I've been making 8--inch squares using scraps -I've made 54 of them so far.

The question I have is: When I start to do something scrappy, there are a lot of scraps in the wastebasket and a few squares are done. But why is there such a big pile of scraps still on the table? It seems like I didn't even make a tiny dent in the pile.

I think that each scrap needs to be kept separately because at night they, uh, :oops: , multiply.

Sorry, I have no suggestions because mine are particularly prolific and every time I think I have a storage solution, they outgrow it. Control.....I need control......

Or, you can send them my way and I'll use them. :wink: hehe

Kyia

LOL.
Scraps are a problem.
Any thing smaller than a fat quarter I cut into 5 inch squares for charm quilts.
There is a quilt pattern for using strips of all sizes but the book is out of print.
Basic instruction is cut strips 1,2,3,4,5. All with an added 1/2 inch.
Then make strip sets that add up to 6 1/2 inchs. Example: 3 1/2 plus 3 1/2 = 6 1/2. Then combine them to make a 12 1/2 inch square.
This pattern was a Sewing with Nancy book called Scrap Happy Quilts. It was the most fun quilt I ever made.

Ole scrapquilter here says, the more the merrier! :lol: :lol: I do love those scraps, and I would appreciate it if you would let me in on how to get them to multiply! :lol: :lol: Went through mine a couple of weeks ago and threw out anything less than 1 in. felt bad about doing that even.


Send all unwanted scraps to Ninnie :wink: :wink:

Even the tiny, tiny ones I sewed into my Crazy Quilt!
mary

Have been saving, and now will be sewing a scrappy. I think it will be more of a crazy quilt. Tired of the cats knocking the boxes off the table after I have sorted them. Those darn cats think they own this place and it should be arranged for THEIR comfort, not mine! :?

http://s238.photobucket.com/albums/f...=Leftovers.jpg

This entire quilt was made from the scrap bin and I swear, the bin was just as full when I was done. DH said that I needed to leave the light on in the sewing room because the fabric was being "naughty." ROFL

I like that quilt.

It looks "planned" - did you just maybe get a "little bit" of your "good" fabric to make the colors come out right?

Thanks,

the only fabric I had to pull from the stash was some of the lights. I didn't have enough in my bin. I think it looks "planned" because it has a consistent dark/light arrangement. It's so easy - just rectangles sewn on mitered,

NOW I know why I have so many scraps -- naughty fabric :oops: :oops:

I'm sure you are right. They do multiply when left alone. Mine have overflowed the tote they are in and are taking over another one.

I KNOW mine have multiplied many times over and they are in the room with me. I must be a sound sleeper is all I can say. :lol: :lol:

Just kep sewing until you use them all will make very pretty quilt or two
I love scrappy quilts :lol:

The last scrap quilt I made was supposed to make a dent in the stash. 9-patches that were 3" finished. Little 1" squares...

But the quilt top was finished and there wasn't a dent in the stash. I swear it multiplies when I'm not looking.... :wink:

I've decided that some of this must go, since it's smaller pieces. So, I've been giving pre-cut strips and pieces to a friend of mine who is a beginner quilter and is doing something scrappy following a tutorial she found.

Why is it when they multiply, they can't stick together when they're done doing whatever, however, they do?

Tiny scraps make great applique pieces, especially if you fuse your applique instead of needle turn. They also make really cool Barbie rugs, Barbie seat covers, Barbie quilts, Barbie tablecloth, Barbie coasters, Barbie dish towels,well you get the idea LOL

Lucky Barbie!

well, DUH! don't YOU multiply at night?

Not any more - - - -

which do you want first? the good news? or the bad news? or the good news?

Wow, Madquilter, that's a very nice scrap quilt. Great use of lights and darks!!!

I reently moved from Malibu, CA to Midrand, South Africa. I used all my fabric--even the small scraps, as packing material so I could bring all of it with me. Boy am I glad! Amazing how difficult it is to find fabric here. No JoAnn's here. I'm sure I will use all the scraps in some way. Now I just have to sort them and get it organized in bins.

i put all my scraps in zip lock bags based on color and then when i have a bunch of one color scheme i sew them all together to make a sheet of fabric.

then i take this sheet and cut it up to make applique of animals for children's quilts.

i use interfacing to do the needle turn applique and before i attach it to the background fabric i snip the interfacing and stuff the applique with some batting to make it puffy.

I like that idea of putting the scraps in plastic bags by colors. Thanks!

Oh thanks. :oops:

I just started to sew my left-over corners into half-square triangles and keep them in a small bin. I also got the small set of Perfect Circles and make small circles for a flower applique. They are contained separately too. All the other scraps and end-pieces from strip piecing get tossed in a tall bin.

Years ago, I started cutting leftover flannel from shirts etc into 3" and 4" squares. Eventually I MAY may a quilt. Other 'leftovers' go in plastic baggies - some graduate to boxes (blues - my fav color). I like Klue's idea of sewing them together to make a piece of fabric. That's an expecially good idea for blues (skies and water - would have been easier for my baby quilt than the fussy kaleidescopes!) and lights - which I never seem to have enough of. I think I'll try that.

MadQuilter, I just love your scrapy quilt. Did you have a pattern and would you share it with us. Thanks

Great idea Klue! Mine are in plastic bags but not sorted by color. Sounds like I have something to do when I get bored, ha! ha! Tons of scraps, may take me a while :shock:

Anything in odd shapes or smaller than a fat quarter gets cut into 2" strips. If it's too small for that, it gets cut into 1 1/2" strips.

I... uh... have two 18 gallon Rubbermaid totes full of 2" strips and one full of 1 1/2" strips. :oops: BUT... I use them. I have made at least 40 tablerunners and other small projects from those totes and even a few bed quilts. As others have mentioned, they multiply. Last year I made 7 tablerunners and two baby quilts from my 1 1/2" strip tote, and it didn't even make a noticeable dent in my stash.

Even just this week, I have made some potholders and coasters for myself, as well as two pieced pillows for my daughter-in-law (double-sided) AND my niece pulled out enough strips to make a log cabin quilt for her bed.

I will post pictures of the pillows in the Photo forum - they turned out just right for my DIL's very modern family room.

give it to a child to do. its a great way to help them learn colors and play with fabric.

my niece sorts the scrap and ribbon bin for me every time she comes over. she's been doing it since she was 3 - she's almost 5 now. it really helped with getting her interested in fabric and sewing.

yesterday she made a tablerunner and 8 placemats (i posted pics on that board if you'd like to see her work).

Cathe - ANOTHER great idea. Strips would make it SO much easier to start using leftovers - tho' I DO like the look of odd-shaped pieces in Mile-a-minute blocks. I'll be posting pictures of 2 as soon a I dig them out of the boxes from AZ. Those blocks are a great way to use scraps.

Any others of you do this?

I'm happily using scraps - but then I'm kind of "short" of a certain color, so then I go digging into the "stash" fabric - and then I have another stack of stuff to put back.

I bought a GO die cut machine and now I can die cut many scrap pieces at one time. They cut neatly stacked together and it's so easy and nice to be able to pull a baggie of 2 in squares, triangles, circles, or hexagons. The die cut machine is the best thing for quilting since the rotary cutter. :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

How much does the GO cost? AccuCut is another alternative, and it costs a bit under $300 with just a few dies. How many dies come with the GO? How much do the additional ones cost?
How many layers can you cut at a time? Is there a warranty re how long the dies will stay sharp?

For anyone who hasn't seen it yet - this website has MANY free patterns for scrap quilting - http://quiltville.com/index.html

thanks for the site - wonderful!

This is a phenomenon I am unable to comprehend.
I have many, many, MANY totes.
I have taken a tote and just started working through the scraps, making something between a crazy quilt and the crumb thang so capably introduced to me on this list.
I will work for DAYS on scrap blocks ... I will cut for DAYS ... I will neatly fold and not let go of a piece of fabric until all that goes into the waste basket are slivers!
ANd, I fill up a tote with my scrap blocks ... and STILL find the tote isn't any less full, even though I have separated, catalogued, moved things around and the quilt is on its way out of the house ... and STILL the tote is full!
I think it has something to do with letting air get to the fabric. Am not sure, but that is what I think. I have even gone so far as to put the scrap blocks into a different tote ... the original is more full than when I started.
Something is not right here ... and, I am thinking that science isn't so exact that it can explain it all.

Me, too.

I can get obsessed with a scrap quilt. Why is it so much more fun/interesting/challenging to try to use those scraps than to cut into a large piece of fabric? (God - and a few others - know I do have BIG pieces to cut into/up)

I think one of my problems is: I keep adding scraps to blocks and never come to a conclusion .. I got up one morning DETERMINED to finally cut my scrap blocks into a uniform size and just grab something, cut to match and go from there ....
I was DETERMINED, but ...
the day started happening, there wasn't time to stay DETERMINED, and I have never had that thought again! <g>