I agree - Bonnie Hunter has a good system, which I am trying to do myself.

I'm not a scrap saver. They do nothing but frustrate me. I donate them.
I may have a few from my most recent project but that's it.

I donate my scraps also, knowing I will never use them.

I sort my scraps by color. I have some that I cut into sizes that I use frequently and others that are uncut. I was using Joan Ford's system, cutting everything smaller than a 10" square into those sizes and then storing the rest separately, but I recently revamped that and everything smaller than a fat quarter is stored by color in shallow drawer units. I fit several stacks of 2" squares, 3.5" squares, 5" squares and then lay larger scraps on top in each drawer. I also keep the following:1. some smaller pieces to use in crumb blocks- those go in a shoebox and get used when I want to do some mindless sewing or if the shoebox gets too full. 2. tiny pieces and strings that are too narrow even for string quilts- get thrown in a drawer and used for thready/scrappy scarves (sandwich the little pieces between two pieces of water-soluble stabilizer and then FMQ until everything is well secured. 3. selvages- been meaning to make a selvage project, but so far I've only used these as ties for the ends of the storage bags I make for my quilts.

Rob

Currently working on my third scrap quilt this year. I slowly started using my scraps only in the past few years. I struggled to do scrappy quilts as I felt overwhelmed. Reminding myself to only worry about what fabrics are next to each other have been very freeing for me.

In fact I really have been enjoying them. Each quilt is a personal story. I remember where the scraps had come from - successes and failures. It's like a road map of my quilts.

Since I haven't been using my scraps until recently, I am still in the process of finding a system I like. Currently I have clear plastic containers of crumbs, string fabric, strip fabrics 1 1/2" to 3" and a box of larger pieces. Anything about the size of fat quarter goes in containers for that and I have a container for less than a yard to over a FQ size. It seems to work for me for now.

Welcome to the QB. You’ve certainly come to the right place for suggestions, ideas and experienced quilters.

I have a relatively small stash so I currently have 4 small bins...1. Crumbs 2. Strings 3. Larger scraps (smaller than a FQ fat quarter) and 4. Batiks

Hello , long time member who hasn't posted in a very long time-but I realized along time ago I am not a scrap quilter, I do have smaller pieces that are less then a fat quarter but every thing else gets donated to someone who can use them. It took me a while to figure what type of quilts I tend to lean towards but once I did it was freeing to purge and donate, plus that made room to buy more fabric lol

They are sorted into plastic see through bins either by color or style. When I need them I pull out the ones I think I will use and I iron and cut them. I do not want to spend my time ironing and cutting into scraps I might never use or feel like using.

I made Scrapy flimsies:

2017:
jacob's ladder
chisel stripe
wonky log cabin
6" crumb quilt

2018:

Bonnie Hunter's Carolina Chain, 120 blocks, 122 different fabrics
12" crumb (made fabric) quilt
Birch Branches (Use up pinks/yellows/& a navy)
Plus quilt

Welcome to the Board, Cyclista87
I've enjoyed reading about everyone's systems. I am just finishing my second crumb quilt. One group of ladies that I quilt with in Arizona saved me their scraps for 6 months til I returned. Now that I have made a throw with those scraps I have sorted the leftovers and saved some that are colours I like or think I need for another project. The rest are being passed on to a family of 3 that all quilt/sew (Mother, boy, girl). I sort mine by colour or by pending project. I am gathering fabric for several patterns. I like to use the zippered bags that originally contained bedding and linens. I iron once (hopefully). While sewing, I usually line up my fabrics on a large bakers sheets (18" x 26"). Even tho they are in bags, my scraps are all neatly laid flat and the bags all laying flat in the cupboard. I don't precut as then I wouldn't be able to make scrap quilts - I think they are fun, and more of a challenge to get that inside corner filled.