OK..... for you knowledgeable and practiced quilters, how small can your pieces be to use? Hubby and I are having a "conversation" about my material...and I agreed to pass along some my scraps..but what is a scrap? How little can it be to be of use to "one of you"?

I would say, it depends how you want to spend your time quilting, or piecing, rather ;-)

Can you say postage stamp quilt. :)

Any size can be used in applique. I'd say no size too small :)

Set your own limit. Say nothing smaller than 2 1/2 inches square. Smaller pieces can be used, but will you use them?

I'll take 1"+ scraps from you... :-D

one and a half square is my smallest.

If someone makes minis, the pieces can get downright tiny. Also the crumb blocks can use some thin strips. For me, the size depends on how much I like the fabric and how much I have left. The more I like it and the less I have, the stingier I get and keep even small triangles.

There is also a technique working with snippets which are truly all the bits and bobs sewn down with threadplay. I toss those in the rubbish bin right away.

2.5 inches,if i cut them up right away, i keep them. When i am finished with a project..i really want to get in the habit of cutting the scraps up. I don't do applique..

if not..i have passed on 3 large flat rate boxes to ladies here already!

Postage stamp huh? Well, that makes the cheese more binding. I'll be sorting and getting back here with an offer......sooner rather than later (unless I kill him first).

wonky scrapy blocks take teeny tiny pieces. I have a bag until I have enough for a whole project.

I am saving very small scraps (I'm being a little selective) for a landscape quilt that I might make someday. You never know what you might want to do.

Here is the latest quilt I am playing with. As you can see if you want to do tiny you can use it if you can hold it.

I will use strips 1 inch wide, other than that I prefer 2 inches. I have used smaller for applique, but don't tend to save them.

See where sharing stash info with your spouse got you? Losing your scraps! LOL I would buy old clothes, cut them up as scraps and give the bags to him to take to the thrift store.

I do not keep anything smaller than two inches. I know I would not be using it.

I use scraps as small as 3/4 inch...sometimes smaller. But this is your own personal preference...whatever you decide is large enough for you to work with. I enjoy working with all sizes but like to see what I can create out of even the tiniest scraps :D

Well, if he has a package of 10 screws and uses 9, does he throw the last one out? Or does he save it for the next time he needs one?

To me, anything is a scrap that I have already used in a quilt. But if I don't have a width of fabric piece that's at least 3 " wide, I get rid of it. I know I won't use it - but pass it on to someone who will.

OMGosh kwhite that is small, but beautiful.
I tend to keep only pieces 1" or wider.

Great idea!!!!!!! Thanks for sharing

I don't talk "fabric stash" with my husband. He's a "throw it away and get more later" kind of guy. I keep my stash out of the way, where he can't see it...I figure that what he doesn't know doesn't hurt me!

Check out Quiltville.com. Bonnie Hunter uses very small scrap pieces for her quilts. She's got a great tutorial for string quilts that might interest you.

I save them if they are about 2 1/2". Anything smaller is just taking up space that I need. Even this size is really small to me but feel I might use them someday.

of course he's keeping it...just like i'm keeping my scraps. nothing worse than needing a tiny piece of orange for a snowman's nose, and having to go buy it...because i never get out of the store with just that piece! last time i went to my lqs, i spent $48.00 to get the black thread i needed!