Scraps
 

Hi everyone!

I have a question about getting enough scraps to use in projects... I am a very thrifty quilter and most of what I get I use up. However i have found several scrappies I want to make... do you guys ever buy scraps? If so, where from?

I feel like such a cheat for buying them but the designs are so darling! :D

The best way to get scraps is to befriend quilters near you. You can find them in quilt guilds and quilting groups. Most quilters are very generous with their scraps because many of them do not use their scraps. You can also visit thrift stores and buy up cotton shirts and deconstruct them. Good luck and happy scrap stashing.

Scrap quilts are not necessarily made from leftovers. You can cut up FQs, pre-cuts, yardage, whatever is at hand.

I don't buy scraps and I don't keep them because they bug me. But there's nothing wrong with buying them if that's what you like.
The reason I don't save them is because when I'm finished with a project I'm really tired of the fabrics I used. It's just a quirk of mine :)

Look again at what you are tossing. I save any strip that is 1" or wider and sort them into lights and darks which I sort into strings or strips. I save chunks (6" to 10") in another box. The remainder I cut into 2 1/2" squares, and I have a box for "ruined" 2 1/2" squares which are those that I cut wonky, or the corner is cut off, or is threading that I may one day cut into 1 1/2" squares. Now, to me, I cant use all those 2 1/2" because too many are similar so I have to Join "swaps" where we trade (50 of your same go out, and 50 different come back). Now I am ready to make a real scrappy. As for buying scraps, I have to confess, I buy fat quarters, and cut them into 5" squares and swap them by color category. They can be used as charms, or recut into 4 , 2-1/2" squares. Again, more variety. (All these swaps have been done on this board). As for buying random "scraps", I don't recommend it. I accept scraps to make charity quilts for Veterans. But this is very hard, you dont know what you are going to get, and you have to design blocks and quilts around the unexpected. Plus, you may get limited variety. I do this for charity, but not for myself or gifts. I recommend you "grow your own." Hope this helps. Wish you the best. Jane Q

I don't toss them. I give them away. The frugal side of me won't throw them out! :)

I've gotten my precious scrap boxes here, and I paid the shipping.
There was an offer this week, just keep your eyes open.
They aren't really free :) though as a lot of time and work will go into
pressing and cutting. It isn't everyone's cup of tea to put that kind of time in.

Some sites also sell offcuts:
http://www.fabrichotel.com/flat-fold.../fabric-scraps
https://www.thousandsofbolts.com/ind...category_ID=46

One of my local quilt shops sells bags of remnants for only $4/bag. I've also had luck on eBay and Etsy by typing "cotton fabric remnants" into the search slot. You can refine that search by adding "pink", for instance, or "floral". My latest find was from Etsy where I got a 6-yard x 8" length of beautiful Asian fabric for less than $4 + $2.99 shipping.

I don’t think it’s cheating or any other negative term to get scraps from other sources. Over the years I have sent many boxes of scraps to people asking for them. You can often find someone with an overwhelming abundance of scraps more than willing to share them. Most of us simply ask that you pay for the postage. I generally send a medium or large flat rate priority box. Many of us here on the board are more than happy to pass some on.

In my world scraps multiply like crazy. I am always looking for someone who would like a box full. They become overwhelming. Seems like for every scrap quilt I make I wind up with enough scraps for 2 more.

I donate all my scraps---have to make sure I am through with my project ( ask why I say that ! ) , then remnants go in plastic bag for donation to our senior center and they sell them.

Thank you everyone! Annievee, I have to ask... why?

We don't really have quilting guilds over here in Barnsley, but I will try local shops because it gets to be a dear do when buying them!

Kalamaquilts, that is my idea of heaven. Just give me utterly random things to sort and I'm over the moon happy.

I have used fat quarters for my latest, and I hoped it would generate far more scraps than it has lol

P.s. I should have probably mentioned in in England! International postage is probably prohibitive....

serianas - everywhere I have found so far the postage costs are prohibitive. I would like to build up my scrap collection but I think here in the U.K. We have to take the slower, more leisurely route. Charm packs are not as easily/cheaply available and so we have to rely on our own left overs/cutting up fat quarters. Maybe we should set up a UK swap?

I jump started my scrap collection by buying out the scraps from an estate sale. I ended up with 5 laundry baskets of scraps after I washed them (quilter was a smoker, so it all needed to be washed).

I did buy them on Etsy, once upon a time, before I had the volume of scraps I have now. Can you find a quilt guild or group in your area? Those ladies are usually delighted to find someone who will make good use of their scraps.

Here is a picture of the "mess" I had after washing. I did give away a couple of baskets full.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ps28259d67.jpg

I have made many scrappy quilts from my Daughters and my scraps. Still have a long way to go. I do use my fabric stash for backing, borders, binding etc. Every quilt creates more scraps.

I know that Moda does scrap bags that some Quilt shops will stock. And KeepSake Quilting also has some scrap bags in their catalog.

No scraps? You must be a precision quilter to be able to buy exactly what you need and use every bit of it. More power to ya! I always buy a tad extra yardage in case of boo boo's or a random yard to audition when assembled....which equals...scraps.... I have scraps but I'm pretty quick to use them up for charity quilts or donate scraps to other quilter's when the piles get ridiculous. My scraps are contained in only 2 small containers. But no scraps? No way for me...

many guilds have have an annual show and the members bring their scraps and pile them on tables. Fill a bag for a buck! I get a lot of patriotic fabric this way since I make so many quilts for vets.

Again thank you everyone! I will post a pic when I get home of the tiny bits I have left after cutting up 30 fqs... You know what they say about Yorkshire people being frugal :D

Rjlinkletter- that's a fab idea :) I would love to see more things like that over here. I tend to buy things off eBay only if they have free postage but I know that cost gets passed on to the fabric itself...

I went to a Quilt Show and a guild had a large Tub of scraps for sell. A gallon zip lock bag could be filled for $1.
A thrift store is a good place to find fabric at great prices or recycling clothing works for quilts also.

I have a quilter friend who does collage projects, so I give her all my smaller scraps and I cut larger scraps into useable pieces, but really large pieces I leave as is for future projects.

When I have a morning I can do garage sales I always go to Craigslist and search quilting fabric, cotton fabric, etc. I have found some very nice bags of scraps and also some yardage bagged together in coordinating colors, so I’m sure the quilter was just tired of looking at it. I bought half a backseat full of quilting cottons last summer for $12!

I have one bin that I keep my scraps in. As soon as it's full, I go through it and see if there is something I want to keep. If yes, I put it aside, if not - it's gone. I donate a couple of ways - to friends that like to quilt but don't have a lot of money - they get first choice, and then to charity quilting groups. They get the rest of my scraps. While I have tons of storage space, I don't like having too much "stuff". That's just the way I am. I also don't buy a ton of fabric all the time "just because I like it". I chose 10-12 projects that I really like, buy the fabric that I need to make that project, and then work on those. I do buy "extra" yardage, but then I end up making other projects that I hadn't "planned" on with those fabrics. Anything after that is a donation.

I have had success with purchasing grab bags from online shops. Some have co-ordinates from cutting out their kits.

See www.equilter.com they have regular sales. Shipping international small order is 11.95 stay under 22 euro to avoid customs. They sell also booty packs by theme. With the sale I usually get the 0.5 yard pieces to have variety.

Serianas, several times I have not cut enough blocks, made the hangers, etc on a project but donated scraps already--ugh ! Then I have to rethink or totally scrappy the project---I am doing better at finishing these days !

Serianas keep an eye out in Aldi and Lidl for FQ packs they are very reasonable and the quality is ok. There is not much variety but you could build up a FQ stash for cutting into scrap quilts. I also shop charity shops especially when they have £1 days. XL men's cotton shirts. I always starch them before I cut but you'll get a good variety of fabrics that way.

I have plenty of scraps but one of the local, well almost local, quilt guild yearly quilt shows sells scraps for a dollar a bag. The provide one of those kiddie wading pools full of scraps and you can pick and choose stuffing your bag with what you want.

A popular feature of their event.

my friend and I have been known to spend a bit of time at the scrap pool. just a hint... if you roll the scraps tightly, you can fit more vertically in the bag!

Definitely check out local guilds. My guild has a table and you can bring in anything you want to move along; fabric, books, kits, yarn, patterns, blocks that are odds and ends you don’t want any more. I have been able to pick up scraps of colors I rarely use, but sometimes need just a bit of. And one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. We also have a “garage sale” once a year, where you can bring in your extra and misc things, and the guild gets the money to use for charity work, books for our guild library and such.

You can find bags of scraps at second hand stores, yard sales and estate sales. Start looking and you will acquire more than you ever thought you would have. Have fun

Most of my work is scrappy! I get lots of scraps sent to me from friends who don't use their scraps. What size is the smallest you can use? I will happily send you scraps. You can pm me and you can send me your address. It depends on if I have what you want. I get alot of stuff given to me that I can't use so i am happy to share.

as others have said I make my own scraps when I do a project so I don't throw anything away.

I frequently cut my larger scraps into 2.5, 3.5 squares, 2.5, 3.5 strips. Smaller pieces go to a fellow quilter who does collage pieces. Extremely large pieces are put back into my stash for future projects. Some of my first favorite fabric purchases have appeared in several projects and are becoming limited.

Yard sales!

Hi I'm happy to send you some scraps I'm in Uk what colour pallet do you want?

I built my stash by buying on Ebay and Etsy! I love scrap bags of reproduction fabric scraps.

Check with Hancock's of Paducah.