As one of the many who live on very tight budgets, I second the idea of passing them on to others if you decide scrappy quilting is not for you. I make donation quilts for those who are ill and for our military and could never afford to do this without the help of many here on the board who pass their scraps on to me. That and purchasing fabric at thrift stores is my main way of getting quilting materials and I do so truely appreciate all the help that comes to me from other quilters. Every quilt I make and donate is filled with love from me and from members of the board also!

Once my quilt is finished I right then start cutting those left overs into 5,4,3 inch squares, then some into 2 1/2 inch strips and finally into strips down from 2 to 1 inch wide strips to make strip quilts using a foundation piece to sew these small strips. I keep these either in a plastic box or plastic bags. You can make beautiful quilts from all of the above and sometimes I make table toppers, place mats and appliqued projects from these. Right now I have a sweat shirt that has a stain I can not get out, so cut out a cat and two balls to covers these spots using applique. Good luck
IdahoSandy

Thanks for posting this. I was going to suggest that you search this board as many have posted what they've done with their scraps...and they can be beautiful. But most importantly, if you don't want to do this, just advertise that you will give them away/sell them for a minimal amount and you will have them out of your hair in minutes after the ad goes up!

I use scraps to do free form quilting (meaning without a pattern). Ladies in my sew group give me anything they don't want from selvages to strips less than an inch in size on up. I also save everything I have left over even pieces of threads I pick off my table or floor after I sew. Yes I use the thread in fabric art and yes I use pieces that are as little as a quarter inch on up. I am a mixed media fabric user.

I guess I'm not doing to bad with my free form quilt pieces since I get alot of Ohhh, awesss, and I never could do that, or I never would have the patience for that from folks around here.

Ever done a postage stamp quilt. That is 1 inch square pieces sewed together. Now that will teach you patience is nothing else but a shorter method is to cut 1 inch strips and sew them together and cut it to size to have 1 inch squares in a block.

I cut them up into squares 2 1/2 to 6 1/2 inch size or if it is width of fabric 2 1/2 strips and have stackable bins for them. When I need something mindless to do then I grab a bin of the precuts and do a scrap quilt. Our local quilt group just did a 1600 quilt push for local charities so I was able to put together about 12 sets from leftover fabric and strips that I had.

Scraps are great.A suggestion,use 1 fabric such as a light or dark all thru the quilt and the scrap pieces with it.Log Cabins,Rail Fence and a lot of others.Bonnie Hunter`s method is the best for cutting and storing.

Missouri Star Quilts has a new tout about spider web quilts, made from scraps. Something you could work on, as you have scraps available, then put together when you have enough blocks.

when i get an accumulation of scraps, i repress them, trim off, and cut blocks of various sizes and strips of various widths...very little actually goes to the wastecan...these ready mades are great for scrappy quilts, potholders, appliques, and other projects. one of my favorite things to do is to put these scraps togeth to make a large block (about eighteen by eighteen)-make two of these then using a animal template or pattern i make stuffed toys/pillows from them...some are so ugly they are cute and others are truly loved to be received as gifts by all ages.

I love your mantra, by the way, and try to keep it in mind so I am not too quick to judge others :)

Scraps: I organize them by color then sew the like colors together to make 'fabric' I then have a very interesting yellow (or blue or ?) background fabric to applique onto or to square up into blocks. Its fun to build the 'fabric'.

I've also cut them down to like squares (2.5, 3 or 4 inches) and store them in shoe boxes for making scrap quilts. If you plan to make HST out of them, just add 7/8 to it or a full inch and size them up to fit later

Quilter1942: your avatar quilt is gorgeous. Is it a pattern you could share with us? Jacob's ladder? I would love to see a larger pic.