quiltingshorttimer

I have my DD old bedroom for my sewing room--I have my cutting dies stashed under the cutting table in the middle, the trundle bed has no 2nd mattress--it holds my "kits" (where I've purchased all the fabric for a specific pattern but haven't touched yet), I have have one of those plastic 5 drawer storage units with the weird, small scraps sorted by color. Then my larger scraps and yardage is sorted by color into an old china cabinet (with the non-glass doors hiding stablizer, etc). I like to make string quilts and have those sorted by dark/lights into huge zip lock bags in the closet and also have all the flannel scraps in the closet. Not super organized but it works. I do go through my fabrics once a year and take those I don't want or seem too small to my guild's garage sale.

Kelsie

Moira: Please explain what you mean by a 'House block'. Cheers.

mac

I really don't think the point is to keep scraps until you are so inundated and they take over your sewing room and/or house. Unless you really like scrap quilts, there is no point in making them. If you can't use the fabric, or you can't sew fast enough to use up all of your scraps, then I would suggest that you keep the scraps that you really like or can work with comfortably and pass on the rest.

As suggested above, there are many places to donate them: thrift stores, friends that like the scraps, senior centers where they quilt, guild meetings (even if you don't belong, they will take your scraps), and the like. You could even put an ad in Craig's List or the free Penny Saver and advertise your scraps. If you don't want them to come to your house, you can offer to meet them somewhere in a public area.

The main point is to keep something useable out of the garbage dump.

mindless

I love this discussion. And I love scraps. So many great ideas here! I keep them in a 16 cubby shoe stand under my sewing table. They are mostly sorted by color and type. (Cotton, flannel, minky, selvages etc.) It kinda looks like a box of crayons to me. Sew fun. Makes me want to use them. I don't precut. I do collage & applique, and never know what size I might need.
I also swap with other scrap lovers in my guild so that we all have a wider variety to pick from.
And, I donate some to a buddy who has a school class that uses everything- including batting in their art projects.
Even the smallest ones get used in pet beds.

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I use another shoe cubby just like this, also under the table, for often used supplies: glue, scissors, rotary blades, needles/pins, etc. Works for me.

Not a great picture, sorry. I have been using lots of them, and have added & subtracted lots of colors that don't show up here.

jclinganrey

In keeping with Moira's idea, I know several quilters - myself included, who start making 'parts' of another quilt. For example, I will make 4 patch units or HST's when I have the right pieces - in various sizes - and keep them for a future project. That way, I will already have some of what I need when I'm inspired to start something new.

You could also do 9 patch units, quarter square triangle units, aka hourglass blocks, flying geese, Mary's triangle units, etc.

This might help you feel more organized.

mindless

Love those houses, Moira! Nice village. Something like that is on my list too.
Jane, I do that too. With leaders and enders, and sometimes when making HSTs, I use the leftovers that way. I have lots of partial bits. 4 and 9 patches, HSTs etc.

oksewglad

Hi jclinganrey! I have a house quilt that took me several years to build I pulled most of the pieces from my 1 and 1 1/4" strips. Traditional piecing for the 3" blocks. Looking for the photo..will post later.

Jingle

After using mine and my Daughter's scraps, sashes, borders, bindings and backings from my stash I made lots of quilts. I think I have made at least 80 this year. I am retired, almost 2 yrs. I sew 5-6 hours a day 6-7 days a week. We donate about the end of November to Foster kids in our county. Not always a real pretty pattern but lots of pretty scraps and will keep them warm. I consider it an honor to be able to help out, give something to keep them warm and something to call their own. I will be starting in a few days kiddie panels and my stash to make more.

Jingle

When I accumulate enough scraps for a quilt I will make one. Not saving any large amounts. I learned my lesson. Not using Daughter's scraps. I have lots of beautiful fabrics I want to make into quilts.

I am cleaning out closets etc. that I have done for a while and reorganized my fabrics. Just about done after two days.

charlottemarie

I like scraps and would love to have them. If you send I will pay back the postage to you!