Scrap those scrap mounds
 

I don’t know about everyone else, but I have a habit of accumulating massive amounts of scraps. I’m cheap and just can’t stand to throw out even the tiniest scrap. My mound of scraps has become a mountain. Therefore I am challenging myself, and anyone else interested in joining me, to diminish my mountain by at least half by the end of this calendar year. If you’d like to join me on this journey respond to this post and post pictures along the way of your diminishing mound ( one growing mound if that be the case).
More to follow.

I will try to reduce my mound. I don't post pics but will be busy working on this. Good luck!

Until this year I was happy using January to use my scraps and make donation quilts. This year I was still sewing scraps in March! I have now decided to put my scraps in order at the first of each month. I cut them into strips and make "jelly rolls", cut smaller pieces into 1 1/2" x 5" for piano keys, cut squares. It has been only 2 months but it is working so far and next January I will be ready to sew, sew, sew for donation!

I started cutting my scraps into 5", 6", 7" and 8" squares last month... full time... and still going. Now instead of boxes, bins, and bags full of scraps, I have bins full of squares! I guess this is a little better. I do have more floor space showing. :)

I'll join with you to reduce the piles of scraps. We can do it!

I'm with you. It seems my quilt club always has another challenge to do which keeps me from my scrap pile. Even though I can almost always do the challenge with what I have on hand, it's usually from stash and not from scraps. I am on a mission to do something with all those scraps; really tiny ones, too.

I'll swear I think they actually breed of a night. I am working on three large tubs of scraps. Like you I can't throw anything away, guess that stems from growing up poor and still not wealthy in money by any means. I am cutting whatever I can blocks, quilt patterned blocks for a scrappy quilt laying out the strips an inch or more wide for later and then the little pieces I sew together and make a scrappy block and anything I can not cut something out of goes in a sack to make doggie pillows for animal shelter so virtually nothing goes to waste. So far I have about a fourth of a big storage tub down and I hope to have all three of them done before the end of the year so I am in on the challenge. Happy cutting everyone, Most of my cut scraps will go into quilts for our small guild who makes quilts for people who lose their homes to fires and for the children's hospital for the kids.

Sounds like I'm not the only one with unrestrained scrap piles! Here's what I've been doing. I figured out when my quilt club was doing a little monkey wrench block swap and I needed little HSTs. So I had a bunch of little triangles from making snow balls and similar blocks. I sewed those all along a long strip of the appropriate size and then cut them into the appropriate sizes[ATTACH=CONFIG]594613[/ATTACH].
I have done more strip quilts than I can remember, my favorite being a very irregular French braid type of strip...made a really cool quilt. Most recently I've been paper piecing
[ATTACH=CONFIG]594614[/ATTACH]Recently have also started using scraps for applique

I hope to finish sorting scraps by Summer's end. Way way to many. I did use older 3" strips last month. Made 4 NICU quilts for our MQG. No pics.

Yes, the scraps keep growing, especially when you share your love of string quilts at your guild and then are given bags and bags of strings!

I have sorted the strings by color and am using them up, but I have realized that I tend to keep the leftovers from quilts together after I have finished the project. So I have many little bags and bins of scraps that went well together and are now stored together. I think I need to dump these all out and sort by color.

I'd join but I already did this for this year. So now I'm starting a new scrap pile for next year.

These are all the "scrappy" quilt tops assembled this spring

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ps4fudrzgg.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...psygd034lf.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...psxlfpztlm.jpg

These two are in progress, but all the peices are ready. The string quilt is in rows that need to be sewn together.
They are both pictures of only a part of the quilt. Both will end up around queen size.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...psrmztkvqn.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...psdvkclojg.jpg

This one pretty much used up my batik scraps - though I did have to buy a layer cake as I ran out of a few colors.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...psqgq7lz0f.jpg

I still have a few totes of 1.5" and 2.5" strips, and one of triangles, but I sort of sick of scrappy quilts right now.

I am heavy into scraps right now. I've made 4 in the last couple of months and have ideas for more. The consensus among my quilting buddies is that scraps multiply on their own!

I think many of us are addicted to scraps...it's an ongoing challenge for me...let's see what the late summer and fall bring when I can get serious about sewing again.

Thanks for sharing the pretties, folks!

I've been doing this too since last November, so I'll join you folks! I have started putting all my fabric onto comic book boards, or if too small, into bins. I love the book boards, because I can actually see myself using up fabric as I empty each board.

I joined the 9-patch swap here on the QB and used up about 7 yards of fabric in that. Now I am making the 9-patches into star blocks and will use about 4-5 more yards in that.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]594632[/ATTACH]

Here is a photo another quilt made entirely from the stash, except the solid blue sashing. (Here it is being basted.) The quilt has since been quilted, but I haven't gotten around to photographing it yet. This one used about 16 yards.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]594633[/ATTACH]

This last one only needs two more blocks. It used about 14 yards of fabric.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]594634[/ATTACH]

As much as I keep trying to use scraps, they do keep growing! One good visit to my favorite thrift store will send me home with 15 more yards! So I don't know if I only make scrappies so I can go buy more or what!

I will join you in the challenge to diminish scraps by half before year end. I found another group hiding yesterday.

I have recently been hitting my scrap bins more often, so I'll take part in this too. I love making scrappies. I have my less than FQ size scraps in plastic drawers by color. I have my strings in gallon size plastic bags by color, plus two grocery bags full of strings that need sorted.
I just finished this scrappy quilt but it used some yardage for the sashings. The rest was scraps.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]594635[/ATTACH]

Oh, all of your photos are so motivating! Linda, I'd appreciate any details on that quilt block. It is quite striking but I can't figure out how you made it. Thanks!

I'm in on the Boxes of Strings too, but I'm finding all these places I've tucked scraps away.

I drew it up on graph paper but it's fairly simple and goes fast: I don't want to hijack this thread so if you want I can PM you. It's done with 2.5" strips, HSTs and the focus block. The outer borders are prints I had with butterflies, and other flower loving insects. Yellow scrappy cornerstones in that row, and then tone on tone white sashing with scrappy 2.5" flower cornerstones. If you want more details, I'm happy to PM you with them.

I'm in! I just finished a leader/ender project using 1" to 2" width by 4" to 4.3/4" length strips. I sewed them randomly into 12" to 13" rows. I then trimmed the widths to 4". I will eventually use them in a scrappy quilt but at least they are sewn in strips now.

I am also going through scraps that will work for triangles and using my die cutter HST dies so they are uniform in size. My stacks are growing-especially finished 1.5, 2", and 3". No specific plan but at least they will be ready to use when inspiration strikes.

It has been hinted to in this thread but I want to say it out loud. Where do all of those scraps come from? I have not purchased fabric for a specific quilt in 2 years, other than backing. Yet, my scraps keep growing. I have cut scraps into standard usable cuts and the scraps keep multiplying. I now have the reputation in my guild as the scrap quilt member. HELP! I really would like to make a quilt out of new fabric chosen for that person and that quilt but can't justify the cost when I have so much fabric on hand in the form of scraps. Perhaps it is elves working in my sewing room "cutting up" and leaving scraps behind. You bet I will join. I have one bin that I would like to clear out this year. Hi-ho away we go to minimize to the maximum.

I love all the lovely scrappy quilts shown, and will of course join this "movement", since I also have a Ton or more of scraps. LOL

Macybaby, the third pic of yours(on the longarm) is that one finished yet? I Really love it and would like to see a better pic of it.

Hello,

I went on a binge of cutting up my scraps into usable pieces and think I have really injured my upper arms. I've been in pain for over a month. The pain sometimes goes away but doesn't stay for long.

The only thing I can think is that my rotary blade wasn't sharp enough and I was putting too much pressure on my arms. What are your thoughts?

Amazing quilts! I will be following this thread. I love scrap quilts. Yes, lets not forget applique!

Hi luvstoquilt. Been a while. I like your idea for putting your scraps in order. I am in the process of doing away with all the things in my house that I have not used for ever. I have wanting to do this and corral all my fabrics and I am going to follow your idea and do the same. I can make quilt tops but I know I cannot possibly hand quilt them all but at least tops will be made. Be nice to see you again.

I love scrappy quilts so yes, I want to join in too. I love making string quilts and have just started crazy quilting (loving that), and also working on diamonds are forever (I think that's what it is called; Bonnie Hunter) all using my scraps. I have two tubs of strings I'm working with. Love all those quilts everyone has posted; really beautiful.

Macybaby, those are scrap quilts???? Every one of them is better than anything thing I've ever planned and done.

Woe is me.........You are extremely talented! That first black quilt knocked my sox off.

Macybaby, really LOVE what your striped fabric does to your first quilt shown. All the scrap quilts are great! I'm also known as the scrap queen -- will always take another quilters'scraps. It's better than my birthday to see what others have used. The owner of our LQS also saves scraps for me (I do work there part time). I am joining in but may need more time than 6 months. LOL!!

Linda in Missouri

Scraps come from your stash, too. As you use stash fabric to make quilts, you make new scraps. And if you get the reputation as the stash quilter in your guild, the ladies will bring you bags of scraps! Ask me how I know... :hunf:

Those scraps will take up so much less room if you periodically cut them into useable sizes: 10", 5", 2.5" and 2.5" strips. I use those plastic stacking drawers to store mine in. Scraps are great to have. Don't be in any rush to get rid of them.

I love all the beautiful scrap quilts that have been posted here!

I'm quilting a scrappy string quilt with piano key border today. I'm loving it a lot! And all the scraps were given to me by a fellow group (guild) member. :D

What gorgeous quilts!!!!!!!!! You've all made beauties!! I don't keep scraps but I should :)

I too am working on using scraps because they do multiply at night. Working on a string quilt as we speak

Oh, I know how that works, very guild meeting someone passes a plastic bag to me with orphans than need good home. Want to finish one this summer to prove to the gals that I do use their donations. But.... why me? :)

Oh I know what you mean....to the gals who have donated a lot of really nice fabric I make little quilts as a thank you. These are good friends of mine and they are happy to receive the little something.

Oh, ouch! I know what you mean. I'm in that same binge now and my shoulder blades are aching. I changed my rotary blade and it really helps somewhat. Also, I go to an exercise class for little old ladies. They taught some stretching exercises that help. I take short breaks also.... cut for an hour at most and then take a 15 minute break, ... maybe sew some bindings on those UFOs.

mslbd and SillySusan: I agree that your pain may be from too much cutting. I get a sore shoulder from ironing too many scraps in a day and I have an Oliso iron so I don't even need to tip it back and forth to set it down. Raising my ironing board to a more comfortable level has also helped with shoulder pain. My cutting tables are on risers so they are more comfortable to work on also. I have a die cutter that cranks and decided to replace it with an electric one after I had shoulder and neck pain and it makes so much difference to have the electric die cutter. Repetitive motions can be hard on our bodies. :)

Like several of you, I get scraps from groups. I volunteer with my church quilting group and a baby charity and, for quite a while, I was getting a bag or two every time I volunteered. Thankfully, that has slowed down for now but I am still overrun with scraps that had been thrown into tubs at my house. I had been sorting my blue scraps by size over the winter but then life got busy. However, it has been nice to go into the sorted scraps and grab a blue that is the right size. I ironed them before I measured the width and put them in their respective bags.

WMUTeach: We just have a hard time saying no, don't we? :)

Macybaby....WOW, you are productive. They are great.

http://www3.telus.net/smile/images/drop.gif Never. Never, never, never! They stay as big as possible until I have a need for them. A friend of mine did that with the "scraps" from her WIP, and then found out that she needed to cut more pieces. She would have had plenty if she'd left it as yardage, but couldn't get what she needed from the cut bits.

I think we learn what kind of scrappers we are...Like you Ice Leopard I rarely cut my scraps down, but leave as big a piece as possible as I often use those chunks in narrow borders on mini quilts, etc. Some folks get along with a box of random squares all one size and make beauties!

How did I miss this thread? Love scrappy quilts and have loads of scraps. I found that it is easier to sort them by color instead of keeping one jumbled mess. Still debating if I want to precut them into strips and sort by strip width. That sounds a very usable method but it takes organization to even get to that point.