Saving Scraps
 

I have been researching information regarding organizing scraps. Some say by color, others by size. I am at the end of my rope trying to decide what to do with my scraps. I am really not into scrap quilts. However, I will consider quilts with controlled scraps. For example, using three or four colors, but I just cannot use flowers with geometric designs and many colors that are not my favorites. I know you quilters will be happy to help me with my dilemma. I do use scraps as practice pieces for HST or QST, etc.

I do color first. Whites, neutral light, pinks, purple, blues, reds, green, yellows, orange, brown/tan, grey, black. Small pieces and strips less than 2x2 square and 1 1/2" strips go into a large pillowcase for doggie beds. The less chaos for me the better. Haven't been doing a lot lately other than trying to make some sense of my room.

Since you are not really into scrap quilts, how about thinking of it as future projects. Keep like scraps from the same collections or the same quilts together in large zip loc bags and add to them when something else "fits" It may be a good way to keep ufo's down.

Check out Bonnie Hunter's method. I have friends who swear by it. She has a blog - not sure what it's called.

You could give your scraps away. I've listed bags of scraps (and many other things) on ReUseIt and have always had takers. Then they wouldn't be a burden to you but would still be used.

and here's the link to Bonnie Hunter's Scrap Users System:
http://quiltville.com/scrapusersystem.shtml

I try to keep them organized, I don't always do it. When I start pulling them out to use I finish up the organizing.

So, do you think you'd be at all inclined to make a controlled scrap quilt with your own organized scraps, or does the fabric totally lose appeal after the quilt is done? I'm trying to figure out if the scraps would be a burden regardless how you organized them.

If you really don't feel at all inspired to reuse them, perhaps try selling them by the stuffed large envelope full or even putting up a fun little quiz with a giveaway of your scraps on this board. Some people get a huge bang out of seeing a stuffed envelope full of "brand new" scraps .Seriously. Others quickly tire of the leftovers. It's a personality thing (or sometimes just a space thing) but either way, if you don't honestly you'd use them no matter how you organize them, then consider some of these other options.

Like you, I didn't like scrappy quilts for a long time. Now they are growing on me and I have recently made a few scrappy quilts that I really like! If you really don't think you would like to make a scrappy quilt, give them away or sell them--just get rid of them so you won't feel guilty about them anymore!! But just in case you want to keep them, my method is first to sort by size. Anything 1/4 yard or more is in my yardage stash on comic boards sorted by color. Far quarter size are together also sorted by color. Then I have a small bin of strips for string quilts. All small scraps of squares and rectangles are in a separate bin, attempted to be sorted by color but usually just jumbled!

I stopped feeling guilty about not keeping my scraps a long time ago. I'm happy, the scrap ladies at my guild are happy, and I don't have scraps stuck in every nook and cranny of my sewing room. I have one basket I put my scraps in. I use from it sometimes but when it's full it goes to the scrap pile at guild.

I am a jumbler. All scraps go into a reusable shopping bag (the cheap, "fabric" kind). Have tried to sort by color/size...hahahaha. Didn't work for me. I do better with just a bag o' scraps. I make lots and lots of scrap quilts. But then again, I am guilty of buying fabric to use in scrap quilts because I needed/wanted that particular color or pattern. Oh well...until the scraps take over my sewing room, I will continue to save them. (I've even transported a huge bagful to my vacation home so I can make scrap quilts there).

If you aren't going to use them, don't keep them. They're just a hoard and a burden unless you are using them.

I personally love scraps, and I do use them a lot. But I have rules for myself governing how many scraps and how they are strored.

I sort by color, and I keep them in a gallon ziplock bag. All my ziplocks fit in a bin, with the exception of black, white and neutral, which have their own bin. If stuff threatens to overflow the bin, I have to either use it or lose it. I like making slab constructed srappy patchwork for table runners, wall hangings, or pillows, then keeping them to use as my trials for FMQ ideas or thread selection process.

I make a lot of scrappy jelly roll and string quilts for charity. Most of my scraps get cut into 2 12 inch strips, sometimes 3 inch strips to make scrappy jelly rolls. Strings that I can use go in a bin and the rest goes in a bag for pet beds. The strings are getting out of hand so some will go in the pet beds.

I'm not into scrapy quilts either. I'll save largish 'scraps' that I use for practice blocks or some small projects. Otherwise, they are gone. I don't have enough room to keep a 'stash' and even less to keep scraps that I'm not going to use for something.

Because I enjoy doing appliqué I hate to cut my scraps into the "scrap user systems" I do have a bin for each colour of fabric that is too small to be folded and put on the shelf. When they get to overflowing I take a huge bag to quilting friends and start over :D

I like that 'use it or lose it' approach. Seems very sensible.

I sort them by value - light, medium and dark and keep them in totes. I try to use them up as quickly as I can in coordinating pillows or shams

I have two 6 drawer plastic carts on wheels that tuck perfectly under my counter. I can't part with decent size scraps. I do a LOT of applique, so these come in handy. Sort by color - Red, Blue, Green, Orange, White, Purple, Pink, Novelty, Holiday and then these go together - Yellow & Gold, Black & Gray, Brown & Tan - perfect for my 12 drawers !!
I keep a basket on my cutting table for scraps too small for me because I know there are some quilters out there who like to make postage stamp quilts....I am NOT one of them, but will eventually put that basket out for someone else to use.
The drawers allow the scraps to lay flat, and it's easy to flip thru it to look for something. Once a year, I empty all the drawers into a box and put it "away" for a year. That way I don't continually use the same scraps in projects.

Oh my goodness, I love scraps! I English paper piece every evening in front of the tv and need 2 inch strips to make the diamonds for my quilts. I am known at my LQS for loving scraps, and regularly spend $50-$60 on scrap bags. I love the variety they add to my quilts.

I struggled with this problem for quite sometime. Then I found the Creative Grids Scrap Crazy Template set. As soon as I am done with a project I cut up the scraps using these templates. I have 3 categories--patriotic----kids---floral. If it does not fit those---it gets tossed. I also save 2 1/2 in strips if they are at least half a width of fabric for scrappy binding. Here is a quilt made using those blocks. My sewing room is 8 x 8 so I cannot have containers full of things.

I am guilty of not organizing my scraps and accumulated a huge bin of scraps. So when my machine had to go in for a checkup and was gone for 2 weeks I did begin to tackle that bin. I got hallway through it before my machine returned. I just cut mine into blocks or strips whichever I could get with the least waste of fabric. Then I saved the tiny pieces and gave to a friend who does miniature quilts. Nothing wasted!

I am not much of a scrap quilter so I pass them onto friends who are.

I cut 7", 5", 3.5" squares, and strips (odd sizes) for string quilts. For me, these are the sizes I use most. I'll save FQ size or larger unless I'm just tired of the fabric; if so, I cut it. Think about what you will use and cut accordingly. Mine are organized by size, but that isn't likely the best for everyone--color is probably better for most.

I LOVE scrappy quilts. Almost all of my quilts end up scrappy to some degree or another. To me, that's what patchwork quilts are all about! I have a few garment sewing friends who save all their cotton scraps for me, I am always THRILLED to get a bag full of "new" scraps!

If you have scraps you just don't want to use, don't feel obliged to keep them. Sell them, give them away, or trade them for some yardage you'll be happy to use. :)

Sometimes schools or senior centers will take scraps too.

Marcy, I used to be in similar situation. Then one day, I decided to make a couple mini quilts using scraps, and friends really like them. Instant gifts! I also joined in some swaps here on the board, and used included scraps in those. Mug rugs, mini quilts, table runners, etc. are great to use some scraps. I also make crumb blocks with scraps or leftovers, and when I have enough crumb blocks, I add a solid, and make quilts for the homeless or needy. They appreciate them, and I've cleared out some. I also use Bonnie Hunter's system...www.quiltville.com. Hope you find a few solutions that work for you!

I hadn't seen these templates before--May have to give Santa a hint! ;)

I tend to jumble. Any "scrap" larger than 4.5"x4.5" gets a 4.5" square cut out of it, the others either get stitched together at random and cut into 4.5" squares (later to be pieced together at random into a blanket), or get tossed into the ziplock bag that I source my paper piecing bits from. I'm doing a 3/4" grandmother's flower garden, so I can use some fairly little scraps.

I'm also one of those people who will take in orphaned scraps of woven cotton fabric.

Pictures of my Delectable Mountain quilt in progress.[ATTACH=CONFIG]529076[/ATTACH]

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The blog is: http://quiltville.blogspot.com/.

I keep most of my scrap pieces inside the largest size "leftover" in the bunch folded up in the main body of my stash. That way if I want to use that fabric again all of it is together.
I have a section set aside for 2-1/2" strips that don't also have larger pieces.
If there's not a fairly good size piece left then the little bits go into either a light or dark colors bag. Unless it's seasonal then I have a separate one for those.
And I have a bag of tiny stuff that can be used for stuffing pillows etc.
This is working for me so far.

I am trying to organize by type - flannels together, Civil wars together, etc.

One more LOL. Since you said you aren't really into scraps but would consider one. Why not save your favorite color and get rid of the rest? Say your favorite color is red, save everything that has red in it and toss the rest, less stress.

I totally agree with this suggestion. Life is too short to stress out over a pile of scraps that can't make you enjoy using them. Many other people do love scrappy so donate or trade with them & youll both be happy.