I often use pieces that size for applique. Besides I hate to throw away fabric. I keep the tiny pieces (the size of your smallest ones) in a plastic butter tub (I reuse those, too) so they are handy when I need them. I save tiny pieces of fusible webbing for the same reasons.

trash

You do beautiful work with small pieces, as does my sister. One man/woman's trash is another's treasure. My sister makes beautiful crazy quilts out of pieces that small. Someday we may all regret not saving those pieces for quilts. As it is, we are a throwaway society and we need people like you to realize that a small piece of fabric could be part of a big quilt.

Edie

Not usable to me, unless I was doing the smallest of miniatures.
Why not try sewing them together, any which way, to make a piece of fabric, then decide if it's usable to you.

Here,we save them to stuff dog pillows for the local shelters.

Lori, I think it depends on what you do besides just piecing blocks...small pieces are good for paper piecing, or foundation piecing. I just learned this and love it.
Also, anythign too small to use, I put in a special bag, to use for stuffing for items you might want to make...
I want enough to make a dog bed, actually 2 dog beds.....and am getting there fast. I also save the pieces of batting that are not useable, for the same purpose.

Sometimes I keep small scraps like those for my kiddos to glue on cardboard and make "pictures" with. Most times I throw them out.

You can cut these small scraps into confetti. Just lay on cutting mat and run over and over with your rotary cutter. If you keep the colors separate, you can sketch out a nature scene or something else, sprinkle the colors in the proper places. (browns for a tree trunks--greens for leaves--etc) Then lay net over the top and actually stitch the whole thing down. There is a Japanese lady that makes beautiful quilts this way, sorry but I can't remember her name right now.

Trash.

I have seen those and have a book on how to do that. I don't know what in the world I was thinking when I bought that book! I must have been in La-La land or something. I have enough trouble getting plain blocks pieced. And as for scraps I like all those great ideas for pet beds etc. But for me to have another bin or basket to trip over to keep the scraps in, well it just won't happen. I have waste baskets all over the place and still can't seem to hit them.

I did a Christmas wall hanging last year that used "snippets". (You cut very small pieces and fuse them to a background fabric.) My snippets were the needles on a Christmas tree, but a member of my guild did a wreath. Google snippets patterns because I know there are some for flowers, etc.

I have been giving mine to my daughters friend to incorporate into her paper that she makes.

I have used pretty small pieces of fabric for ornaments.
Another option is to make paper (as if you had the time or interest).

I am also planning on throwing the cotton batting out for the birds this spring, pieces that I did not use for stuffing. I know it will be used that way 'cause I've seen it.

Which brings up a question: If you use left-over batting, do you shred it or just stuff the whole strips into what you've made, like a stuffed pig?

On some applique small pieces are required...so I save everything and hope to oneday make the quilt from this board..."from the trashcan" just because its different and unique and think it might be fun!

I save all my *scraps* that size, for stuffing my dog beds and/or to use in pillows. I guess I'm just really cheap, can't stand to throw away something has a use somewhere.

Into the trash basket unless u just save for stuffing pillows, etc.

I'd toss the smallest 3 pieces and keep the rest for crumb blocks.

Save each one of them till you have enough to stuff a bag (that you can easily make) and donate to your local animal shelter. One of my guilds made 184 this past year! I also make them for a feline rescue organization that also does trap-and-release, neutering and spaying the feral kitties. At the feral colonies, They place totes for shelter during this cold wet weather and put the pet beds inside.

My DW and I where in a Quilt Shop the other day and she showed me a nine (9) patch approx two (2) inchs sq. making the blocks just over an 1/2" in size. It was for sale for $12.00. She pointed out that I throw away alot of money LOL. Point is they are only trash when you say they are.

I uses really small scraps in my doggie pillows

If you do applique they might be useful. I don't save anything smaller than two and ! half inch square. I like making 4 and 9 patch scrap quilts. Diane C.

You might cut them a tad smaller and put in a basket to hang in a tree outside and the birds will use for their nests

Applique flower buds.

I keep a plastic bag hooked and hanging down under the front of my machine. Thread, small scraps and anything soft goes into it. When I have quite a bit, I use it to stuff pin cushions, soft dolls, doggie and kittie beds, etc. It helps to save on buying stuffing. Also any batting that I have left over from a quilt is used for pillows, dolls, and all of the above. I make these things to donate to a charity sewing group that is active in my area.
Was raised during the 40's and was taught never to waste anything. I'm sure if you don't want to do these sewing projects, you can find someone who will, or who knows some place to donate them to.

I would think you could toss those.

You could use them for stuffing a pillow or animal! :mrgreen: I never throw anything away when it comes to fabric or thread etc. :lol:

I am so with you! I hate the word "trash" referring to anything I pay for - even things that are free lol! I save scraps, (crumbs) no matter how small - lets face it they're small! take up no room and are easy to pick up/ store. I guess I dont scatter this stuff around where I sew; that make it nothing to pick up. I have a (Christmas present) popcorn can that holds a ton and you can pack them in and when you get it full use the crumb stuff anything.

Have you ever seen the Snippet books?? I make pot holders and wall hangings the Snippet method and they are beautiful.
Like painting with fabric. Using Wonder Under or something simular on the back of the fabric, then place the fabric in the figures you are going for ( tree, wreath, flower etc.) iron them on and away you go. So much fun. Good luck and let us know what you finally do with them.. Happy New Year. MNM

You would go crazy with the Accuquilt Go. Now they waste fabric...at least the dies do, the strip cutting is great.
I would send these to the trash.
D in TX

I have a trunk full and in between inspiration for a new quilt, I play. Those pieces are certainly big enough for applique.
Mary

I use small pieces as leaders and enders in between pieces when I don't have enough to keep chain piecing.

They would go in my basket to use in pillows for the animal shelter.

Really, these are too small for anything useful that I can see.

I think it depends on you. If you do paper piecing sometimes you need little pieces. But if all those scraps drive you crazy then you should throw them out. I have mine sorted by colors in ziplock baggies. I ve sen some really pretty things made from tiny scraps

Thank you for sharing those with us

Here is a link for a pineapple block it's 7 inches but I read that someone keeps a pile of these paper pieces close to her table and sews them when she gets scraps that might be too organized for me
http://www.quilterscache.com/images3...erpinetemp.gif

I understand the "thrifty" gene, as I have it too. Save the largest ones. Pick up a plastic box with little compartments in a yard sale or thrift store, color match the bigger bits and file them, some day, you never know, you may need them. The little ones, I would save them till the spring in a little baggie, and then rotary cut them into shreds, and sprinkle them on shrubs or grass in the yard, the birds, and other animals will use them for nests. I save my thread cuts from my sewing machine, and spread them throughout my little woods. The neighbors think I am a bit off anyway, and I like to keep my image up.

They would go in my trash. You could save for dog pillows but wow! how many would it take?????? Just saying.....

it would depend on what you want to save them to make. doll quilts, pillows, scrap blocks if you do that. I too save all scraps especially the long trimmings. I use those in string quilts. tie together and make a cat string so they won't be ripping on a quilt as I sew.

The only use I can think of is using it for paper piecing.