I also thought the "lumber sizes" sort of entertaining!

A 2 x 4 board is NOT 2 x 4 inches anymore. It's actually 1.5 x 3.5

http://www.engineersedge.com/commerc...mber_sizes.htm

It's been like that for years!
Terribly confusing and frustrating!!!

Thanks for the response. Is there a book on this system?

Daisydawg: I've become a member of this site because I saw this thread when I was doing a web search.
I'm a user of "A Quilters Lumberyard" A Scrap Management System. The patterns and name are protected by the US copyright law. I don't receive any monetary gain from the Lumberyard system, I simply use it.

So now that said, here is my description of it. When I finish a project any fabric left is folded to fit on my shelves, except for pieces smaller than 1/8 yard or a fat quarter. Those I cut into lumberyard pieces. Most of the scraps are cut into 2 1/2 x 4 1/2 or 2x4's (with the 1/2 seam allowance) then 2 x 2's, 2 x 8's, 4 x 4's, and so on. Always add the 1/2 seam allowance to a lumber size. The pattern I use most is called Crazy Eight's, which is just 2 x 4's placed so that there are no matching seams to make an 8 1/2" block. It's a great way to make a scrappy quilt very quickly. As with all quilting very accurate cutting and sewing of 1/4" seams are important.

If you are interested patterns are available in Bend, Or at B J'S Quilt Basket 20225 Badger Rd, Bend, Or 97702 phone 541 383 4310. I recommend that you buy their pattern package that includes their first pattern, Crazy Eights.

Basically its Bonnie Hunters method, too -- I am still in the process of cutting up my scraps (many are from the 60's and 70's!) into pre determined sizes. After making several quilts using some of the 'precuts', its wonderful to be able to sew up several quilts very quickly. I've noticed I also have a tendancy to put more of the 'ugly' fabrics into my quilts this way, too, and my color selections are more broad....all a good thing.

DebbE: Yes it is very similar to Bonnie Hunters method. One of the main differences is that seams from one block to another often don't have to match. A convenience when you are in a hurry.

I've found I don't have enough variety in my scraps, so I'll buy a few fat quarters in colors I don't seem to have. I'm guilty of not having enough darks.

I see you are also from Oregon. Love the hydrangea!

Not only a scrap management method. So much more to it. It is amazing.

I tried this and discovered that I did not use the pieces I had cut from scraps very much. I was keeping 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6.5 and 10 inch squares. I now only only keep 2.5 squares, 2.5 strips and binding scraps in bins. Waste of time for me to cut up so many options, but it works for others. I found I just did not use the 3, 4, 6.5 and 10's all that much. I think it all depends on your taste in quilting and what you find you use often. I would NEVER cut up even 1/2 or 1/3 in to standard Lumber Yard pieces. I just cut my scraps. Good enough for me. Example of my foolishness - I had a huge bin of fabric scraps that had been growing for years. I cut them in to "Bricks" and 2.5s. Guess what? The 2.5 are being used daily but the bricks are still sitting on the shelf in my sewing closet staring at me. Got enough to make at least 3 quilts. Lesson learned....again.https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/wink.png

I'll take my Accuquilt Go! any day over sorting scraps the hard way.

Sounds a lot like Bonnie Hunters scrap system. I think every quilter has their own system that works for them.