Scrap Sorting... Your Ideas?
01-21-2010, 08:23 PM
#61
Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 25
Scrap quilts are the best! Most of mine are sorted by color, but they still end up randomly in tubs and boxes.
The guild does a lot of square exchanges. Many times we make the same square each month, but in different colors. I always have plenty to pick from.
I even make the backgrounds scrappy in my quilts.
I used to save all the smallest crumbs that were really too small to sew, but now they all go into muslin "sacks" I make. I also add in my batting scraps. When they get full, I stitch them closed, make a removable (so it's washable) fleece cover and they go to the kids' dogs for a new bed pillow.
Sometimes, after a top is finished, I make an extra block to match the front for a label. Lately, I piece together the rest of the scraps, whatever size they are, like a puzzle, and use them for part (or all!) of the backing. Often I can pull other fat quarters or pieces of the right color from my stash to make the backing big enough. Using up the stash (never!) and don't have to buy more fabric for a back.
The guild does a lot of square exchanges. Many times we make the same square each month, but in different colors. I always have plenty to pick from.
I even make the backgrounds scrappy in my quilts.
I used to save all the smallest crumbs that were really too small to sew, but now they all go into muslin "sacks" I make. I also add in my batting scraps. When they get full, I stitch them closed, make a removable (so it's washable) fleece cover and they go to the kids' dogs for a new bed pillow.
Sometimes, after a top is finished, I make an extra block to match the front for a label. Lately, I piece together the rest of the scraps, whatever size they are, like a puzzle, and use them for part (or all!) of the backing. Often I can pull other fat quarters or pieces of the right color from my stash to make the backing big enough. Using up the stash (never!) and don't have to buy more fabric for a back.
01-21-2010, 09:09 PM
#62
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: southern IL
Posts: 137
I, too, was overwhelmed with scraps. I cut strips and pieces in several sizes-depending on whatever length and width they were-tedious, but helpful to create borders,etc. Unfortunately-they multiply on their own so there seems to be no end to them. ;-)
01-21-2010, 09:15 PM
#63
Power Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Between the dashes of a tombstone
Posts: 12,716
Originally Posted by butterflywing
whenever i ask for anything on craigslist i get offers from so far away that it isn't worth the gas for the small amount being offered. with the price of gas, i can buy scraps at the next yard sale. and even if you ask for cotton only, you never know what you'll get.
which brings up another point: what do most of you consider 'small'. i think small is less than a 2.5 strip or a 2.5 square, because by the time you delete the seams, i don't want to be bothered. but i know that some of you use i".
which brings up another point: what do most of you consider 'small'. i think small is less than a 2.5 strip or a 2.5 square, because by the time you delete the seams, i don't want to be bothered. but i know that some of you use i".
BTW, I sort by size. Those little pieces fit into Nestle Quik containers just beautifully and with 4 grands up the road, we go through lots of Quik in the winter time!
Larger sorted widths go into $ store dishpans-helpful to label the container with the widths, too.
01-26-2010, 06:19 PM
#67
Power Poster
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Florida
Posts: 17,636
I sort by color too, but i have some strips that I put all colors in the pile, bc there aren't that many. Would be easy to grab the right one if it would work.
I'm just not into all that cutting squares etc. into charms and stuff...
I might want to use it for applique, so no need to go to all that bother.
Glad you saved yourself from the scrap sanitorium ;)
I'm just not into all that cutting squares etc. into charms and stuff...
I might want to use it for applique, so no need to go to all that bother.
Glad you saved yourself from the scrap sanitorium ;)
01-26-2010, 07:11 PM
#68
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: East TN
Posts: 2,727
Bea -
Piano key is just alternating strips of fabric, usually all the same width arranged light-dark-light-dark, that are cut crosswise into a consistent size. When you look at it, it resembles piano keys.
Darren
Piano key is just alternating strips of fabric, usually all the same width arranged light-dark-light-dark, that are cut crosswise into a consistent size. When you look at it, it resembles piano keys.
Darren
01-26-2010, 08:13 PM
#70
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,962
Originally Posted by Judi in Ohio
Has anyone gone on www.quiltville.com and seen Bonnies sorting methods? I think she is brilliant and she has changed my life. I really do not want to do a 2, 3 or 4 fabric quilt, I love scrappy. so I have the large containers and had my husband put dividers in each one. I have a 1 1/2" strip, 2" strip & 2 1/2" strip container, divided into light, med, darks. So, if I know I need 2" strips to make a bunch of green 4 patches, I go to my 2" bin, which has actually been expanded to include another bin of batiks on one side and neutrals in the other. Pull out my greens & neutrals and off I go. I made one of Bonnies patterns the other day Chunky Churndash ( I am the unwashed hostess of Bonnies swap group called Quiltville swap, we are swapping that block). It was a snap to get started on that block because everything was there for me to grab. I didn't cut a thing for that block. My squares & half squares are in another rolling cart, easy to access. For my larger pieces I have some unique pieces of furniture that I use that are perfect for the job at hand. If anyone is interested I will dl some pictures. A piece of fabric does not walk into my house without getting a 1 1/2", 2", & 2 1/2" strip cut from it - I buy fabric with that in mind and sometimes that's all the fabric I buy. When I tell you I like scrappy - I mean it - the more fabric the more I like it.
Judi in Ohio
Judi in Ohio
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