I found the best idea for scrap storage
07-04-2012, 07:06 AM
#41
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 317
Wow, the adding machine paper idea is fabulous. I love pieced borders, and the 3" width is useful for sub-cutting into patches for piecing. I'm adding this to my inspiration file.
I follow Bonnie Hunter's blog, too. Earlier this year, she posted pictures of her updated scrap savers system, which is now sorted by size and color to help tame her huge collection of scraps. Within each bin of a certain width, she sub-sorts, stacks, and rolls her strips into baggies by colors. Some of her newer quilts are controlled color schemes, so the new method is faster and cuts down on fraying when she is looking for certain colors.
I follow Bonnie Hunter's blog, too. Earlier this year, she posted pictures of her updated scrap savers system, which is now sorted by size and color to help tame her huge collection of scraps. Within each bin of a certain width, she sub-sorts, stacks, and rolls her strips into baggies by colors. Some of her newer quilts are controlled color schemes, so the new method is faster and cuts down on fraying when she is looking for certain colors.
07-04-2012, 08:58 AM
#43
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Nevada
Posts: 650
Icon, that looks like it works too. Mine is still similar although I do have several of those fabric drawer type things that fit in the cubby shelves, so they don't really show. I want to start cutting them all up but I am so afraid I will need them for some applique project or doll clothes for my granddaughter. I did got through all of it and cut off the smaller parts and start doing the adding machine paper thing. And I have also used up a bunch making hexies for a flower garden quilt someday. Whenever I make clothes for my granddaughter I cut out enough to make several hexie blocks. Someday, I hope to put them together in a quilt when she gets married or graduates college. It will take a very long time.
07-11-2012, 04:09 AM
#44
Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 24
I started last winter cutting my scraps into blocks and then I found Bonnie Hunters system and started following it. It feells really good to get them usable. I wasn't aware of how many totes there were so will be spending a lot of this winter on it too but it is a good feeling and so much easier to use. I found the stackable storage boxes @ Joannes and found that 4 of those stacked together, really help me keep the pieces together and easy to take along to retreates also. I am looking forward to getting the rest cut up though because I am findind the more organized I get the more room I have in my small space. I would be interested in the name of that Magazine.
07-11-2012, 11:24 AM
#45
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Appleton, WI
Posts: 738
Since I am not one who makes the traditional quilts, I use my scraps for wall hangings, table runners, and occasionally a lap quilt or tote bag. I have a DVD that shows how to cut scraps into random sized triangles, and blocks and strips of different sizes and shapes, like for crazy quilting. I have seen so many beautiful wall hangings with absolutely wonderful pieced backgrounds made from scraps cut into pieces that can easily be sewn together into a crazy quilt background. I love the blue sky and water backgrounds made with different values of blues even the small prints, and the grass backgrounds have the same wonderful look. It is just an idea for some of you who make the art quilts, etc.
07-11-2012, 11:48 AM
#46
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Wi
Posts: 9,232
Originally Posted by icon17
I love your Idea! but I think I will stick to my way! 
take note of the careful color origination, and folding too LOL
take note of the careful color origination, and folding too LOL
12-11-2012, 12:35 PM
#50
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Lansing, MI
Posts: 1,038
I've been working this past year to organize my fabric and scraps. Still a work in progress but here's what I have so far - since I don't buy large amounts of yardage, most of my fabric is 1-2 yards and starting to put on foam core boards. If it's at least 1/2 yard but less than a yard, it goes on a smaller foam core board then I know it's less than a yard but still enough to work with.
I haven't bought FQs in a long time so anything smaller than 1/2 yard goes into my scrap bins (plastic drawers I pick up on sale at Joann's). They're labelled for the different colors (some I combine like orange or yellow since I don't use those colors a lot to need separate bins).
Once I've cut a new project, I sub-cut the leftover fabrics depending on how much is left. I have smaller bins for squares and strips (1.5, 2, 2.5 inch strips and a bin for squares 2, 2.5, 3.5, 4.5 inch). Anything smaller but still semi-usable goes into a "strings" drawer so that when I feel like sewing but not thinking, I can grab my foundation paper and just grab these strings and start sewing (smallest string is 1" wide). Got this idea from Bonnie Hunter.
Like I said....working so far.
I haven't bought FQs in a long time so anything smaller than 1/2 yard goes into my scrap bins (plastic drawers I pick up on sale at Joann's). They're labelled for the different colors (some I combine like orange or yellow since I don't use those colors a lot to need separate bins).
Once I've cut a new project, I sub-cut the leftover fabrics depending on how much is left. I have smaller bins for squares and strips (1.5, 2, 2.5 inch strips and a bin for squares 2, 2.5, 3.5, 4.5 inch). Anything smaller but still semi-usable goes into a "strings" drawer so that when I feel like sewing but not thinking, I can grab my foundation paper and just grab these strings and start sewing (smallest string is 1" wide). Got this idea from Bonnie Hunter.
Like I said....working so far.
