No one is offering any suggestions on organizing. No ideas? How would you organize it? I'm thinking about buying 4 see through plastic tubs.

I'll take a picture when it's all done. 8) It may be awhile. Don't hold your breath. :wink:

I've been quilting for about 14ish years--and have never done anything with scraps. It's time. I think it'll mostly be wall hangings so I can quilt them myself.

My sewing room is tiny--12 ft by 8 ft. It's right off the kitchen. It was where the change table was for years. It's really too small for anything else. I was happy to take it over once I started quilting. I use the kitchen table for cutting.

This forum is a great place to get inspired. :D

I sort my fabric in clear tubs. I sort by winter, spring, summer, and fall. Then I have tubs that hold my batting and large muslin pieces. I buy bolts of muslin and keep them out. I then know by the tubs,(clear plastic) when I'm working on a quilt, which tub to look in for a fabric color or print. Oh yes I have 1 tub that is all solids. I also have a clear tub of scraps that I alway look in first for a project. I don't keep tiny pieces of scraps. But I applique alot and so the smallest is usually about 10x10". I'd rather go through 1 tub at a time, to aid in organazation. Any new fabric I buy is kept out on my book shelf, I usualy have a project in mind, when I buy. Any projects I have going I keep all pieces and fabric in a milk crate. I have 8 of those. They stack nicely and also aid in organazation. Thats how I set things up. It may not be the best or work for any one else. But thats my system and it works for me. I usually have 3-4 projects at a time going, any more then that is to overwhelming for me. I force my self to complete those before starting a new. When finished with a project I make myself file the fabric that is left in it's proper place, if the pieces are big enough, no smaller then 10x10".

That is an AMAZING stash. I just thought I was bad, no way!!!!

hey girlfriend, your scrap stash looks a lot like mine. i NEVER sort scraps. i just pull the giant tub up by my sewing chair and grab and sew. if i sorted them i'd be tempted to choose my scraps carefully when i make a scrap quilt. i don't want to do that. i use all my scraps for every scrap quilt. all seasons, novelties, flowers, solids, vintage, modern, walmart, quilt shop, EVERYTHING is used in every scrap quilt. (except for my own personal aversion to double knits 8) i choose by value and ignore most everything else. i press as i use and if i need a strip off an odd size piece
for a string quilt i just slice it off right then. i usually dont even measure or use my ruler. just roll the rotary cutter and if it is crooked, so much the better. now as a disclaimer, this is just my own personal way and everyone has to use their own discretion. there is no right or wrong when it comes to scrap quilts, IMHO.

no quilt police here :!: :twisted: :!: :twisted: :!: :twisted: :!:


oh BTW when i organize my stash of yardage ( aka; future scraps :wink: ) i fold each around my 6 inch ruler and the length of each is equal to the depth of the shelf it will sit on. they stack beautifully and it is easier to sort when they are all the same width.

here is a pic. my stash isn't really big and i still need tubs for a few things. but my back wont let me lift tubs every time i want to peruse my stash.
it works for me :wink:

I'm a pre-school teacher, and use some of my too-small-to quilt-with scraps for gluing on art projects. So if you have a local school ask the art teacher if they would like your scraps, my art teacher loves them. The only problem is that I have to bring in the finished quits to show him what I used the colors in.

This is basically how I am organizing my fabric. It seems like it will work well.
Judy in Ohio

I did it. I bought 4 plastic tubs that have great tops and stack. Two hold darks, one mediums, and one lights. Of the two I already had, one holds all flannels (they are arranged in strips, squares, rectangles...) and the other has pieces that are already sewn together in some way (extra trianlgles into squares, etc).

Then there's the tin I have all all extra quilt squares I didn't need for whatever they were made for.

I'm going to take the advice from the website Yvonne posted on my other thread and cut some of my smaller stash pieces into strips. I love working with strips. :D

Here's how it looks.

That is actually a cool picture!

Good job Barnum - those bins look kind of full already though! I see some scrap quilts in your future? Are you doing the 2008 scrap quilt challenge? Here is the link to the challenge:

http://www.quiltingboard.com/posts/list/2938.page

I don't sort my scraps, have a mess laundry holder that stands up and
its full, but then I don't have a lot of scraps either. I like making those
string blocks for quilts w/my scraps :lol:

barnbum, you did a lot of work since i saw you last :lol:
looks neat and tidy. don't you love to just sit back and look at it now? did you check the link i put up for string quilts? the web site has a good description of the string method. it is over at the ABOUT site.