Ihave not used mine very often, until recently. After several years of trying different types of quilt patterns, fabrics, etc, I have discovered that my very favorite quilts are scrap quilts!! Right now, I am using a lot of them to make quilted scrap hot pads/ potholders. And using my leftover cotton batting pieces for the batting to boot. But, when I get a few UFOs done, I am going to start make scrap quilts exclusively..... well, maybe a few here and there of something else. LOL

I signed up for IRR2 ... three centers ... before that I had wanted to encourage one of our quilting board contributors, so I took her mini mystery ... I chose that little quilt to make one of my centers. And, then I needed to start working my strips and bit and pieces.
I put a quarter on one of the little blocks so you can see a sampling of what I am working on ... enough of those little bits and pieces, and a few fun alternating blocks ... might be a pretty interesting lap robe when I get done!

So! I went back to get a picture of the stack of little pieced blocks, and thought!
"Hey! Maybe I ought to take my own advice and make a churndash or nine-patch to put between each other"
cool! But, before that <g> I have to make the littlest ones a little bigger.

One of the LQS collects fabric scraps for that exact reason, so I've donated my scraps to them.

Thanks for the tip, I'm going to join. I need a system to keep my scraps organized.

This is a great thread....wonderful, honest replies, stunning quilts, and great tips.....I can't bring myself to throw any fabric away, and now the quilting bug bit...so now I have a million "to do's" and best of all....I'm not alone...not a freak...YAY!

I use my scraps. Actually find myself purposely buying more fabric than needed for a project just so I'll have leftovers. Most of the quilts I've made for Project Linus are scrap quilts. Strips mainly but many of the backs are bits and pieces sewn together into sort of a primitive crazy patch until large enough to cut into an 8 inch or so block. When I have enough blocks, I sew them together for the backing.
Anything goes. Solids, prints, plaids, stripes, holiday fabrics. I don't bother matching colors, just sew whatever fits the previous piece along one side.
The backs may not be beautiful but they are colorful and kids love to see what they can find. My own grandchildren have spent hours looking to see what familar item they can find.
Have also used them as scrappy sashing to go around machine embroidered red work kids designs to great effect.
Ellie

I love scraps from other people too, because they have different fabrics than I do. My scraps turn into donation blocks for worthy causes.

You all sure do have a lot of great ideas. I will have to contact the animal shelter to see if I can capitalize on Smitty's idea and I surely will try Omark's idea.

Rag rugs can also be made out of small strips. I made a lot when I was younger because one of my aunts was a seamstress.

Cut a piece of burlap to the size of rug that you want. Use a hook or in my case I used a large hairpin to pull the strip through the burlap. The strips can either be tied or put in a row and then sew down the middle of each row as you go. These rugs are very colorful and can be always put to good use around the house.

Did I say before that I love scraps??? :D :D :D

Smitty....thanks for the tip on animal pillows. My gf volunteers every Saturday at the Humane Society, so I can jsut give them to her. I know they will be appreciated. It seems that shelters everywhere are struggling and are so thankful for donations of any kind.

I don't have a scrap bag/box. I have my fabric sorted by color and each has it's own covered plastic box. Scraps of each color go back into it's own box after I'm done cutting. I do have to admit, the fabric in there isn't sorted by value anymore, like it was when I first began this hobby/love. Maybe one day, I'll get back into each box and sort it out. :roll:

Wow! SOmeone who has actually done what every one of us keep saying we are going to do. Good for you! By the time I figured out what you are saying, I was on my way out the door, to the LQS to "just look" and walked back in with three more projects, ten more different cuts of fabric, not to mention three new rulers, ten more packets of needles ... and?
When did I have time??? LOL
I am glad that you kept right on it. All newbies! Follow the Fireworkslover! She probably has more fun with her quilt production than someone like me who is buried under containers of fabric that have no rhyme or reason for their contents, except perhaps the date that I purchased them! <g> <sigh> you give me hope, Fire ... good deal!

I'm a SCRAPPY quilter so its all I use :D

I use my "dog ears" from triangles to make Quilters Jam.

okay ... I'm game!
What is Quilters' Jam?

No hubby last night, so I started putting leftover 1.5" stips together and making 5" sq's. Not sure what they will become....but they will be "something wonderful". :roll:

Patti

If you take your five inch strip squares, and turn them back and forth, you will have sort of a basket weave.

Thanks....I am thinking maybe that would be an easy way to put them together. I might make it just big enough for a doll quilt, and use it to practice some FMQ. I really suck at that, and I am sure that neither my GD or her "baby" will mind if the stitches aren't perfect.

I save scraps and use them too. I make lots of charity blocks and tops so I save anything 2" and over. I had to stop saving smaller scraps because I rarely used them. Did make a few crumb tops but decided that was too much work. Right now I'm planning turning my big stash of scraps into log cabin quilts. They eventually be will 'extra' quilts for 2 of my grandaugthers, one just moved into her own condo and another is getting married next year. Keep on saving those scraps gals, May in Jersey

The idea of a scrappy doll quilt is a good idea, especially when you get to experiment with a new technique such as free motion quilting ... enough to get a feel for it, but not so large that you can't made swift improvement or become discouraged ... good plan!

May in Jersey, you are a good encourager <g> Just send those little ones on to a thrift store, or check with your local quilt store. Our local quilt store has bins for two or three groups of quilters who need donations - - Project Linus, the high school home ec class, the American Legion Auxiliary, and a couple of others ... people can put their scraps or anything they know someone who does charity sewing and creating, and share ... maybe they will help you get your unused scraps to a quilting group that will turn them into something else.

You also need a device that prevents your car from turning into quilt stores parking lots........

But! but! but! how will I ever develop self-discipline if I keep grabbing all these help items???? :wink:

But I just had a device installed to RECOGNIZE all the quilt/fabric shops!!!! hahaha

:D :roll: My name is Peggy White from Belen, NM, and yes I use scraps, in fact that is all I do use. I love scrap quilts and so do all my children and grandchildren. They make the quilts to me look more like they did in the Old days. I'm 71 years young and enjoy quilting very much. I believe piecing quilts is like a jigsaw puzzle. And I love that too. Always in Christ. Peggy White

There is a wonderful website with lots of free patterns for using up those scraps. I cut my leftover bits and pieces into squares, strips, etc. and store them is shoe boxes so when I need a 5" square or a 2 l/2" strip I just dive into my box. It keeps bits organized.
The website is: http://quiltville.com

Nancy in Canada

OK, I nibble too: What is Quilter's Jam?

Make that 3 nibbles. :D

I want to know to it sounds good :lol:

Here is a picture of Quilter's Jam

Thanks OG,

is it purely for decoration, or do you use the jam to make a bread quilt at some point?

Great idea. I also like your quilt notion board in the background.
Great. Thanks for the idea.

Got a neat pattern for using scraps. If you would like PM me your address & I'll mail you a copy.

what is quilter's jam? Is is edible????

You are to funny :lol: No I don't make bread, except for corn bread. I have these antique jelly jars so I filled several with "Quilters Jam."

i use mine. i just use most of my christmas scraps for a quilt backing. i didn't want to be more christmas fabric just for a back.

tea

I do use my scraps. Periodically, I iron out my scraps and cut them into useable shapes for scrap quilts. First, I cut 4 1/2 inch squares. Next, I cut pieces 2 1/2 inches by 6 1/2 inches. Last, I cut 2 1/2 in. squares. Anything too small for a 2 1/2 inch square goes in a special bin for a crumb quilt. Sometimes I will also cut 2 1/2 by 4 1/2 pieces. With pioeces already cut, it doesn't take long to put together. Right now, I'm putting together 9 patch blocks out of my 2 1/2 inch squares. I believe that next I'll make 4 patch blocks and team them with the 4 1/2 inch squares. The simple quilt patterns that can be made with these shapes are endless.

Quilter's Jam! I get it!
Similar to what I did with the dog ears!
my antique canning jars are colored, so I think the colorful scraps would lose some of their beauty, but it is a fun idea for filling interesting jar shapes, to say the least!
THanks for sharing!

Here are a couple more of my scrap quilts.............
The first is a crazy square and the second is a strip quilt
both of these quilts were done on light weight interfacing.

MadQuilter........... love your pattern will have to try it.

Scrap Quilter

I see that your crazy quilt squares are made with 4 smaller squares sewn together like a 4 patch. I make a solid block. Same difference, just fewer seams.
Your string quilt is beautiful I've never made a monochromatic string block. All mine are scrap blocks with different width strings and many, many colors.

I use my scraps and have made quite a few crazy quilts, striing quilts and ones using a pattern. Right now I am 'cleaning out plastic boxes'. I have them sitting by my sewing table and just pull out fabric to see what I can do. If I work on just a lfew pieces especially crazy quilt blocks I don't get bored.

I don't really know what I would do without scraps.

busysewer in Ohio :roll: