Are you a fussy cutter??
 

Ok..I admit it I am a frugal ,scrappy lovin' quilter. I tried fussy cutting, but I spent most of my time trying not to waste fabric. I even purchased scraps in a bundle, thinking I would make I Spy quilts. Guess, what I'm trying to say is fussy cutting is not my cup of tea. How about you?

Sometimes! It depends on what I am cutting the squares for. If I just have a small amount of the fabric, it about kills me to fussy cut and see all the waste!

I too just can't bring myself to cut and create the waste that comes from fussy cutting. I had to on a recent project. I had it in my mind to use the eagles printed and had a very specific block they had to go into.. It just made me a little nutsy!

Some of the quilts I have made depend on fussy cutting (like the one in my avatar photo). However, from whatever "waste," I cut the pieces into 3" squares, 2.5" squares, or 2" squares. The squares get re-used for a scrap quilt or given to someone else.

I think I am about to fussy cut some fabric I bought for a baby quilt. I don't like making unusable scraps by fussy cutting but this stuff has giraffes in the print and I really don't like the look of blocks with severed neck giraffes.

If the fabric design is a feature - not just random flowers or geometric prints - then I do. I did it for duckies and monkeys on a 9-patch baby quilt and it was adorable - every center square had a ducky doing something cute. But it took a while to figure out how to cut it without too much waste.
I also did it for a 'big-print' quilt where it was gorgeous floral Mary Koval fabric and it really made a difference - each big square on point had the same floral bouquet.
I just save the scraps along with any other leftover fabric from making the quilt and put all in one bag for 'someday'.

I am working on an Asian themed quilt that I did 99% fussy cutting. You get over the waste after a while. And as others have said, cut down the waste to useable scrap sizes. It will all get used eventually.

There are times depending on the block that I love to fussy cut. The trick is to do it where you waste little of the fabric being cut from. If you plan it out right you don't waste that much and the end result is so worth it.

I do when the quilt top I am working on calls for it. I make some art quilts and have to fussy cut to get what I need to make my picture. I try hard not to waste any more than I have to.

I love to fussy cut and sometimes look specifically for fabric that works best fussy cut so I can really showcase it. The scraps get cut in to workable size squares as small as 1" and usually there is not much waste after that.
Hugs
April