rryder

I save everything. I use tiny crumbs for fabric collage and larger crumbs (wider than 1/2” ) get used to make fabric which I then cut into blocks for crumb quilts. Strings that are at least 3/8” x 3” get used in making a variety of craft items, currently I’m using them to make clothesline trivets, but I also use them to make funky scarves which are great fun to sew. I store my quilts by wrapping them around pool noodles and then covering with muslin to prevent fading—-I stand these on end and use my longer, stronger strings to tie the the muslin above and below the quilt rolls to keep them from sliding down. I also make string quilts and use HSTs in some of my art quilts, so I save triangles and thicker strings separately from the other large Crumbs and thin strings. If it’s between 5” and 2” I cut it into the largest size I am likely to use-these are my “precuts.”

Right now my scrap storage system consists of- 5 shoeboxes that I sort the really thin strings, small crumbs, larger crumbs, triangles and larger strings for string quilting. 2 drawers in my small arrow Suzi unit that are devoted to “precuts”. And 3 drawers in one of those cheap plastic units sold by target or wallyworld for all other scraps which get wrapped around comic boards and stored by size- smaller than a fat quarter, fat quarter, and smaller than 1 yard. 1 yard and up gets stored with yardage.

My rule is when a shoebox is full I have to do something with it before I can do something that will create new crumbs, strings or triangles LOL. I like scrappy quilts, so my “precuts” and larger scraps get used in my regular quilt making and don’t have the same tendency to take over the world that the smaller scraps would.

Rob

junegerbracht

I admit I don't save scraps - when I did I never used them and they just took up space. I decided the space was more valuable to me than the scraps. Only exception is wool for applique.

luvstoquilt

I save all scraps and sew them in all sorts of ways. My scraps made 18 tops for a local group that makes them for battered women. I also use scraps for applique and Dresden plates. Remember that fabric is now over $12 a yard!

AVFD215

My scraps are quite large, as I do not do crumb quilts, and not a big fan of scrappy quilts. I send them to a woman I know who makes doll clothes and sells those to raise funds for Diabetes. Although I have not sent her anything in a-while.
Mike

Snooze2978

1 inch is as small as I go. Got too many scraps as it is now.

LivelyLady

I have a "snip it" box that I put small pieces in and I use them when I do crazy quilting.

meyert

2-1/2" is where I draw the line.... I really don't feel like dealing with anything much smaller for a scrap quilt

sharin'Sharon

I, too, save most everything. Smaller than 1" goes into a bin for pillow fillers. I have one of those carpenter cases for probably separating screws and etc.) that I sort them in. Just cleaned it out a couple weeks ago and keep them sorted by strip width or squares and not by color. Hoping some day to make a log cabin quilt, but there are lots of possibilities with scrap 'stash'. I put my triangle cuts (HST trims) in Schwan's ice cream tins. I'll try to attach a photo of my case.

ArtsyOne

I save anything that's more than 1" x 2.5" to sew to adding machine tape. Some day I will make a lot of colorful sashing.

Mariposa

I save most anything. Am collecting 1" squares for my Ohmigosh quilt, and I use other tiny/small pieces to make crumb blocks. Also make mini quilts, and 18" doll stuff. I have bins for strips, small pieces, and a basket for crumb pieces.