Pieces too small to keep
 

OK.....one of my new year resolutions is to purge my stash of small pieces. I love to applique and have some fabrics that are over 30 years old in my boxes sorted by color...How can I get myself to let go...It's always "I might need this little bit of this color later on" The boxes I use are the clear plastic ones that are about 10 by 15 inches and 9 inches deep and I can't shut the lids anymore. How do you do it?

String pieced blocks or crumb piecing. If you're not going to do that, keep whatever size you commonly use. Maybe 5", 2-1/2", 4", etc.

I have just decided to ditch anything smaller than two inches. I have tons of 1.5" strips and i never use them. I'm not crazy about string quilts so i'm going to use what i have for a string quilt and be done with them. I cut all my scraps into 3.5, 2.5 and 2" strips or blocks. From now on, nothing smaller than that! Jo in NC

When my scrap bin gets full I take it to guild to put in our big scrap tub (big trash can with lid) for anyone that wants them. I figure let the guild keep them instead of me having to store them. When it gets too full, the scraps are used for filler for beds for the animal shelter. I always have a bin getting filled with scraps in my sewing room and I have never used them all so why keep them.

Give away a box or two of them. It'll help whittle them down fast.

Personally, I use them up. In 2012 and 2013 I finished up several using 1.5" strips that looked like this:
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and this one in 2013:
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They are donation quilts.

I say donate them to a local guild or give them away on here.

there are always people willing to take this stuff but to be honest my itty bitty bits just end up in the garbage can under my cutting space.

maybe it's time for me to join a guild and find people who want such things :)

aileen

I have to agree. Last year a friend of mine and I boxed up all our unwanted scrapes and trade them with each other, we both make scrap quilt but we really get tired of basically using the same fabric types. This year what I did not use of hers and more of mine are taking a trip to guild and offered free to whom ever wants them.

Do you want to get rid of them or is there a little policeman in your head demanding you give them the heave-ho?

I try an use most of mine that are 2 inch and larger but after using the same fabric over and over I get sick of looking at them I have given several bags full to Goodwill. I am going to see if the schools could use them for art class.

I know you are not looking at me for an answer-----------because it would be buy some bigger storage tubs

I take crumbs and sew them onto phone book pages. I separate them by color so each piece (I do 2.5 inch strips and 5 inch squares) to make "new fabric." If it is too small, I throw it out. I have made some really cool pieces and plan to make a couple modern quilts from them.

Make an "Oh My Gosh" quilt. They are beautiful! Google it, then hit images!! I am making one, finally got it all cut. Best way I know of to use up those small pieces.

A while back someone posted a quilt made with very small bits of fabric sewn to adding machine tape. I thought it was a neat idea, as many scraps in my "light, medium, and dark bins" are really too small to cut into 2.5" strips, etc. The other day I was in a Habitat Re-Store, and they had rolls of adding machine tape for 25 cents. I bought four rolls and think I will try this method. My grandmother never wasted any fabric, so I think she would be pleased that I am following in her quilting footsteps. But that certainly doesn't mean that you can't "pay your scraps forward" to some one or some organization that could utilize them. By all means, do what will satisfy your needs. Reducing clutter is very "freeing" and the recipients will be happy, too. Go for it!

Someone suggested recently to take them and use them as filling doggie beds. The local pound could probably use some nice beds for the poor puppies waiting there for a nice home. They could be comfortable while they are waiting.

Great quilts!

I can't throw any small pieces out. I fell like I am throwing money out the window. I cut my larger scraps into useable squares the smallest being 2 inches and anything under that goes into a crumbs bin and I did recently made a crumb quilt using alot of these smaller pieces. http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...d-t228155.html

My crumb quilt went together very quickly and it's one of my favorite projects.


justflyingin....your little strips quilts turned out fabulous! If you add up all of those strips you will see that you have yards of fabric in there.

I really like those quilts.

Keep 1 1/2 inches and above.

I have been making string quilts. Save the "chunky" pieces to use in the corners. I try to use it all! Make crumb blocks with the leftovers.

This is what happens to me. I am using the same fabric in so many scrap quilts, I get sick of it. Now I am making a crumb quilt, sort of log cabin style but wonky. I am taking one fabric and put some of that onto each block until that stuff is GONE. That will tie the whole quilt together, with the same colors in lots of blocks.

I have found a good way to purge those piles of 'too little, too much'. I offered to ship them to other board members for the cost of postage for a flat rate box. They get a surprise package for their scrappy quilting, and I get more room to use for other things. Works for me.
*Just a thought to add. If you haven't used the scraps in 30 years, do you really think you will suddenly need them tomorrow? just asking....

I think it depends on what kind of quilts YOU like to make. If you like a unified design, then perhaps keeping all those scraps for a quilt is not to your liking, and it would help you to find them a new home. I think with the scraps of several quilts, you'd be making scrap quilts for quite some time. But if you like to make a scrap quilt and think its a valuable use of your time, then by all means keep them. I LOVE a scrap quilt, but very rarely make one. I find new homes for my scraps, because I know someone will be more excited to make a scrap quilt than I will.

Jo C..you can ditch them my way! I love trip or string quilts!!! I'll pay the postage.

I keep anything 1.5in HST or larger... im a scrapper so once my tub gets full ill make something to tame the tub down.. If a lid wont close THATS the tub/bin im working with next... Keeps the creative juies going and im never working on the same project twice..

Holy Batman!!!!! You are one thrifty woman. More power to you.

I love the idea of having someone to trade scraps with. It's true you get tired of using the same ones over and over.

I also love this idea. A friend of mine has collected so much fabric she has boxed some of it up and sent it to another state that does charity quilts and is not fussy about the fabric being quilt store quality and some of it she has passed on to some of us her friends and it is a lot of fun to go thru someone elses scraps. I have given some of mine to the senior citizens group and they are very happy for the donation for their charity quilts. Our local guild is very fussy about the fabric they receive so I don't donate to them anymore, I give to those who appreciate it. None of it is junk but not all of it is quilt store quailty.

Speaking of scraps, would anyone want a box of scraps? My sister and I just moved into a trailer, so there's not much space, so we're trying to get rid of some of our things. My sister has a medium sized garbage bag full of scraps (all shapes and sizes, especially small) Would someone on the board like them? I could send a box off to you. Just pm me with your address and I'll send them along to you. I don't know what there is in the bag, but youre welcome to them.

Justfllyingin.... Your quilts are always wonderful. It was fun to see how the different colored sashing made the quilts unique.

I love all the quilts and the different color sashings makes them look so different. I'll keep these in mind for when I'm trying to come up with a pattern for my future scrappy quilt! Thanks.

I saw an exhibit of antique quilt tools, templates, etc. One item was an old-fashioned round hat box with a label that said, "pieces too small to save." Yes, it was full of little pieces! Made me limit my saved scraps to 2.5" strips or 2.5" squares. I know where the trash can is.

I have been cutting up my scraps into strips and squares, and frankly I look at some and think "you are just too small to fool with". Into the trash bin they go! I refuse to put time into seaming and pressing anything that is not much bigger than its seams.

I hereby give you permission to get rid of your "tinies"... without guilt!

I love your quilts. The colors are so awesome. I know they are loved by those that receive them.

My smallest scraps are 1 1/2'' anything smaller and out it goes.

I keep anything over 1 1/2" sq. I use them in paper piecing and small baby quilts or where I need only a few small pieces .
with the price of fabric and the poor quality out there now you cannot afford to lose what you have

anything smaller than 2.5" I put into a special trash can and when full I sew them into a pillowcase and make a dog bed for the shelter.

About 3 or 4 years ago, I had 6 large packing boxes full of scraps. I spent about 2 weeks trimming them into useful sizes and shapes, precutting for specific projects and generally reducing the total to 2 boxes. I was surprised to find that the majority of pieces was not suitable even for my applique projects. Over the next few months, I made about 10 scrap quilts. I am now much more careful about what I save. Of course, my stash hasn't really gotten any smaller, merely more organized with more "good" fabric. One thing I decided to do was to cut 2.5" squares. When I want to sew but don't feel up to anything challenging, I make 4 patches, which tend to be "filler" bits because they are already made. One advantage is that a gallon baggy of 2.5" scraps takes much less space than the scraps from which I cut them. My other categories were 5", 5.5" 6" squares. 2.5 x 5.5 (with the 2.5 and 5.5, this makes my fav scrap quilt, Vestibule, or Star in the Corner.) My last category is "long, skinny", a category of even widths, rather like jelly rolls. These must be at least 1.5" wide. I roll these individually and baggy them too.

I keep far too much. I have been cutting all my little pieces into 1.5 inch squares and tacking them to papers and separating into lights and darks for a proposed hand pieced postage stamp quilt. I bought a stack of adding machine tape on super special and have been stitching on random bits for a scrappy/strippy.....as for anything smaller....I was considering saving them for one of those confetti quilts (Noriko Endo creates beauties).

this is the quilt i made with some of my scraps. i posted it a long time ago. none of my scraps go to waste. whatever is too small, goes to a lady who makes dog beds for the Humane Society. I have a bag taped to my cutting table and when I square the edges, each sliver goes into the bag. when it is full, I tie it up, throw it in the corner and take it to the next months meeting. I am amazed how fast the bags fill. At $11-12 a yard, I don't feel I can just throw them in the landfill when there is a use for them. I love scrappy quilts. i have started a miniature quilt using one inch wide strips for 4 patches. i also have been saving strips of all sizes for a strippy quilt. i wish i understood why i love scraps so mucm. Some of the blocks below looked like vomit by themselves...but sewed together, i love them.

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