gallon zip log bags. Thus said, it takes a concentrated effort to use them. If I forget, it gets overwhelming really fast.

Have also vowed to tame the scrap monster. This is what I have been cutting: strips (more than 12" long) 1.5, 2, 2.5' 3.5 and 4.5. Squares 2' 2.5', 3.5, 4.5, 6.5' 10 and 12.5. Rectangles 2 x 3.5' 2.5 x 4.5' and 2x5. I am almost half-way through. And some funky trapezoidal Santa hats, since there were quite a few left over from the the last mystery and I have a plan for those. And HST that finish to 1,5, 2, 2.5' 3.5 and 6.5. The orphan blocks are gathered in a basket. All the layered quilts went into a big basket next to the machine for quilting. Tops done are in other baskets,with batting and binding and backing fabric. Planned non-scrappies have another basket for pattern/fabric. My sewing room is very small, so organization is critical.

As I finish a project I cut the leftovers into strips 2 1/2" or less and into 2 1-2" squares. I keep a bunch of white fabric strips in the same container,and in between projects I make strip blocks. I need over 200 6/12" blocks for a big quilt...it's coming along nicely!

I never cut them! There are so many times I use different sizes and shapes especially for samplers like the one I'm doing now.

Funny you should mention this. I haven't in the past cut any of them down. I love to applique, so they stay in thier original state. I do plan on organizing them into like colors now though. They are getting out of control.
Last year I gave away three black trash bags of them to a fellow seamstress. It sure felt good to pass them on and out of my hair.

I'm another who doesn't cut until I know what I'm making. I keep the smaller scraps (smaller than FQ) in plastic shoe boxes, sorted by color and/or type. I label the boxes and stack them on shelves. The scraps inside have been washed and pressed, and are flat in the box (unless large enough to need to be folded) so they are pretty much ready to be cut when I need them.

Your scraps need to be cut into sizes that you actually use. I know that I make a lot of scrappy quilts (multi-fabric sounds more elegant) and use 2 1/2", 3 1/2" and 4 1/2" strips and squares all the time so that is what I now cut. I rarely use 3" strips or squares unless I am making 2 1/2" HST's so I probably wouldn't cut many of those. Having cut pieces in sizes you rarely or never use doesn't make a lot of sense. You need to know what sizes work for you and even if you'll use them otherwise you might as well box up those scraps and leave them on the guild "freebie" table so they are out of your quilting space.

I am too lazy to cut. Am enjoying making a mile-a-minute quilt from scraps. This quilt is my inspiration:
https://sewingroomsecrets.wordpress....tchwork-quilt/
(Scroll down to "That moment when....."

and here is a recent QB thread with a link to a tutorial that got me started:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...s-t280847.html

The one thing I am doing is sorting my scraps into batiks and non-batiks. The one I'm working on now is all batiks or batik-like scraps. I am finding this both relaxing and fun!

Okay, about to admit something I usually don't. I donate my scraps when I run into someone at an auction, drooling over the material about to be sold, get her into a conversation about quilting etc., hear her share a story or two about her current or past creation, then offer scraps. Since I don't live far from the auction, it doesn't take long to drive home and back. My material on shelves keeps reproducing, so these babies I'm donating usually have a very nice home.

I use a lot of 2 1/2 " strips. If I have enough fabric left after making a quilt I will run them through my go. I take the strips with us in our RV and sew "leftover" quilts! We just came home from 2 weeks at our place in the UP. I made blocks for 3 quilts while there. The rest of the scraps are color sorted and stored in bins, I rifle through for what I need.

I use Bonnie Hunter's system. Works great for me. And now, having pieces already cut, I can sew up a couple scrappy quilts for some fire victims that have lost everything. Several fires 50-125 miles from me.

I don't pre-cut my scraps either. Rather I throw my scraps into the plastic bins marked for a certain size. I guess or measure at times what the smallest part of the scrap is and then that's the bin it goes into. Then when I need a certain size I know I can pull out the bins marked needed. That's what I did when I went to make a checkerboard border. I tend to throw my scraps into a large basket under my cutting table till I find the time to sort them by size. Just found the time and came up with over 500 2.5 scraps for my borders and sashings for a little wallhanging made up using some embroidered blocks I made back in 2004. Found them in another plastic tote under the quilt frame. Had forgotten all about them.

I cut up all my scraps last year. It took me about 2 weeks! I cut 2.5", 2", and 1.5". Of course I found a scrap pattern last week that called for 3 7/8. :eek:

i cut 2.5 strips 6.5 inch squares for baby quilts and 5.5 for baby quilts

My scraps get sorted into shoebox bins based on color. Anything smaller than a fat eighth makes it into the bin. I recently made Gypsy Wife entirely from scrap bins. It was fun to be able to say it was all scraps, but of course, just one quilt doesn't make much of a dent. I need to make a few more scrap quilts. The lid barely fits on the blue/aqua bin.
A few years ago, I cut 2 1/2 inch squares to make a "+" quilt, 5 inch square to make an "I Spy" quilt and another size for another quilt which I cannot recall. None of these ever became quilts. I've been swiping squares from the bins for other quilts... I just need to cut when I'm ready to make a quilt.

I use up all my cardboard (cereal, cracker and cookie boxes packages etc). I cut 5 inch squares and 12 inch squares. then I put my biggest scraps on these cardboards so they lie flat and can be filed. The smallest scraps are sorted by color, but not re-cut. it works for me.

I use my Go! to cut 2.5 inch squares and triangles for hst's. I also cut 5 inch charm squares, tumblers, and little flowers for an applique quilt.
I sort strips for string quilts too. The rest are waiting to be cut. I gave a huge bag to a fe!low quilter just to empty a drawer. Them do get out of control very quickly.

I'm still feeling my way when it comes to scraps. I'm not fond of extremely scrappy quilts, as I am not confident in my color choices - it ends up looking muddy. I keep items that are less than a FQ sorted by color.

The sizes I use the most mirror the pre-cuts so I can mix and match easily. If I only have a few squares around 10 inches or more, I like to do the magic eight (two 10 inch squares sewn 1/4 inch from each diagonal and then cut on the diagonal & and into quarters) by pairing it with white/neutral or another solid.

Then I have a neat stack of eight 4.5 unfinished HSTs. When I do this I also try to use the white/neutral with a few matching solids too, so I have several similar stacks to use.

At least it FEELS productive. HA! Now to use the 300+ random HSTs I've accumulated. : )

I saw Bonnie Hunter's system and cut some things up into various sizes and shapes. What I now see is that I prefer to use only 3 sizes when cutting up scraps.

I cut them into 2.5", 2" and 1.5" strips. That's all. It's super easy. If they are larger (like fat quarter size) I put them back with my fabrics unless I know that I will NEVER ever make a quilt using that fabric (for me, that means Mardi Gras, Elvis, etc.). If that is the case, I will go ahead and strip the whole yard or so I may have acquired (usually in an assorted "lot" of fabrics).