What size strips do you cut?
 

I'm trying to reduce some of my scrap boxes by cutting the pieces into strips. I can cut squares off the strips or maybe do a strip piecing block, etc. once I have a lot of these strips. But, it's all a little overwhelming. So I have a few questions.

1. What's the smallest size strip that you cut and save?

2. Is there a standard size strip that you use most often? I was thinking 2 1/2", 4 1/2" and 6 1/2" but is there a few sizes that are more useful?

3. Once you cut the strips, how do you organize and store them? By color?, by size only?

4. Do you have a standard quilt pattern that you use your typical strips for and that's why you cut that particular size?

Thanks for any suggestions you might have. I really need to reduce my stuffed full boxes of scraps into some boxes of strips that I'll use a little more often. At least I'm thinking that's what will happen.

The smallest strips I cut are 1 1/2" wide. 2 1/2" is pretty standard for most piecing and can be used in a variety of different patchwork patterns. I will save strips in ever width up to 6/ 1/2". They can be cut down if necessary. I just finished putting together 20 blocks that I strip pieced yesterday and today. My plan is to set this center into a white 4" boarder then build another alternating area of the same 8 1/2" blocks to go around it then another 4" boarder of white and finish off the quilt. I am thinking about doing a prairie point finish to use up as many 4 1/2" squares as I can make with my remaining scraps and with what is already cut.
This quilt is an inspiration from discussions that have been going on here for the last couple weeks.

The most I organize strips is just that as strips. Oce a piece is less than 12" I put it to a smaller container or baggie.
I don't have a specific quilt in mind or size when I am sorting strips. They can become a 4 patch or a number of different pieces in a quilt that start with different sized strips or just plain strips. The quilt I am doing now is an 8 1/2" block that takes narrow to wider strips on a diagonal.
I also find 2" strips handi for smaller blocks.

I usually don't cut down until I have a plan for the scraps. But when it comes to strips LC blocks or a variation of LC is my go to. I especially like offset LC so I cut 1 1/2" and 1" strips. I do have some 2" strips in my stash. I usually only cut down to those if I am in the last bits of yardage and have that amount left or they are the trimmings from backings. I seperate by value, light, medium and dark and store them in Ziploc bags. Not the best storage method as I find I often have to iron a strip that I may pull out of the bag. Also not many of these strips are WOF they are usually odds and ends. I wouldn't recommend 2" as I don't think that size plays very nicely with other shapes but they are handy for making 1 1/2" HST units. And I have also raided them for 1" strips for LC blocks. Cutting them in half.

I started cutting down my scraps into strips a few years ago. As time has gone one, I've decided I don't want to save all of them. Currently I am only saving 6.5" because although I can cut smaller, I can't cut bigger. I've already given away all strips under 4" and after I get the tub back from my friend, I will be giving those away too.

2.5" is very common and useful size. Even though I've given away all my 2.5" pretty much every quilt I make has that dimension, but I typically make "even" blocks, so 6", 8", 10:, and 12".

If the piece of fabric is fat quarter or larger, it goes into the fabric boxes. Smaller than that and I cut my 6.5" strip and give away the rest.

I've never found the ideal sorting situation. I keep them loosely color sorted, but maybe I only want civil war or florals or whatever. Still, with one consistent size and them all kept nicely in a box (banker sized storage box, or the size that reams of paper come in) and I can sort them quickly and easily.

Have you ever made a string quilt? If so, and you liked the process, then 1.5-2.25 for strings is a good size. Having the strings ironed , stored neatly, and ready to go will be great.

If you haven’t made one, try a baby quilt or table runner. You may find your answer about whether you like that kind. If not, you wouldn’t want a bunch of strings that won’t get used.

2.5 is great for bindings and many popular patchwork patterns. The key is finding out whether it’s your style. I have had 1500 2.5’s for many years that I got in a swap. Found it was more fun to collect than to use. So not gonna waste time cutting or collecting more. I like big pieces .

I will try to cut 2" or 2-1/2" strips but, I will do some 1" and 1-1/2" If I like the color or print. I can use those in piano key borders, rail fence, basket weave or just strip quilts. I try not to save too many strips before I start putting them together. I had so many saved up and my Daughter did too. I took the task of using them up and I did. I got down to about 2 dozen scraps and gave them to my Daughter. It took me about 2-3 years to use them up. I have been cutting up some of my large yardage and trying to use up as much as I can. The reason I bought it in the first place.

If I have enough fabric, I like to cut 5" strips. Then, if I have a charm quilt, I can subcut 5" squares, or if I have a jelly roll quilt, I can subcut it to 2 1/2" strips. If I don't have 5", I will cut 2 12" strips.

Shorter pieces, I will cut 5" squares or 2 1/2" squares.

I cut 1 1/2" to 2 1/2" ….this covers about everything I make with strips.

Thank you all for sharing what you do when it comes to scrappy strips. It sound like you all have a plan and I guess that's what I need to do... make a plan.

I love the ways you use these strips for piano key borders and other strip quilts. I make baby quilts for the preemie ward at our local hospital so that's how I'll be using a lot of my scraps. The size for those, 36" x 42" really does determine the size of strips I should make I guess.

Thanks again.

I will save a strip that is 1/2 inch, if it is beautiful or very colorful fabric. I use 1/8 inch seams so there is 1/4 inch still showing. If the fabric is quite "blah", it might go into the background pile and if it is less quality, it might go into the dogie bed pile.

I cut 1 1/2” and 2 1/2” strips and I put them together in colors and into “jelly rolls”. I use them when I need them for binding, etc. I make a lot of scrappy quilts. I spend the month of January making strip quilts for donation. This year I made 16. I also make 1 1/2. 5” pieces for piano keys, rail fence blocks, etc.

I cut up a bunch of scraps into "largest square that I could" down to 1.25 inch squares.

Now I will wait until I have a project in mind before I start cutting.

I save all size strips because I love string quilts and scrappy quilts. But feline fanatic what does LC stand for? I am not familiar with that.

LC is what I know as Log Cabin.
Doing many small blocks, I do not cut any scraps into the same sizes. I leave all of them uncut that are over 1" until I'm making the block.
Enjoy your day!

Hey, Bev. Thanks for telling your method of dealing with all the scraps. I'm still working on what I'll settle on. But, I'm starting to think that cut strips will work best for me.

Bev, you are the first one I ever heard of who saves things that small, as I do. A 1/2 inch string gets 1/8 inch seams and still has 1/4 inch of beautiful or colorful fabric to add to the mix. I have sewn a tiny piece to a tiny piece and added a third tiny piece to their side. Then the pieces get a little larger as I add them all around. Sew much fun.

I love making crumb blocks & string blocks. Those extra tiny pieces added into the mix just add the right touch at times. :) I haven't made any since my move. Maybe I'll get caught up & so some more.

to keep from needing ironed, pile roll 1/2" high and roll. before putting in baggie. Hold one end up and roll length wise.

I would suggest 1 1/2" strips to be the smallest that you cut and maybe go up to 2 or 2 1/2" strips. This way you can make a string quilt if you so desire or at least you would have strips that you could do sashing with as an example.

2", 2.5", 3.5" and 5" depending on the amount of scraps/fabric I'm cutting up. I have smaller sizes, in various lenthgs, in bags that I use to make small string blocks, piano keys etc.
I use 2" strips for almost all my binding, I like them very narrow as I want the quilt to be the main attraction.
Don't even ask about the squares. but they are cut the same as the strips. I just emptied my Yellow/Gold/Brown bag and sewed a bunch of blocks together and have piano keys ready to go for something.

I use the Bonnie Hunter (Quiltville.com) method for sizes except anything smaller than 2 1/2" strip goes into the string bag for string quilting (made several and the "boxes of strings" from QB) . ( I used to cut 2" but no longer and I still have some 1 1/2" strips but no longer cut those sizes) I sort the 2 1/2" strips by color and then roll them up like a jelly roll before putting them in a drawer. She says when she cuts up her left overs she cut the largest size she can make first and goes down the line ie. 10 1/2" (10 1/2" squares can be sewn together for a backing but i like to use them to make stars for a large star block quilt), 8 1/2" (plays nice with a 16 patch of 2.5" squares), 6 1/2", 4 1/2", 3 1/2", 2 1/2". I cut strips if it is as long as 16" (2.5" strip used in her scrappy trip around the world - I've made more than one of these, I love them!) but if not I'll cut it down into squares or for the 2 1/2" I will make 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" bricks and then the squares if I can't make a brick. I have made several of her scrappy patterns with the 2 1/2" squares because I use them as leaders and enders but I am now wanting to use up the larger squares. I have lots of scraps that have been given to me but I have so much already cut up that the scraps that I haven't cut into yet are stored by color family in the Serlite 3 drawer cart (I have two completely full!) when I am working on a project and I have pulled all the pre cut sizes I already have then I pull from 3 drawer carts. If it is a really small scrap, they are sorted by color for "15 minutes of play" blocks. Those are sorted in emtpy clear plastic peanut butter nuggets containers from Costco. One for each color. I am crazy for sure about using scraps and making scrappy quilts. I have posted pictures of several.(but not all as I forget and they get given away mostly to various charities) I enjoy seeing how "Paint me Judy" from this board uses scraps given to her. However, I wonder how she is doing as I haven't seen a recent post from her. I hope she is ok....
Sorry for being so wordy! and I hope it all makes sense.

I love the smaller strips for log cabin or just to bulk up a block, make it large enough for the space or whatever is needed. Then when making blocks, I can't believe how far the little charms go. Everything from postage stamp up to 10" are so useful when making scrappy quilts.