I've just acquired a LOT of scraps. This is good considering that I love scrappy quilts. Some of the "scraps" are fairly large, but not at large as par say a fat quarter. Should I cut these scraps into squares? strips? What would be the best way to make the best use of these scraps. I've seen on here that some cut strips, some use the accucutter thing....... I thought of cutting the largest square I could from the scraps, then use the smaller left over pieces on the pp project I am working on. Any suggestions?

I would cut squares the size you think you will need in the future and then strips out of the strips that are left :D:D:D

What would you like to make? Have you browsed thru Quiltville? It's very inspiring. Here's the link:

http://quiltville.com/

You will get as many answers as there are people. I love the scrappy quilts too. The ultimate choice is all yours. You can use them as is or cut them up to a desired size. I know this is no help but be sure to post a pic of whatever you make with them.....Good Luck!!!!!

Thanks yall, amma posted the ideas like what I'm needing, although ANY quilting site is a plus, lol. I don't have anything planned for them, just don't like the idea of having a bag of scraps in the closet. If they are in some sort of organized clutter, they would actually get used. I'm one that stands back to stare at what I have for inspiration. Or see something I like that others made, and "steal" ideas from it. :)

I just saw a quilt made from 2 1/2 x 4 1/2" colored scraps alternated with 2 1/2" solid squares. This pattern works best if there is contrast.

Unless you have something specific in mind, I would just leave them as they are until you have need of that color fabric. I just used some scraps kind of like you are talking about to do a block for a swap. If I had already cut the scraps into a certain size they might not have been the size needed.
That being said, I'm most likely to cut fabric into strips rather than squares or triangles, since the strips can easily be cut down into rectangles, squares or triangles as needed.

I'd keep them all together, but not cut them. There's no way to know what size you might need in the future.

Please take a look in Classifieds at my posting of today.
I have a simple, scrappy quilt top (last photo) which might
be of interest. Can send you my instructions.

I agree. Maybe just sort them by color.

I would make 5" charms then work from there with remaining scraps

Here's Bonnie Hunter's Scrap User's System. http://quiltville.com/scrapusersystem.shtml

Are 5" charms considered the most popular size square? Can't say that I've seen too many 6" squares called for in a scrappy quilt. (Maybe I'm not looking in the right places, :) )

This is what I do when I have scraps. I also do this when I finish a large project with the small leftovers. I made 4 scrap quilts in June with scraps I had pre-cut...they went together so fast!

Depends on what type of scrappy you enjoy making. For me, I would prefer a bushel basket of mixed scraps of any size over a drawer full of neat cuts of various sizes. Do what makes you happy.

Thanks Deb, this is exactly what I was looking for!

Another reason why I love this board!

My sister drove 2 1/2 hours last weekend to help me pack my sewing room and in return I gave her 3 30 gallon trash bags of scraps, 3 'kits' that I had put together (one being a Pittsburgh Steelers blanket for my brother in law, her husband) and more yardage just because she liked it. I won't even miss it being gone. But I have so much left. A quilting friend is a friend indeed.

When I first began quilting, all scraps went into a tote. Which I thought would work fabulous for finding the fabric when I needed it for a project. It quickly became a mess. I am now taking and cutting all of my scraps into squares and storing them by size (light and darks also). But, each person has to find what works best for them.

Everyone has their own system of sorts, but I myself do love quiltville.com!! :)

It depends on what kind of quilts you like to make. I love log cabins, but never use the same setting twice, and I experiment with changing the blocks up. Because of that, I cut my scraps into 1.5" strips and then into log cabin logs.

I started cutting squares and then realized I might want to strip piece. So, now I'm cutting all strips in 1 1/2, 2
2 1/2 and 3 inch pieces.

I cut 2 1/2 inch blocks and postage stamps out of my smaller scraps. The larger ones, I cut different shapes like the diamond, clam shell, hexagons, and apple core and put them in plastic shoeboxes until I get enough to make a quilt.

When my scrap collection started taking over the universe I cut the irregular edges off each piece. If a piece was large enough to fold I put it away. I cut squares or strips out of the too small to fold pieces and sorted them into stacks by size for storage.

I cut all of my scraps into 2" strips early this summer and made a scrappy queen-size log cabin. I made them about 14" and then I tilted my 12" square ruler a bit and gave each block an attitude. I alternated these so it gave a slight zig-zag affect. It's amazing how good those random pieces of fabric look when they're sewn together with no thought to matching anything.

me too - except I'd sort by value, not colour

I cut mine into 6 1/2 " squares, then 5", then strips 3 1/2" down to 2"--rest goes into string quilt tub. I have plastic totes that I keep these in.

I found I never used my scraps because they weren't cut to some usable size. So when I spent 3 days cutting them, I made the largest size square I could out of the piece and then sorted the squares by size and put them in baggies. You can't believe the number of scraps I've used since....and not juts in scrappy quilts. Sometimes I just needed another few pieces of a certain color and there is was. ALSO - if I needed more smaller squares, I just cut the big ones down. If you look at my pictures of SOME HOSPICE QUILTS, the last one is made from 425 two inch squares - all left overs and per cut scraps - and I still had 150 left when I was done.

I don't cut scraps until I know what scrappy quilt I am going to do. I know many do cut ahead of time. For me... I like to just cut according to the quilt plan I have at hand.

I also hate having a bag of scraps around OR throwing out scraps that are big enough for a scrappy quilt. Solution??

Our Quilt Guild has a "Free Table" and you can put them in a clear plastic bag and someone will think it is wonderful. I also have a friend who knows a 86 yr old quilter who loves to make scrappy quilts -- and she thinks it's Christmas when she gets a bag of scraps from me! Don't be afraid to share it forward!

it really depends on what you want to do with them...have fun!!!

yes, but if you like doing things with HST's 6" is better so it can be cut down when you square it up!

I, too, use Bonnie Hunter's directions for cutting scraps.

Loved the Bonnie Hunter link. I sort my scraps into very small 2" or less by color in labeled shoeboxes, strips of all colors and widths and lengths in a larger clear box; 2" to fat quarter size by color, folded to see edges in larger "under the bed" sized clear boxes; pre-pieced leftovers in their own box. I don't have a lot compared to many of you, but this works for me.

I also leave all of them uncut- that way I can do what I want to do when I decide to use them.

Excellent resource and that is how I have done my scraps for years.

some good ideas here!

ditto - Bonnie Hunter is a great one to give advice on a system for using up those remenants...

I also like Bonnie Hunter's scrap saver ideas. One that I particularly like is piecing your backs. Use 10 1/2" squares and so they finish 10" making the math of how many do I need to sew together for this back much easier. Nice way to use bigger pieces of fabric and not having to go buy another 6 yards or so for a back. Might be alot of seams if you are going to hand quilt, but shouldn't matter for machine quilting or tying.

I also loved the Bonnie Hunter link. I love the scrappy look but have not done anything with my scraps. Bonnie makes it look doable. Now something else to add to my 'to do' list.

Saturday I start a one week cruise with her, do you think her organization skills will rub off on me? Probably not, but what fun I anticipate...

I don't have enough of a stash to sort everything by color, but I do sort my scraps by light and dark, since so many scrap quilts depend on value. I don't cut them until I'm using them for a project.