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is it worth keeping long thin strips of fabric?

is it worth keeping long thin strips of fabric?

Old 04-05-2015, 11:31 PM
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Default is it worth keeping long thin strips of fabric?

Stella63's thread about scraps prompts another one: does anyone do anything with selvedges and pieces of fabric that are similar - eg long trimmings from straightening up a piece of fabric? I'm making a quilt that has used lots of different fabrics and therefore produced a lot of scraps. So far I've kept all these long, very narrow strips but am wondering if it's worth doing so.
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Old 04-06-2015, 01:53 AM
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I may be in the minority, but if the strips are less than 1 1/2" wide, I don't keep them to piece with.
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Old 04-06-2015, 02:22 AM
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I am on my kindle, so I do not know how to share a link, but I saved all my strips, bought some cotton clothes line, and have been making fabric bowls.
I work on them when I am getting to the end of a needle's life, as it will blunt a needle pretty fast, but it is fun and easy.
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Old 04-06-2015, 04:33 AM
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If your interested in making an "Oh My Gosh " quilt, it uses 1 inch strips. I made this quilt and it is beautiful!
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Old 04-06-2015, 04:44 AM
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You know as soon as you toss them or give them away, you will wish you still had them.
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Old 04-06-2015, 04:47 AM
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If they are really thin, toss them outside and share with the birds to use for making nests.
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Old 04-06-2015, 04:51 AM
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I put 1" strips along with other small scraps into my doggie bed pile. At this time in my life, I won't be ever using them. I along with others like that all our scraps are going to make homeless pets more comfortable while they are waiting to find a forever home.
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Old 04-06-2015, 05:09 AM
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I know what your saying I don't keep the pieces of fabric that have the writing on them but I have been told that some people use the scraps to make pet beds with so if you found someone that needed them for a project like that you could just donate them other wise you could throw them away if they way to small to use.
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Old 04-06-2015, 05:18 AM
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If the strips are at least 3/4 inch wide, save them for string piecing.
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Old 04-06-2015, 05:52 AM
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If the selvedge edge is a good sturdy one and it's a long enough piece (say at least 3" or so) I cut it down to about 3/4" wide and save it in a jar to use as a ribbon. I love using these "ribbons" to tie up handmade gifts, and they come in useful for all sorts of things.

I just used one this weekend - my oldest dog gets "hot spots" each spring so we have a cone we have to put on her until they pass; I used one of my longer selvedge "ribbons" to tie the cone to her collar.

Shorter selvedges, if they're at least a couple inches wide, I'll use in a crazy quilt.
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