I am attempting to make a postage stamp quilt. I am cutting my squares at 1-1/2" square and using up my material scraps to do it. I have heard from this board that some quilters don't throw away any of their scraps. I'm not planning on making anything smaller than the 1-1/2" squares, so what do I do with the leftovers? I am also thinking about making some quilted potholders later on and was wondering if I could use the real tiny pieces as filler for the potholders? Suggestions as to what to do with teeny weeny material pieces?

You could use them for pet beds. I heard others say that they put them outside for birds to use in nests.
I don't save the tiny pieces myself.

1 1/2" is as small as I go. I toss the rest or throw it out for the birds to make their nests with. If I need a tiny piece for applique in some project I don't feel badly about cutting a snippet off of a larger piece of fabric.

I'm working on cutting all of my scraps into 1 1/2" blocks right now myself and also have some HST that size that I've made for my postage stamp quilt. Once this one is done, I doubt I'll save anything smaller than 2 1/2".

Some people do confetti quilts with them. I've never done one, but I do save all scraps and one day Maybe I'll use them.

1-1/2 inches is about as small as I save too. I'm not much of a scrap quilter either, but I can't make myself throw these away.

I usually don't keep very small pieces.

I guess I'm wasteful but if it's smaller then a 2 1/2 square I no longer save it.
I used to save it all but I just spend 12 dollars to sent my scraps on a PIF.
Vicky

what i do not save i pass on to someone else who can use them-
there seems to always be someone in need who wants even really small pieces-
people who work/volunteer at humane society facilities will use even strings/salvage edges/frayed edges- they use them to stuff pet beds. also, scouts, 4-H groups and art departments are all usually looking for (freeby's) to use for projects.

what DH does not use qualifies as lint . Here is a closeup of the tiny piece quilts he makes.

Whoa!!!! Just amazing!
I have a bag of 100% cotton snippets. I read that you can add them to compost piles, so I'm going to use them to mulch around a couple of my perennials, because it FINALLY STOPPED RAINING!!!!! I'll let you know how that goes.

You don't have to save them. Not all quilters do. 1.5" is the smallest I save.

I'm in the throes of cleaning out my sewing room and found 2 packages of tiny squares from years ago that I got from Keepsake Quilting. I think they are 2 inch, maybe 1.5- I may make something with them! They're really cute :)
I don't save little scraps for me but I pass them on to someone who uses them.

This is amazing!

I collect them in a plastic bag and when I have enough, I make a pillow case and use them as stuffing and donate to the animal hospital.

I don't keep anything smaller than 2" for me. However, I'm planning on doing a PIF with the smaller pieces.

Be sure to show us pictures of your quilted flowerbed!! :)

My Fur Babies like the bed I made just putting all the scraps in an out pillowcase and sew it closed. When it gets dirty I just make a new one or even wash that one.

I think they call those smaller pieces crumbs. I save mine & give them away. Several board members use them. I also read someone sets them outsides for bird nests. That inspired me to make this little quilt.

I have seen a lot of PIF's that ask for postage costs and folks are happy to get them or maybe you could offer to split the cost, postage is so expensive now.

I put my small scraps in a plastic yogart container by my machine and use them for starter pieces. My machine does not always start well on small corners, this helps getting it started. Does this make sense to anyone??

The bird in the nest would be so cute as placemats.

I save every piece possible.

Yes! I use thread dogs all the time.

I use them to make small crumb blocks...they look like a miniature crazy patch block...I use pieces as small as inchies and even smaller at times...I have a difficult time throwing scraps away!

I am going blind just looking at that tiny stuff. ;)

LOL :thumbup:

Once I'm done with a project, I'm done with that fabric, regardless of the size of the pieces. My sewing guild has a garage sale every year, I bag up my scraps in big paper grocery bags, filled to the brim, they weigh a ton, and I sell them for $5 each. Based on what I probably spent, I don't recoup hardly any of my cost but I do get a little something and the people who buy them are getting a screamin' deal!

Thanks so much Rose L. for your comments but I'm sorry I don't understand alot of the abreviations. What does HST mean? What kind of postage stamp quilt pattern do you have in mind to do?

omg that is small!! what a wonderful job though.

I'm sorry I don't know what PIF stands for. Please explain.

Anything over about an inch, gets thrown into my scrap bucket, that is under my cutting table. When I go scrap digging, it gets cleaned out a bit.

I don't have any hard fast scrap rules. Sometimes small pieces get saved, if I think I can use them later.

My biggest problem is batting. I hate throwing it away but I have about 500 scrap pieces, that I don't know what to do with.

Great idea to keep them next to the sewing machine for test-run sewing. I sew for craft fairs and have a trash bag or two of scraps that I don't know what to do with, but some creative idea might blossom in my brain one day.

yes

PIF = Pay It Forward