my question is .....how small do you save....4 x 4 ...smaller
what is reasonable....if there is such a thing in the quilt world....
is it reasonable to sort by color or size.....

I do mine by type and them color...like all 30s, batiks, florals.

I don't save anything smaller than 2 inches. If it's a fabric I'm just wild about I will save any scraps that I can work with, even for a crazy patch or something.
But my basic rule I guess is 2 inches.
I don't sort by color but it may be a good idea.

Figure out how small a piece you will actually use. The others can be tossed in a box to be given away or sold :D:D:D

Depends of if you applique. If you do, you can always use smaller pieces for those blocks. At some point though, you have to draw your own personal line about what works, and what is just cluttering your space.

I like 2 1/2 in. squares for the smallest scraps. I love the look of 2 in. finished blocks and can do so much with them!

Oh how I know about clutter.....my current box of scrapes is overflowing...and it is time to sort, throw or START ANOTHER BOX (heaven forbid)

Excellent point :thumbup:

I have no rules for saving. That explains the 4 boxes and one huge tote full of scraps. That also explains why I sometimes lose my cat because she has snuggled into the tote and the lid has accidentally closed on her. (It's the first place I look now). :-)

For those who work with Crumbs .... how small is too small?

I save pieces 1 1/2 cut into squares. Put them into two containers, one light and one dark. Then I use them for leader/enders (per Bonnie Hunter) and call the result The Quilt that Made Itself.

it really depends on what type of quilter you are---if you always cut from yardage- you may not have a need for scraps- if you are an appliquer you save every little piece- you never know when you might need an eye or an itty bitty bird beak.
if you are a scrap quilter- you might save every strip, square or triangle, but toss the bitty pieces.
what ever you decide is the size for you- remember--- there are lots of organizations and people who appreciate your donations!!
i keep baskets under my cutting table- one for strips (used for string quilts, wrapped clothesline projects and rug hooking) one for smaller pieces, corners, squares, what ever -- when they start really building up and i realize i need to pass some on i give them to...
the area pre-school,
boy scouts,
public school art department,
senior center,
and
members here who send out requests.
i only actually toss out strings/threads, frayed little bits. everything else is recycled/used and shared.

Your quilt is very pretty. :-)

I'll use scraps as small as 3/4". I'm using them in a crumb quilt.

I cut the scrapes into whatever will be usable.....the smallest I go is 1 1/2" squares.......I have them sorted by size, in those clear plastic shoe boxes......when a box is full, I know its time to make another quilt top...I love scrappy ones, of course. The larger ones (4x4 and up) I have sorted by color, and stored in cat litter boxes.

Right now I don't have a lot of scraps, they're not sorted AT ALL, just stuffed into a tote. I have everything in there. I'll save as small as 1 x 1 as I know I'll use that small. I like little tiny piece quilts.

As long as I can see a bit of fabric after two 1/4 inch seams, I save it. when my bin gets to overflowing, I start an S&C quilt and it looks like it's time now lol.I sort light and darks, not color but do pay atterntion as I put them together.

I have scraps big enough (small enough?) for a 1 1/2" x 2" piece. Some are sorted into related groups that would go together, as opposed to just by color. (For example, colonial looking blues and reds or southwestern colors and prints.)

Ditto!! :thumbup: ;)

As someone mentioned, Bonnie Hunter has a system for her scraps! She shares it and has photos of finished quilts at

http://www.quiltville.com/scrapusersystem.shtml

Enjoyed looking at all her ideas just today. :)

I save everything. I give what don't want away on here and I have received many scraps from all the awsome people on here. There is always somebody that can use what you don't want to.
Judy

Everybody that does not use anything smaller than 2" there are alot of people that would pay for shipping for your scraps. Alot of people here are saving for postage stamp quilts (1-1/2") I just hate to see things thrown away that others would love to have
Judy

Everybody that does not use anything smaller than 2" there are alot of people that would pay for shipping for your scraps. Alot of people here are saving for postage stamp quilts (1-1/2") I just hate to see things thrown away that others would love to have
Judy

i'm really glad that you all save & share as opposed to sitting in the landfill...maybe we need a whole section on who saves what size, so we can KEEP the ball rolling!!!

i wish i were so organized!

I only save 2.5" now.. so... if I have small scraps that can be cut to 1.5 I'll set them aside until I have an envelope full and mail them to someone

People will find uses for the tiniest of scraps. I like this system by Bonnie Hunter.....

http://www.quiltville.com/scrapusersystem.shtml

I save virtually everything, including small pieces of thread.

I have happily received packages of 'crumbs' from several members on this forum :-D . I just love rummaging through the package looking at all of my little treasures. I am addicted to making crumb quilts and now I think I will start saving for a postage stamp quilt....woo hoo.

As Bonnie Hunter says, "the fabric in the scraps costs just as much as the yardage that it came from" (not an exact quote). She makes "new" fabric from her scraps and then sew quilts from her "new" fabrics.

Some lovely work is done with strips too.

so a crumb square is kinda like a crazy quilt square.....never heard of that term before .....however LOVE the concept....have you finished a Crumb quilt.....
Pictures please......

Here are some 4" crumbs I made. A friend here on QB was very kind and generous and sent some beautiful scraps for me to use for my crumb quilt and I can't thank her enough. Crumbs are very addictive.

oh what great fun...... do you use sashing to combine the squares.....

I used to save everything 'just in case' but have come to the realization that I like looking at appliques far more than I like making them. I now save anything that can be cut 1 1/2" and toss the rest in the yard for the birds. Recently, I had a bunch of triangles left over from making flying geese and then trimming the corners off. I pieced the triangle scraps together and then squared them up into 1 1/2" blocks. (Has anyone discovered the wonderful HST square up rulers from USAUS.US??) I was able to sew those together in a cute little pattern which then became 2 1/2" blocks. Now I can add them into a scrap quilt that requires 2 1/2" blocks and they will add a lot of interest to the quilt. I'll snap a pic when my daughter gets home with my camera.

I’ve changed my mind about 1000 times so far. LOL! My plan is to put 9 of them together in a block and put sashing around the blocks. Another option I’ve thought about is to put sashing around each individual block. I think they would be pretty without sashing too, just a different look.

Cabbagepatchkid, I love your crumbs!!! :thumbup: How are you going to put yours together?

I find myself saving mostly what will cut into 2-2 1/2 inch strips. I run out ways to use the quantity I seem to accumulate. Every so often a bag goes out the door to someone at guild, etc. I sometimes have a bit of difficulty deciding between "scrap" and "small piece of fabric".

We have two guilld members that love scraps.

One does "Art Quilts" -- I give her first choice, if she can use them.

The other one makes beds for the shelter using all scraps -- she gets all the tiny pieces and pieces the "Art Quilter" cannot use.

I keep all the scraps I think I might be able to use , but one way or the other, all my scraps get used, nothing is wasted.

I came up with a great plan that has freed me from the stress. I'm planning a scrappy flying geese, so I cut a zillion 5 x 3 rectangles (max 4 of same fabric) or 5 3/8 squares for speed piecing - it's the size I came up with. Smaller than that, or things I really don't like, go in a bin for board requests, free for shipping. Evidently I will make 4 of these scrappy flying geese quilts. lol.

Craftybear just had some info about what scraps to save and how to sort them. It was last week and I think (but not sure) that it was Apr. 22. I found it very useful.

The smallest I save is 1.5". Anything smaller gets tossed. I, usually, save them in a box then when needing for a quilt I separate lights from darks.