What do you consider a "scrap"?

less than a 1/4 yard?
less than an 1/8 yard?

I'm going thru my "stash" and I have some scraps but some are good sized pieces but not enough to ever do probably even a wall hanging or table runner with...probably less than 1/8 yard though so I'm wondering should I put them in my (newly created) scrap bin or fold them and put them with my stash.....my stash is not that big - 3 bins (2 small, 1 large) and one bin is all Christmas fabric.

I keep everything..The tiny pieces to small for sewing get used as stuffing. We won't talk about how many tubs I have...let's just say hub has agreed to turn the garage into my new sewing space. =)

I use anything down to 3/4" so I keep everthing. Never know what you may decide to try in the future and you may need that piece after all. I like to keep my options open in case I see something I want to try.

I keep the bigger sized scraps in a different space from the smaller ones.
1/4-1/8 yd pieces are nice sizes for sampler blocks :D:D:D

To me, scraps are odd sized and shaped pieces of fabric left over from some project, no matter how big or small they are. I keep everything that's 2" square and bigger.

Less than 1/4 yd is a scrap and right now I am cutting them up to make a scrappy quilt from Bonnie Hunters site www.quiltville.com. I put fat qtr sizes together and anything bigger goes in my regular stash. I have made two scrappy quilts since Christmas and am starting my third one today. After all we did pay 7 -10 $ a yd for most of our fabric so it won't go to waste. Besides, I love scrappy quilts.

Sew, with the itty bitty pieces, do they all get mixed up in a tub or are they organized in some way. What about skinny strips left from evening off or squaring up? How are they stored, or are they saved?

If I can't get a 2" square or a 1.5 strip out of it, I pitch it. I don't have a lot of storage room, and, so far, I haven't done any projects that could use tiny pieces.

I toss anything that's smaller than an inch. A scrap to me is a FQ or smaller.

Shame on you CJ and BJ there are so many like me that would love to get your scraps!! probably a lot more that could use the help to their stash. Please consider saving for someone else.

Amma I had to laugh I buy 1/4 and 1/8 yds for my stash. I used to never buy anything larger than a half yard!
I keep my scraps - anything less than a 2" square size in zip lock bags. I do sort by color most of the time if I have the patience. Otherwise it all goes into a zip for sorting later. I do alot of scrappy work so use all the variety I can get. I try not to repeat any one fabric in the same projects so I like to have a lot of scraps for resource to go through when I am looking for a certain color or value.

Well I guess I will have to start saving those and send them to you. I just can't work with those little tiny pieces. LOL!! So don't be surprised if you start receiving envelopes in the mail crammed full.

any piece of fabric i have cut off from another piece of fabric and not used in that project is a scrap from that project...if it is yards...well that is a bonus scrap! most of my scraps are definitly not yards, but sometimes i love a fabric and buy a couple yards; i may make one 12" Block out of it...although not true...scraps, it is still a scrap(leftover) from that block. my stash is my scraps :thumbup: i go through phases when my scraps seem to have multiplied out of control i set aside a weekend, or a day and spend it pressing and cutting up everything smaller than a fq into what i consider (usable scraps) squares, strips, in the largest pieces i can get out of the fabric.

I keep fat quarters in one area, anything bigger in another area, and anything smaller goes in the scrap basket. I make scrap quilts more than anything else so I'm always going through my scrap basket. I also keep scraps in a blanket chest and go through that too when I'm looking for scraps. I keep almost everything. Anything that is "stringy" I've started saving to toss outside to help the birds build their nests. It is very difficult for me to toss fabric in the wastebasket.

WOW! Thanks for all the feedback (and so quickly!) I look forward to hearing more.

I'm just going through all my fabric today and am trying to somewhat organize it. I think I'll end up with my large fabric bin, Christmas fabric bin and a UFO bin. I've gained a 5 drawer dresser in the last couple of days and I think one of those drawers will be for the projects I have stuff for but not started. And then I'll have my scrap basket/bin which will be probably anything less than a 1/4 yard.

Start a new habit! When finishing a project, take time to organize and
cut those scraps into usable strips, squares, triangles, etc. and store in
a labeled zip lock bag or box! Saves alot of frustration later on when
you want to start another project.

Anything less than probably an inch gets tossed. If I can use it for maybe some applique, I'll keep it.
I have a wire/fabric laundry basket that I bought at Walmart years ago and that's where all my scraps go. Once it's full, I sort thru it. Most of it gets sent away to someone that needs it, but I do keep some for my self.

I'm pretty careful the way I cut and I don't really throw away a lot. Trust me, I would feel awful if I felt I was being wasteful. My bits I throw away truly are very small bits. I cringe when I see E. Burns pitch pieces over her shoulder. I wonder if she goes back and picks them all up after the cameras are off.

:-D :-D :-D :-D

Couldn't resist teasing!! But what is small to most is big to me! I am a miniaturist after all. I made a one patch small quilt one time with all 3/4" squares and all scrappy so there were no two alike. so I am always on the lookout for those small bits! I used to use 3/4" only when I made the small billfolds I use to make.

PM me your address, I'll be glad to send you my bits and pieces. I do not have the skill or dexterity to do bitty bits. I'd be bald soon if I tried. 1.5" is almost too small. JK. :D :D

My scrap is not measured in yardage. My scrap is left-over pieces larger than 1 1/2" and they are literally just irregular bits and pieces.

I paper piece and have started using some doing a book marker from a pattern, so I am using some very small pieces. So right now I am currently regretting having thrown away some of my "scraps" that I had in the past.

Scrap for me is what is cut up into usable bits - 5" charms, 4"-3"-2.5" squares and various strip sizes. Anything I can't cut into one of those goes for stuffing or to a guild member who uses really really tiny stuff.

Diana

I got some plastic baskets/bins and I picked out some scrappy quilt patterns, made templates to keep in the baskets and when I have a scrap smaller than a fat quarter I decide which scrappy quilt I want to add it to and I cut it up and add it to that basket. When the basket gets full enough I start piecing the scrap quilt. Print out a small pic of the quilt and tape it to the front of your basket so you don't forget what you're saving the scraps for. I have several different quilts that I need to start piecing now. Anything smaller than that goes in a zip lock bag to be used in string quilts. (looking forward to making my first one of those soon!)

What I did was go to Target or the Dollar store and got about 10 of those plastic shoe boxes (the clear kind). Then I took a sharpie and labelled each one, 1", 1.5", 2", 2.5", 3", 3.5", 4", 4.5", strings 1.5", 2" and one I called Charms (5" squares) I also labelled another one HST, and throw any and all HSTs in that one. Whenever I finish cutting up enough pieces for a specific block, I cut the leftovers up and put them in the proper bins. When the bins get full, I just sew the pieces all together and make a scrappy quilt top or miniature or table topper.

Check out Quiltville: http://www.quiltville.com

Yeah. what a good hubby!

I keep almost everything from 2" up. The smaller pieces I cut into squares and store in containers. Larger pieces I put in a tote for use in scrap quilts.

And when making flying geese take a second to stitch a second seam parallel to the first half an inch away. Cur between the two seams and you'll already have a completed half square triangle piece to use later! How cool is that!

if you mean what is a scrap that can be used in a scrap quilt, then anything over 2.5". if you make itty-bitty quilts, then the square size may be 1.5", but for most projects 2.5 is the norm.

i personally think anything anything less than .25 yd is for scraps (for scrappy projects) because you can't really make anything planned with them. and i personally toss anything smaller than 4". life is too short.

I cut everything into a 2 inch sq and anything smaller gets tossed

I have saved smaller pieces for applique. The greens are separated for leaves and stems if long enough the other colors are great for flowers or any other applique I wish to do. I have color coded them so I know where they are. I don't have many boxes of them but will soon be using a lot for flowers etc.

I had to laugh when I saw your post. I just redid my stash to be organized for the new year. Here is a picture of my box of
"scraps". I decided to use my go cutter and just cut shapes and put the aside for scrap quilts and then cive the remaining little scraps to a friend in my guild who makes blocks from everything the rest of us throw away. (she never buys fabric and her quilts are beautiful). The other pictures are of the hundreds of blocks I cut out. I cut chisels squares and hst's.The plastic bin is full of over 400 hsts.The last picture is the box when I finally quit. I swear it is fuller now then when I started:)
Good luck on using up your scraps. I think they are like rabbits and just keep multiplying

I don't throw out anything that I can even get a postage stamp piece out of. Some day you'll be glad you saved them.

PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT GIVE SCRAPS OR PIECES OF THREAD TO BIRDS FOR THEIR NESTS!!

IN AN ISSUE OF 'BIRDS AND BLOOMS' IT STATED THE FABRIC AND THREAD GETS WET, THE BABY BIRDS GET CHILLED AND THEN DIE.

If you want to give birds nesting material collect hair from your local salon, barber shop or pet groomer.

There are locations where cotton fabric can be recycled, this is a much better solution for unwanted scraps.

Longarm

I did not mention that there are some quilters who use even the smallest pieces in scrappy quilts, applique, string quilts and probably other uses.

Check with others from your group or guild maybe they know someone who would love your scraps. I know there are people who dumpster dive at retreats because they use small pieces that others consider trash.

Longarm

I consider a scrap anything under a yard THAT I PREVIOUSLY USED IN A QUILT PROJECT. I purposely buy fat quarters and would not consider them a scrap, though I know that "scrap quilt" books and patterns are very often based on fat quarters. but once I've used it in something, it becomes a scrap. I just went through my scraps and cut them into 5" squares and 2 1/2" strips that are now ready to go.

I throw away some due to I'm sick of them. I almost gave away a tub of scraps to the goodwill because I was tired of them but went to quiltville.com and found the pattern "crayon box", I printed it and proceeded to cut into this tube of scraps that I ironed. To date I have sewn 96 blocks and I'm sewing on 120 more. How stupid of me to think I'd give all that away. I did cut up some "less than a yard pieces" I'm on a roll Ladies!!!!!!!!!!

I do a lot of scrappy quilts. I save everything. Larger scraps in one drawer and small and tiny pieces in another.

I do hand needleturn applique,landscapes,old barns and houses,animals, so needless to say a scrap of 1/2 inch sometimes works. also the Dear Jane that I am doing uses extra small pieces. So I guess I am saying a scrap is a scrap to someone .lol

I agree! Diane C.

1x1 is a bit small for me but golly! anyone wanting to get rid of scraps no smaller than 2x2 Id love them !! I would soo love your scraps.. I seriously use 2x2....