LydiaAlicia

I have tried several methods, kristakz, but in the end always find that just stashing all my scraps, regardless of size or color, in one (well, it became two) big (BIG) bin. That's when I decided to start this challenge. I did find that with scrapping I have a bad habit of starting one quilt, getting bored, and then just laying it aside. What I have done most recently is to start making small throws. The way I scrap is just to dump everything on the floor and pull from the mess what catches my eye for any given project. So far I have diminished my scrap heap by about 1/3.

kristakz

Thanks oksewglad. I think I do need a plan for a quilt. I don't have much light scraps - I have managed to make a dent in those with a couple of mystery quilts recently - which limits my options (I can't convince myself to buy yardage to fill out a scrap quilt that I'm going to donate).

oksewglad

The panto quilt took 2 yards...there's no reason why you can't use a 2 yard neutral piece from stash to compliment your scrap strips. If you have CW repro fabrics use a light backgrounded fabric and add dark strips....or the reverse use a dark fabric and add light strips. Maybe the thing to do is find the 2 yard piece and then select scraps to go with it. I need to do this more often! But haven't found time to sew much this summer.

retiredteacher09

LydiaAlicia: 1/3rd of the way through your scraps is great. Way to go!

LydiaAlicia

So how'z everyone doing on diminishing their scrap mounds? I've been kind of busy, hence the lack of posts recently....helping daughter find a house closer to us (8+ hours away!)

Anyway, keep scrappin'!

oksewglad

I've been digging in the 1 1/2" bin...who knows what will come out of it! But have found a pattern for layer cake and charm pack that I will revise with scraps...going to cut 5" squares and 5 x 10s to replicate it my way.

petthefabric

In November, the guild will have a class to use scraps in a improvizational manner. I'm all in!

Mariposa

I've been cutting up misc. scraps, and adding pieces to their appropriate bins: 1.5" squares and strips, 2.5" squares and strips, and some misc. for a few scrappy projects in the future. I take breaks and sew on a quilt for our Cal. king bed.

rryder

I precut some scraps into standard sizes that I know I’ll use, but others that are say quarter yard or so get wrapped around comic book boards with size marked on a piece of paper pinned to the fabric and stored in a couple of easily accessible drawers in one of those sterilite plastic units. I go to those drawers first (before hitting up my yardage) when I need to make binding, find an accent fabric, or need to make a hanging sleeve, etc. Having them on the comic boards means I can open a drawer and see at a glance what I’ve got- makes it easy to use them up.

The “precut” scraps are only allowed to occupy 2 drawers in my arrow Suzi unit, so when those drawers get full I have to use the scraps. Smaller scraps for string quilts and crumb quilts get a shoebox for each type. When a box starts getting full I have to use up some of them before I do anything else in the studio. My space is small, so I had limitted storage to begin with. At first I thought that was a disadvantage, but I've found that it has forced a bit of discipline on me that really helps me keep control of my scraps.

Of course, this only works because I like working with scraps and I have a hard time throwing anything away

Rob

oksewglad

I am making progress...I have all the greens, browns from shoe box sized and bigger bins starched, pressed and cut as well as 2 baskets of miscellany which measure 12 x 16 x 8"! Now to the blue and purples shoe box sized. The larger pieces (short FQ's) and certain wof strips I have not cut up. Certain wof's are perfect for bindings on some smaller quilts. Strings are going to my quilt guild Sit N Sew as some members are going to do a string star quilt with 4.5" squares. Getting those baskets emptied felt so good!

Meanwhile the Grands helped gather windfall apples...some beyond using...fed them to some steers...a sweet treat for them. Made an apple pie and apple crisp afterwards. Lots of apples on the tree yet so soon will pick and store some in frig for winter use. Also want to make some more applesauce.