Scrappy Nut
 

I think I am a nut. I just spent the last two weeks washing and ironing all my scrap fabric. Well it took awhile to do but at least I know what I have now. Now its time to sort them. Has anyone else done this? Now I need some patterns and ideas as to what to make from them.

Check out quiltville.com. Bonnie Hunter has a number of suggestions on cutting, saving, and organizing scraps.

Look on Bonnie Hunter's blog, Quiltville, for a bunch of free scrappy patterns. You will find them listed in the lower right hand side of her website. I've done 2 and they both turned out gorgeous!! Have fun!!

Linda in Missouri

Apparently, Sue and I think along the same lines!!

Linda

I don't think you are a nut, you are dedicated. You will now have a good idea of what is there for you to use.

I agree with others who suggested looking at Bonnie Hunter's site. She uses many scraps!

I have a similar ritual ... except I toss my scraps in to a big tub with lid with starch solution , shake till they are all saturated , then use my drying rack to dry .. then iron... yep its a bit of work but its part of my "process" . As I am ironing I start to sorting and evaluating the pieces. I like the nickel quilts books for great scrappy ideas. Sometimes if I am feeling really nutty I reduce the scale.

I recently finished this scrappy. Scrappy squares & sashing too. It put somewhat of a dent in my scrap pile!

http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...d-t234912.html

I have been doing the same thing, I have a couple more bags to go through I had at least six 30 gal bags ! I actually enjoyed ironing and seeing each piece of fabric. I too need Ideas on how to sort , I tend to become very overwhelmed lol. I was cutting as I went but soon gave up that quest .Check out the scrappy thread on this site tons of inspiration.

I admire your dedication in washing and ironing all your scraps. A good friend told me to do this when I started so that everything was "safe" in my stash. Of course, I didn't do it. So I take my chances and use alot of color catchers.

If that isn't the truth !!!

Yes I too have done this. When I moved into my current sewing room I washed and ironed all of my fabrics before putting them away. Some were yards! It was like a fresh start and allowed me to organize them into colorways.
Oh ... by the way, it took 2 months.

FYI, Bonnie Hunter is starting a new mystery quilt Nov 29th, right after Thanksgiving. She suggested certain colors, but you don't have to use those colors.

I just did that same thing about a month ago. It took the better part of a day, but now I know what I have and it is all ready to go. There a gazillion things that you can do with scraps. I put the ones I can use for applique in one pile, sure saves time when I'm ready to do a big project.

I always do something similar, wash my fabric, then spend hours ironing it; but then it's all ready and good to go when I pick out that particular project to make. It's also a good time to sort the fabrics too. Have you gone to Quilters Cache? They have lots of blocks as well as examples of those blocks set into a quilt, plus you see what others have done.

I take my scraps and make crazy squares out of them. This way you don't have to worry about colors or a pattern.
Just put them in a bag and reach in and pull out one and then sew it on a foundation square along with the others.

No, they have already been washed before I use the fabric. However, I do iron as I go. Love, love scraps. What I don't use, I shred and put on my bushes with my thread clippings for the birds to take for their nests. True recllycling.

Take a look at this: A beautiful scrappy

http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...t-t235318.html

and go to the archives where photos of quilts are kept in categories and look at the wealth of ideas there.

I just want to pat you on the back and give you a big hug!

Yes, I like scraps and have laundered scraps, pressed them with Magic Sizing, and cut most in to usable sizes. Bonnie Hunter has a terrific system of using squares, strips, and triangles. Please check out her free patterns at Quiltville.com and try to catch her quilt cam on YouTube. She has so many tricks:-)

Deborah U. put me in touch with a Face Book group called Thrifty Quilters. The owner/ moderator has published a neat book using six sizes of your precuts. The book is excellent and outlines a number of different blocks, as well as, sashings which all use the six sizes. Check out Anne Wiens ---- Trifty Quilters and her book. The book is worth every penny and is a wealth of inspiration.

I have begun to look at my fabrics differently. Strips can become triangle units, bonus triangles can be cut from those diagonal units at the end of a rectangle, etc. Odd pieces become puzzle challenges. :)

My goodness, but I'd like to visit with you in person. Meanwhile, private message me if you have additional concerns. Perhaps, I could telephone you in the USA.

Quilting is sew wonderful! Piecefully yours, Kay Susan