Thread: Smaller than a FQ - storage ideas?

Since many of my smaller scraps are starched, I find I prefer to store them in the 13"square flat boxes that I get at Costco (I think they are for scrap books). I don't have to fold them a lot, they lay flat and I can sort them by color. I use the same bins to store my 10 and 12" squares.

Zozee, I'm impressed. They look good, functional, and easy to find what you are looking for.

BattleAxe - a ball of string with pieces tied together - wow that's being thrifty!

I am also battling the "small scrap syndrome" I have so many and a friend gave me a large garbage bag full. I've used about half of the ones in the bag but I found that as I rummage through this huge tangled mess, looking for a similar patterned scrap or color, I was getting frustrated and wasted lots of time - - LOL and there would be a huge mound on the floor that needed cleaning up

I couldn't deal with the seek and find method any longer. I dumped everything out and sorted into groups of the same pattern and color. I pressed them and after they were cooled so that there was no condensation put them into plastic sandwich bags - I know that plastic bags are not good for fabric but it was a mess. I then put them according to color into the shoe box size plastic bins from the $ store. It takes up very little room and easier to sort through and find what I want. I don't have the room to neatly put in open bins or lay on shelves.

Has anyone had bad experiences using plastic bags or bins? Should I get rid of the plastic?

Originally Posted by Battle Axe

I always get a kick out of decisions of what size to keep and what to throw out. I go back to a memory of someone who had saved a ball of string, little pieces tied together, labeled: String: too short to save.

Oh, this made me laugh and cry at the same time. Too short to save, but saved it anyway. We found stuff like this when we went through my mother's stash after she passed. One bag was literally labelled: "Pieces of elastic too short to use". Why she didn't throw them out, I don't know. At least she hadn't sewn them all together in one long piece!

Anything too big for me to cut into strips and squares (someone said about the size of a fat 8th) I fold to the same size as my FQs and put them back into the clear shoe boxes I keep my FQs in. They are always so thin when folded that I can easily tell they are only very small pieces.

Smaller than that and they go into an open basket I keep near my cutting board. The basket is about 10 X 10 and when it's full, I Try to make time to stop and cut the scraps into 2 1/2" squares. Anything smaller goes into crumb baskets sorted by color. (So far I've only made one crumb quilt, but it was such fun I know I will make more.)

Originally Posted by costumegirl

BattleAxe - a ball of string with pieces tied together - wow that's being thrifty!

I am also battling the "small scrap syndrome" I have so many and a friend gave me a large garbage bag full. I've used about half of the ones in the bag but I found that as I rummage through this huge tangled mess, looking for a similar patterned scrap or color, I was getting frustrated and wasted lots of time - - LOL and there would be a huge mound on the floor that needed cleaning up

I couldn't deal with the seek and find method any longer. I dumped everything out and sorted into groups of the same pattern and color. I pressed them and after they were cooled so that there was no condensation put them into plastic sandwich bags - I know that plastic bags are not good for fabric but it was a mess. I then put them according to color into the shoe box size plastic bins from the $ store. It takes up very little room and easier to sort through and find what I want. I don't have the room to neatly put in open bins or lay on shelves.

Has anyone had bad experiences using plastic bags or bins? Should I get rid of the plastic?

I think the key is to allow the pieces in the bags to breathe...don't shut them up tight is how I do it.

JJBlaine - pretty afghan! I like the multi colours! My Aunt used to crochet afghans all the time using all kinds of pieces of yarn. When I was young and foolish I used to think they were funny looking because they were not matchy matchy- did not appreciate the love and work she put into them. Now I love them and cherish each one.

I like making crumb projects! I have made coasters, mug rugs, placemats and lap quilts. They are so much fun to make and I find it relaxing putting together different small pieces and combining them with solid colours or other blocks to make them look good . LOL Guess now that I am old and foolish I have become more like my Aunt using small pieces of fabric.

I found these great little containers at Walmart. They are in the seasonal sections. They sell them to put gifts of cookies or breads in.





They fit great in a Nightstand that my DH got off a job for free.

And, I got these great oblong baskets at the Dollar Tree to put in this little stand that I found at the thrift store. I store my 1.5 (ish) strips in for making string blocks.



I don't cut down my larger chunks anymore. You never know when you might need that slightly larger piece. (Ask me how I know!)

Originally Posted by zozee

This is my method.

I love your method. It's neat clean and stream lined. I'm working on mine to look like yours. (I hate anything that looks like clutter.)

Judith1005 - Thanks for the ideas for the wicker stand! I have one exactly like it! Isn't it fun how it folds into itself to make a square? I was told by an antique dealer that the style was often used to store extra linens in a small space. I'm going to go and look for similar basket trays - I have large pieces of fabric stored in it but it often gets messy. The plastic baskets will keep everything organized

Originally Posted by Judith1005

I love your method. It's neat clean and stream lined. I'm working on mine to look like yours. (I hate anything that looks like clutter.)

Thank you, Judith. This system has really worked well for me for several years (unlike other methods that only work in my head). First thing I decided on was a color scheme for my sewing room. Yellow walls, white furniture, turquoise and bits of black and white accents. I got scrapbook paper in coordinating turquoise, some black and white ribbon, sticky decorative labels and enough shoeboxes to fit the IKEA bookcase without crowding it. I cut the paper to the dimensions of the side of the shoebox, glued on the ribbon, and made labels with a Sharpie. I taped the labels to the inside of the front wall of each shoebox. Holds up a lot longer.

The rolling drawer tower needs my attention. I have UFO's, orphan blocks, FMQ practice sandwiches, and who knows what mysteries lurking beneath the surface. But the labels hide the disorganization rather deceptively, huh??? Uh-oh. Don't tell anyone!

Great afghan, JJB...and thoughtful fun ideas for storage...wish my space looked neat and tidy...