I am saving all my tiny scraps of everything-cotton, fleece, thread, ect to fill a dog bed.

I have a crazy-quilt-in-progress bin! I throw all my scraps in there and I have muslin squares already cut. When I'm in the mood to sew and don't want to think ... I sew crazy scraps on those squares. Someday it will be a quilt!

Great ideas on using up these scraps. I can not handle lots of clutter. Even my stash is just 1 closet shelf~ plenty to use but under 200 yards! I have my orphan blocks in 1 sweater size box, strips in another, charms are in 2 shoeboxes and scraps are in 2 drawers. I save a lot but I do try to regularly use it too. When I see some sewing rooms with walls & walls of fabric my head spins. I get confused & overwhelmed. Isn't it funny how different we all are?

I have done 4 PIF boxes :)

I keep up pieces as small as 1 1/2" square. Every little one goes into a big canvas bin I got at my local ReStore (Habitat for Humanity) I'll never throw them away - you never know when you're going to need a little pop of color. As long as it's neatly stored, what's the problem?

I did a major cleanout two years ago! Gave two large bags of fabric to quilt guild and also about 40 books that I do not use at all!!! :lol:

don't throw away give it to the goodwill someone else may need it

I give all my quilts away-so I figure my scraps will be the only way I'll get to keep a quilt for myself Well thats the hopeful plan anyways

My scraps all go to my grands to use up as they both sew (ages 14 & 11) they go in a box which then goes over once every 3 months to get the scraps over there for their use. They sew them together then make whatever (pillowcases, shirts, etc..) all with patterns and all this material sewed together kinda like a collage. It turns out some interesting patterns for sure !

Lucky me... still at the stage where every scrap has untapped potential and no worry about having too many yet.
the scrappy quilts here on the Board are wonderful to see!

I have a hard time throwing things away, and I don't just mean in my sewing room. But the stuff from my sewing room does find a home. I know people that weave rag rugs and crochet doilies out of those strips too small to measure, and that do fabric mosaics with the 1 X 1's, etc. My kids laugh at me because I throw the crumbs on the floor as I'm working, then sweep and sort it all out, and end up throwing very little of it away :)

I used to throw a lot away but with the price of fabric, I'm keeping larger pieces and strips for scrappy quilts. I figure when I get all my kitted up fabric made up into quilts, I'll need more and I just don't know if I'll be able to afford it!

A couple weeks ago I started appliqueing, Those small pieces are now valued. I'm so in trouble. Ha, Ha

I keep my leftovers organized by size: 2 1/2 inch strips or 3 1/2 strips. The smaller, but not tiny, bits I keep in small bins by small, medium, large. In the last month I have made five comfort quilts from leftovers. All I needed was sashing pieces and borders. I want to contribute as many comfort quilts as I can to the oncology unit, but the cost of fabric is so high that this year I have made a multitude of "leftover quilts" that are beautiful. Those pieces that I really won't use again I pass on to another member of our guild, who makes even more comfort quilts from them. It's my goal to continue searching through my stash of leftovers to make at least six more soon.

I have boxes that I dont know what is evenin them. I could just give them away as is BUT I can't. I MUST LEARN. --j

I give away to Goodwill my scraps and blocks not wanted any more. There are people that will buy these and make their own quilts, crafts and etc.
IdahoSandy

We do not even throw away our scraps when we trim up our piecing. That goes to the people that make cuddle pillows for the pound. Whatever else that cannot be used for piecing, applique, etc, also also goes for this use. We use left overs for comfort quilts. There is a difference between not keeping and throwing out.
Remember our actions leave a footprint.

There are some wonderful ideas for using up fabric scraps here. I'm just plain tired of playing with the scraps and not using up my beautiful yardage. It is time for me to put the scraps away.
With that in mind I started cleaning up the sewing room this week. Things need to be put in their own space. I found I had two shelves filled with batting scraps. You know, the pieces that you trim off of the quilt before putting on the binding - 10 inches by however long the quilt was. I was saving them for my mini projects. Well, there are only so many minis to be made and I needed the shelves. One large garbage bag filled with batting scraps. I still have a stack of larger batting that I am saving for wall quilts but the sewing room is looking a whole lot better now.
Sometimes you just gotta to do what you've gotta do to save your sanity!

I have to admit that when it comes to scraps I just cannot seem to make myself throw them away. I make scrap quilts, a lot of applique quilts and now into small art quilts and mug rugs. You can utilize very small scrap for some of these projects. I think as long as I can keep them contained in one closet and somewhat organized I will continue keeping them.

Once I started PPing, I find I can't toss any size scrap away. It is piling up though so I will eventually offer it out free to somebody. Just cannot put much in the wastebasket. I'm also now putting larger pcs. that I know I won't use into the mix.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! I just know the second it goes out the door I'll need it for something!!! :cry: :cry:

I save all my scraps, blocks, UFO's but I am getting tired of looking at it.

I'm getting better at it. I just recently tossed a pile of miniscule scraps that I couldn't work with.

If you have trouble letting go...you may want to ask around to see if there's a quilter who loves to do crazy quilting.

I had an elderly cousin who took the tiniest scraps and hand-sewed them to make tiny teddy bears to give to children. She gave me one and it's one of my treasures.

It could be a great activity for those in assisted living. With that said, I need to save my scraps again. :)

Love this!!

"When I'm dead and gone there ain't anybody goin' to think o' the floors I've swept, and the tables I've scrubbed, and the old clothes I've patched, and the stockin's I've darned…But when one of my grandchildren sleeps on one of those quilts, they'll think about me, and, wherever I am then, I'll know I ain't forgotten." from 'Aunt Jane of Kentucky' by Eliza Calvert Hall

"throwing away"???????????? Please define!

I do sweep the floors most days!

I'm keeping all the scraps and when I'm feeling bored or just bored with making blocks, I will sew some of them together to make more fabric, I call it my scrappy fabric right now I have about 1/4 yard sewed together and some day will make more blocks with it...LOL

Me too - and only then if I really like it. Otherwise it goes in the scrap basket, lined with a grocery bag... when it starts overflowing I tie it up and in the trash it goes!

Bored? what is this bored? My husband tells me I should do this, or clean that when I'm bored..... I have a sewing machine, fabric, the internet, books, and when all else fails tv.... I have yet to find boredom enough to tackle his "when your bored" list

I keep scraps that can be used for scrappy quilts especially log cabin. I am trying to use up fabric (most of it is fat quarters) but never notice a decrease in the pile. Always need a color I don't have, so to the store I go and any left over pieces go back into the scrappy bag. Process never ends.

What is a PIF box??

I give mine to my friend or now my daughter who sews and now quilts so she can use the pieces in any of those area

Amen. Only so many scraps you can really ever use. I was driving myself crazy keeping all those little pieces.

What you won't or can't use, someone on here can or there's a young, or new quilter, or group that can use them. PLEASE don't throw them out.

That's the secret you give it away, and you feel so much better and your room is cleaner and you made someone else very happy. I have to do that as well every now and then.

I know... I've been thinking about that.... my last full bag is actually still sitting next to the garbage can wondering where it will end up...

I had the same reaction from someone who complained about cat hairs.
I've become very selective about whose requests I respond to.

Pass it forward

my house ?!?!?!?!

:XD: :thumbup: :XD:

I cleared out all my "not going to use that, why did I buy that, I'll never use those scraps" by giving them to my friends' mother for her quilt group. Didn't hurt a bit and now I have empty space on shelves to start re-filling :)

I give them away to organizations that make charity quilts.