I have been cleaning my sewing room and going through scraps. I love to applique, so I save all sorts of scraps, but I am starting to wonder, "How small is too small?" as in is it worth saving all the little pieces? I don't save anything that is less than about 1" by 1" but am thinking that I am wasting my time keeping these. What size is "too small" for ya'll? Bigger pieces go into organizers by color, but these little scraps end up in a big scrap bucket that seems to grow and grow.

I save 2" squares and up :D:D:D

I have the same problem, I don't want to throw anything away but not sure what to do with those tiny small scraps. What can I do with the little ones?

If it's at least 1" in width, I save it. They're good for log cabins, postage stamp quilts, crumb quilts, not to mention sometimes you need just the right little bit for an accent when doing applique work. 4" and 5" wide get cut into charm squares. Anything bigger gets put back by color.

too small is when you don't pull it out and use it any more...if it's too small to use for what you do, pass it on, or toss it out...art departments at elementary schools appreciate (craft) supplies for projects, you would be surprised how creative and inspired they can become when suddenly handed a bag of scraps :)

they are ALL automatically too small once i have enough to stuff a flat-rate box. then i find them a new home.

I was getting overwhelmed with scraps. I started a quilting group that makes quilts from my scraps and gives them to people who could use the comfort of a quilt.
I also donate scraps to my local school's art department. This helps with the guilt if I throw something away.

I have to admit that I probably keep most of my scraps because I do a lot of applique. I have 6 clear plastic containers that sit in my cupboard, each one has a different colorway of fabric which makes finding the perfect fabric much easier. I also have a 9 year old who loves folding and sorting them for me which makes my life a bit more organized!

For me its 4" and bigger only. I have to draw the line somewhere. I know many save 2" or smaller but my eyes are not good enough or maybe its my patience that is not good enough to do a block made of squares starting at 2" and growing smaller with seams!

My address is....LOL!

One of the most fun projects I ever did was a challenge. We were given a 13 gallon white trash bag full of bits and pieces. Surprisingly, I had very little left once I got done, as I had even used the small bits for the backing and the binding.

A local sewing group saves any size snippets of fabric or batting to stuff draft dodgers to give to the needy for keeping out the drafts from under a door.

Subtracting a 1/2" for seam allowance and the pattern still has to show, so anything less than 1" goes out automatically. For me it also depends on how much of the fabric/color I have left. Some "special" fabrics, I keep more than the common ones.

me too, but I am giving away some of them, have too many.

That's my motto too!

I don't toss anything. If the scraps are too small to make anything with, I use them to stuff toys, poufs, etc. or give them to my child to play with -- you wouldn't believe the creative things those scraps of fabric can become.

Put me on your recipient list please.

I save anything roughly 2x2. The rest goes into a baggie for the art teacher at school. That includes selvages and thin strips. She loves to see me coming thru the door!!

I like the idea of using them for stuffing and for donating. I will ask my daughter's pre-school teacher if she can use them. Thanks for the idea. I will start saving the little pieces without guilt!

The smallest I'll cut into a usable piece is 1.25" x 1.25" (I have a pattern for cornerstones).

I keep anything that's bigger than .5". The goal is to make a crumb quilt this year, and I think .5" is small enough

I have tons of scraps and the ladies at our local quilt guild saves scraps for me too. We make lap quilts for nursing homes, baby quilts and preemie quilts for childrens hospital from scraps. I use the pieces that are way too small also to stuff toys and pillows for grandkids, friends kids and nurseries at church.

Anything over and inch I keep. I don't know what I'll use them for but I'll think of something.

I save 2 1/2 , 3 1/2 , 5 & 6 " squares. I then give them away. Sometimes I make nine patch quilts or just patch quilts. There a no brainer when I don't want to think. Also very pretty when done. I don't put borders on either. I cut up my left overs when I'm done with a project. This way I don't get so much scrap to over welm me.

Ditto.

About 2 inches and larger. Paper pieced projects sometimes require the tiniest scraps.

I save every scrap unless it is less than 1/4 inch. these go into beds for my dogs and draft stoppers. I rarely throw anything out. I even use the snipped off threads for the dog beds. But then again...I don't seem to have much left over as scraps at all :(

I save everything. I use my scraps for odd ball projects like pieced hot pads. I made a tree and pumpkin this year using scrap strips. I also applique a lot so they get used. I am building up faster than I can use though!

I am also willing to take any unwanted scraps. :D

I save and use even the tiniest of pieces. I put them down on the really strong Steam & Seam, press, then quilt very tightly. I make 12"x18" little blankies for the rescue group I volunteer with so the kitties can have the blanket that has been in their cage when they go home. It gives them something with 'their' smell on it and makes it, I hope, just a little less stressful for them. Sometimes the edges come up a little with the washings but.... They turn out pretty well, even if I mix larger squares with the tiny pieces. I try to sew the larger ones together, then add the "teeny-tiny pieces" blocks. The trick is keeping up with the demand! Someday I'll try to figure out how to post pictures. Course camera has to get back from being serviced first, hehe.
Wendy

I save all my 1" and smaller into a plastic hanging scrap catcher next to my cutting table. After the bag gets full, I
stuff old holy socks and tie them up really tight and give them to my two pug dogs to play with, if they get ripped I toss them. I'm a little nutty about throwing out scraps.

I tend to save every piece regardles of the size or shape that looks like it can be used for something (Keep in mind that when paper piecing the shapes you need are not necessarily square or tiangular). At some point I had more than I could manage, but then we had to move. I have a collection of wine glasses, and I used the small scraps to wrap and stuff the glasses box. I have not unloaded that box. It is in my bathroom, a clear rubbermaid container. The other day I am in the bathroom and happened to glance at the box and start thinking that one of the fabrics at the bottom of the box will be ideal for a projoect I will be working on soon. If only I could get to it without breaking the glasses on top.

I dont throw any of them away. I have a seperate "garbage" scrap bag that I throw my scraps in and then I use them for pillows and new toys/bed things for my dog Copper. Pieces that I actually keep with my sewing fabric...I keep anything 1in and up. :)

When I started to sort my scraps I decided to make a scrap quilt with 2" squares so this is my minimum size.

We collect our small, throw-away trim, scraps, etc. and donate them to the local animal shelter which has someone who uses them as stuffing for pillows for the dogs and cats until they are adopted. That is another win win situation -- less stuff in the landfill and comfort for a lost animal!

We collect our small, throw-away trim, scraps, etc. and donate them to the local animal shelter which has someone who uses them as stuffing for pillows for the dogs and cats until they are adopted. That is another win win situation -- less stuff in the landfill and comfort for a lost animal!

I think two inches ought to do it. Smaller than that is pushing it.

I especially like to make scrap quilts so If I think I can get any small pattern piece out of a scrap I keep it. One time I saw a lady on a quilt show that gathered up all her clipped ears and put them in a fruit jar and when she fills it up it makes a colorful decoration in her sewing room. Now I think that's just too small.

I have a large trash bin, that I throw my scraps in,planning on making some lucky dog a dog bed eith it!

I make a heavy duty pillow case the size of a doggie pillow/bed and put my small scraps and threads in it. When it is full, I sew the end together and Presto, it goes to some lucky dog.
They always seem to be appreciated.

I keep the "small" scraps and put them with a picture of my project and include them in my quilt album. The extra pieces go in my Ball canning jars as "confetti" to stuff in pillows and other projects.

I have a clear bin on my table that collects all small scraps. But I find that the scraps keep adding up. So unless you do small scale quilting toss them or give them away.