What a good idea! I used to just toss them but now that I'm going to be doing more applique I'll definitely save them. Thanks for the tip! :mrgreen:

Please do not toss. If you do not know anyone who is a scrappy quilter or does applique to pass them on to, use them for stuffing for comfort blankets at the local animal shelter. If all else fails, bag them up and donate to a thrift store. Thanks.

anything smaller is stuffing..[/quote]

Thank you!!! I never thought of that, but I am going to do that now!! I have a pattern for a really cute xmas elf, and this will save me on the stuffing! Thanks!!!! Virg

I think it's Marti Michell who is famous for saying that a scrap is "any fabric that I haven't used yet, even if it is 5 yards long."

I don't use scraps, but I will save them and pay it forward.
I'm in the process of filling up a 5 gallon pail.

Some people even keep the selvage edge. I've seen purses, quilts, even lampshades made out of them!!!

I am saving the tiniest of scraps to make this with the grandkiddos:
http://pinterest.com/pin/137329478/

OK, now I have to tell you a story. DH and I make scrappy quilts and for years there were three different ladies who made quilts wholesale and saved all their scraps for us. We're talking garbage bags full here. One is particular would fill up our car.

DH started making tiny piece quilts with squares less than 3/4".
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-79481-1.htm

We met another lady who had seen his tiny piece quilts and who had a LQS. She said, several times, Oh I will save my scraps for you. One day we came in the shop and she said, Oh I have a bag of scraps for you. And came out from the back with a small ziploc bag, partially filled with little pieces. We both smiled and said, thank you very much. I would like to say when we got back in the car, we said, Bless her heart, but we were both laughing too much. But we did use her scraps!

As I am (today) organizing my stash, the smaller pieces are either 2 1/2" squares or strips. If it's smaller than a fat quarter, I'll cut it to fit either of those measurements.

Some days I just feel like stitching any small scraps of fabric together and make scrappy doll quilts, pillow covers, scrapy wall hangings for my porch, etc. I love to see these tiny pieces of scraps come to life as a piece of usable fabric. I gladly take anyone's scraps!

To me, a throwaway is anything too small to cut with one of my Accuquilt dies. - unless it is long enough and wide wnough to be considered a string - at least 1-1/2 inches wide and 6 or more inches long.

I save my scraps for my DGD - let her decide what's a scrap.

I keep them all also..lol is that the right answer???

I keep them all. I bought two mesh laundry hampers, one black, one white. I toss the larger pieces into one, and the smaller ones into the other. I have made four baby quilts, three doll quilts, a large king size quilt, hundreds of "mug rug" for hostess gifts, and just gifts in general. I also make a varity of 9 patches to later use in
small or medium quilts.
I even have my quilting friends save their scraps for me.
I have fun with scrappy fabrics, and less gets put in the land fill. I can't toss out fabric, unless it's truly too small.
So, save those scraps. GiGi

I now only keep scraps that I can cut into 3" strips. I am collecting them with the intent of making service quilts like the 1600, except using 3" strips. I can cut them later if I need thinner strips. I cut all scraps as I go, so I have a great scrappy collection going on. Works for me.

As long as you can cut a 2" square, or a 2" strip, it's is a scrap. I started cutting 7" blocks, all the way to 2' and put them in plastic bags, label them and then do scrappy quilts when I have enough of them.

These are some crumb blocks that I made with crumbs and scraps that some members of this forum sent to me. I love them!! They are 6 inch square.

I keep everything until I have a chance to cut up squares. Anything bigger than 2x2 can be used. I cut up my scraps and then put squares or strips of the same size into Ziploc bags, label them and save them for future projects. this way they are neat and take up very little space.

I put everything I can't use (odds and ends) no matter what size...
in a bag and then give them to people that can use them, strips go to another person and the selvages to another...I just don't have the time to play with that stuff....

Love your quilt use to do things like that is a small scale for pillows etc...

i make small size pieces into quilts love the small pieces never have enough

I have tons of at least one inch squares from making yoyo quilts. If anyone wants them justlet me know.
I am just starting hopefully to piece quilt shortly. So really want to get rid of them Most my other ones were yoyo quilts. This is elaine not butch thissomehow was in my husbands name

Cool. That's something I think my 3 year old granddaughter would enjoy. Thanks.

Very cool. Thanks for posting.

Same here :o)

Oh, my! I have two large plastic tubs with scraps from over time. Some pieces I cut up into 5 1/2, 5, 4, 4 1/2, 3,and 2 inch squares and put in to ziplocks. Other pieces I put into the tubs. My friends and I get together in the summer and make scrap quilts from the material.Even through it isn't yardage, it is still the good material I bought!

I'm one who loves scraps, especially thrift store, flea market, yard sale ... love all the different colors.

what state are you in

I keep all scraps. I save the pieces smaller than 2" and do PIFs here on this site. any pieces 2" or larger, I keep in bins. I'm making a postage stamp quilt out of 2" squares; I love using my scraps for scrappy strip blocks. I love scrappy!

Cute idea for the kids

I pretty much keep all of mine, cutting the larger ones into sizes. The grandchildren love playing with them, they make great spaghetti or whatever and yes I do have to clean it up, but worth the effort!

Hi Mama, glad you liked my idea.

Inspired by this thread, this afternoon I've been trying crumb blocks and am really enjoying myself - the results are great. Suddenly I wish I had more scraps...and need to totally reorganise what I've got...

if i think i can put them in a quilt i save them but if they are to small i get rid of them

I throw away anything smaller than 1" wide. I find that if I cut my scraps immediately, instead of putting in a bin for later cutting, I will use them. I have containers for 2.5" WOFs, 10" squares, 5" squares, 2.5" squares, 2" squares and 1.5" squares, as well as strings that are less than 1.5" wide and at least 6" long. I also save my selvedge edges (cut 1" wide) - just reupholstered my daughter's dining room chairs with them!

I really keep almost everything. I spent 3 weeks sorting through my scraps and cutting them into blocks and strips a year ago. They are now all in bins or boxes, the leftovers, too small for a block are in "Strings" or "Crumbs" to be made into thread bowls or fabric. I also have a gallon jar that I stuff all my threads into to incorporate into thread bowls or add to the hand made fabric.

To make it into fabric squares to be used for applique, postcards or embellishment,
- use a layer of Solvy, sprinkle your crumbs or strings over the surface, covering every inch (you can add more if you need to).
-place a layer of black bridal tulle over it (this allows the colors to shine through)
-Pin with straight pins all around and inside (pull them out as you get to them)
-stitch around the edges to contain your little pieces, (I use up partially empty bobbins of thread and spools) and straight stitch the livin' daylights out of the thing. I go diagonally, use the back stitch to change directions.
-Rinse out in warm water and dry on a towel....Ready to use!

I then keep them in a little drawer in my sewing room labeled "Hand made fabric" and use them to make bowls, little treasure pouches for gifts, fabric postcards, applique, etc. I don't waste much of anything.

I cut mine into 6 inch squares, 2.5 x 6 inch strips, 2.5 inch squares and 1.5 inch squares. Anything smaller gets pitched.

As to disposing of scraps, there are LOTS of charity type organizations that would probably love to have your left-overs. Check out on-line or thru Craigs list and let someone make use of it. I know I do Quilts of Valor for our wounded military and we do use scraps a lot to make our finished works of art. We also do quilts for Kids with Cancer and Project Linus.

I'm currently going through my scraps from a wedding ring quilt that I already cut all the pieces for. I'm cutting out 1" squares and then if I feel the leftover is big enough to use again I keep it. If not I'll toss it.

The scraps that I keep after cutting out the 1" squares I plan on using in I guess it would be crazy quilting. I plan on just buying some plain canvas bags and sewing them on the outside either randomly or in some sort of pattern like a mosaic.

I cut scraps into 6.5" squares, 2.5"x5.5" strips, and 2.5" squares. What I have left that is too small to fit into those categories I keep if the pieces are at least 1" wide. That gives me a variety of sizes for scrap projects. This way I can cut the 6.5" squares into smaller pieces if needed, and I can cut the rectangle into 2 2.5"squares if needed. But scrap management takes time!!