What do you do with your scraps when ...
 

What do you do with your scraps (of varying sizes) when you have no idea or design for them in mind?

Do you
(1) Cut into strips - 1.5 or 2.5 inch wide?
(2) Foundation piece it - what shape/size?
(3) Let it sit, leave it alone.

I ask this because I am getting a little uneasy with my scraps. I feel like I'm not maximizing them.

Thanks.

I don't cut any, as I find cutting them limits my potential design for scrap quilts. I do sort them by color and type . I have three types that I use as categories. Batiks, metalics, and everything else.
Pick a pattern first , then your colors/fabric type, then make a cutting decision. If you are getting uneasy ... get started. Pick a pattern and go for it.

i just sort them into tubs with darks in one and lights in another. i don't cut for future use.

Right now I am working on about 8 quilts. When I get some scraps, I throw them into a pile. I made a cat quilt in July from that pile of scraps. I needed to cut up about 800 pieces of fabric for my DGS quilt so I used some of those scraps if they suited the design. I say scraps when they are about 7 inches x 7-10 inches long. I will use this fabric in many of my scrap quilts. Right now I sure don't have time to cut them all up. Wish I had that kind of time.

I also just sort by colors and cut when needed. The ones I consider too small I put in baskets that i mark with strip or block size

I've been quilting for two years and now have a grocery sack full. I leave mine as they are & when I need a little piece I love pawing through all those beautiful fabrics I've used & memories of quilts I've given to family. I always seem to find just the right piece for what I need.

Funny you should mention this...I spent all day yesterday cutting scraps. I decided that I would never use them if they weren't cut, so I went with 2 1/2" strips if it was still WOF and a small enough print, 10" squares if possible, 5" squares, 2 1/2" squares and 2" squares. Not sure if I made the right choice but what once was a tub now fits in drawers and the pile of charm squares makes me feel positively giddy!

Hahaha! I absolutely know what you are feeling!!!

I never cut mine unless I am going to use them. I do find them handy to add to a new quilt sometime. I hope to make a scrap quilts someday.

I cut mine into squares ranging from 2" to 6"
Odd shapes I cut into triangles (stored separately with a cut square that they'll sewto)