I've made about 7 quilts over the last 6 months or so and wanted to know what to do with all the leftover scraps of batting. Most of it is the same type, but I'm not really into place mats or table runners and don't know what to do with them. With the cost of material now a day I can't seem to throw it away and it's really starting to stack up.....Any suggestions?

I read an article the other day with leftover batting to sew them together with a S seam so you can have another big piece of batting

here is the link to the article if you want to read it

http://www.quilting-tidbits.com/quilt-batting.html

Sometimes I piece leftovers together using a wide zigzag stitch. Works well, but I must admit, if the are smaller than 10 inches, I don't bother piecing, but I do small quilts so I end up using a good chunk of my leftovers, and the smaller odd pieces get used as dusting cloths,lol.

I've made larger pieces of batting out of smaller pieces - with the price of everything going up, there's no way I'm wasting anything if at all possible!

If the piece is just too small to do anything else with, you could always cut it up into small pieces and put it with your stuffing for bears or something...

there's also a new ironon tape on the market - about 2-3" wide made to join pieces of batt.

I like to sew the batting together and make doll quilts for my dd and her friends. I use a zig zag stitch to sew them together. I have some really small pieces that I am trying to figure out what to do with them. 1-3" wide and really long. I have also done this with lap and baby size quilts.

Yes, I've successfully sewn batting bits together into a bigger piece, using a large zig zag. I use for quilted cushion covers. I usually make at least one cushion cover for each quilt, using same colours and fabrics. Sometimes using one of the blocks in the quilt, only larger. I also like table runners. A bag is another way to use up the batting scraps.

I sometimes use my leftover batting to make pet beds for my animals. I will either fold it over numberous times or use several leftover pieces together to get it as thick as I like for them. Plus sometimes I use the practice quilts that I have my customers do when renting out my machine as the covering for the pet beds.

Thanks,
Sherryl
Candlequilter

I put small pieces of batting in a bag, and whenever I need stuffing for pillow, I "shred" it apart. Works great!! I simply grasp each side in my hands and pull it until it is smooth. ;)

I keep the small ones (2" or more) to use as "test" pieces. Whether I'm testing thread and tension, thread for the "look" on the quilt (especially variagated thread), or practicing new techniques. Also keep small ones in the event that you need them for a trapunto design.

I have sewn batting together, if I had two large pieces and the two together was enough for a quilt. I've just zig-zagged the edges.

I usually zig zag the edges with the largest zig-zag stitch I have. I keep small strips for testing and I make miniature quilts. I don't throw any usable piece out! :)

i use mine in rag quilts....

I just used this method the other day. It's great! When the quilt is done, you can't tell it was pieced at all. I hand-stitched to hold it together till I could get it to my machine, then I stitched a serpentine stitch over the hand stitching. Between that and the quilting, I don't think it will separate!

i recently bought a roll of the fusible tape sold for patching scraps of batting together. the "fabric" side is a very lightweight polyester knit (similar to slip fabric).

it does work very well. unfortunately, it's also very expensive.

i haven't tested my theory yet, but i believe that i could buy a very light-weight, 1-sided fusible interfacing and cut it into strips to do the same thing.

hmmmmmmm dusting cloths, what are those????

If you don't want to cut them up and have hardwood/laminte flooring, these scraps are the best. They stick right to the bottom of my "swiffer" type handle.

You can also needle felt it together. I have a felting machine and it's great to put batting together into a larger piece...
I also use the smaller pieces as stuffing for pillows

There are some people on here who have done exactly as you suggested and been pleased with the results. I remember this from a posting months ago. I believe they were using inexpensive fusible interfacing for it. I wonder if the tricot interfacing would be the most similar to the roll of fusible tape? I think it's more expensive than the standard interfacing though.

Cool idea!! Thanks.

You can always sell/trade/PIF here.

I sew all the remnants into one big piece, I use strips as small as 2 inches. Just use a long and side zig zag stitch, but the ends together . I had enough pieces for a whole quilt , came out fine and washes just fine. I was so happy for my "free" batting for a scrappy quilt , it was like the whole quilt was free.
I 'm not really sure why they market the special tape when stitching it is really easy. For fat bat I take tissue paper in strips and stitch on the top of it so the foot does not get hung up in the batting. The tissue pulls of easily . ( I save the tissue paper from gift boxes).

I don't bother with the tape or anything..I just butt the edges together and zigzag stitch away. I just did a pretty good sized quilt with my scrappy fluff and washed and dried it three times to make sure there was no shifting. Didn't see a problem at all. I've done this on the last 4 I've done and Its been fine so far.

I make Barbie furniture so the leftover batting comes in handy for cushions, pillows and mattress'

Miniature quilts :)

I piece them together and use for other projects like wall hanging, place mats, stuff like that. Too expensive to waste.

If you have pieces that are about 3 inches by 45 inches, I would use then in a "quilt as you go" stripe lap quilt. I'd lay out my backing, lay batting strip with fabric strip on top and stitch across the top edge. Then I would add the next fabric and batting strip face down on the last one and stitch down, flip it down and proceed in this manner 'til you get to the bottom of your backing. You have a lap quilt sewn and quilted and just have to put the binding on.

Are they big enough to use in a purse?? I just put warm and natural in a purse I made and I like they way it feels. next time I think I will also use interfacing with it so it is a little stiffer.

Great idea !!!

I don't stitch mine, I just make a new straight cut, match the cut edges and use the scraps in quilts. Once I have basted, everything is stable. I try to use up every bit.

If I have strip of batting that is 8" I cut them into 7.5" square for rag quilts, also the fusible interfacing cut into strips works I did try the fusible roll that's on the market and it works wonderful but pricey

I also use them for rag quilts. One LQS that I visit has a flannel rag quilt on display with the finished squares about 2 inches by 3 inches, which would use up a lot of little pieces.

Deby

I sew them together and end up with a usable size of batting.

I saw some come in with some Charity Quilts. Awesome Idea! The tape looks exactly like the fusable mesh that you use to stabilize embroidered quilt blocks.

I wonder if other light weight fusibles would also work?

I use my batting to dust with! It works great to dust my pc and my TV. I also use it on my Swiffer broom. Works great! and you can spray it with Pledge or whatever you use.

I also use small pieces to clean DVDs with. My DGS gets stuff on the DVDs because he is always laying them down on the floor instead of putting them away. The stuffing works great for cleaning the disc.

It's called Batting Seam Tape and is available via catalogue from Keepsake Quilting or possibly at your LQS. Fabulous!!!

exactly the way i do it..i use the stitch in the ditch foot..to butt them together,

I use a zigzag to make bigger pieces for wall hangings and smaller quilts that I know I'm going to quilt a lot. I also use pieces to practice my free motion before I start quilting.

I have started using the basting tape for batting. I find it works well, and quilts up well. Yes, it is alittle expensive, but as a machine quilter I find it worth it in the time I save by not having to sew it together. I also save pieces for our sewing group at my church. They make potato bags. 10" wide batting goes to them. :)

Butt them together and stitch with a faggoting or zig zag stitch and you will have another larger piece to sandwich in a quilt. I do this all of the time, and friends give me their left overs to do it with. After quilting, it is undetectable.

Use for batting in a "Fun and Done" quilt. You could string piece the blocks to use scrap fabric. Use larger leftovers for the backing and you will have a reversible scrap quilt.

I use a light weight fusible, cut in to 2" strips. It works very well. I like it better than sewing the batting together. Also, a great tip I learned here is to cut the scraps in to 10" squares and use on your swifter.