petthefabric

Recently I was given bags of scraps. I tried to wrap my head around using every usable piece. Then I decided to rewrite my definition of usable.

NOT-USABLE or it's a waste of my time
1. More starch than fabric.
2. strings wide enough for two seam allowances (I guess this could be used for chennile, but it's not on the bias so Nope)
3. Poly satin.
4. UGLY
5. Pieces the size of my little finger.

I filled 2 med size dog beds.

What is a useful scrap to you?

Onebyone

I learned that I was always going to have scraps. I don't keep them anymore. At my age if I want scraps I'll cut up a fat quarter.

quiltedsunshine

At least 1 1/4" (to complete my scrappy log cabin quilt).

quiltingcotton

2 yards or more of the quilt fabric I'm using I'll keep as one piece for another project.

The remaining Leftovers (scraps) I will cut down to one or more of the below:
10" layercake squares
5" charm squares
2 1/2" by at least half a jelly roll length (I usually use for log cabins)

The rest I toss. I've found that with these if I don't toss them, they just pile up and never get used, so now I just automatically toss them out as I go.

If I am given any scraps, I will not use old cut up clothing or remains, and I will not keep or use any fabric that isn't 100% cotton.

LGJARN52

As long as they are 1 1/2" wide and at least 5' long I'll keep them for a scrappy quilt. But I usually try my best to cut my scraps up into 2 1/2" strips and squares before I whittle down to that 1 1/2" strip. Polyester and satin are a big no- no for me.

GingerK

I've made several projects and had a lot of fun with strings, but strings add up faster than what one person can use in a lifetime. It has to be at least 1 inch wide and 8 inches long. I am quicker to save lights than darks. I always seem to need more lights.

Right now, I seem to be on a log cabin kick, so 1 1/2 inches wide for them. The sewing is almost mindless (cutting seems to take longer) and the blocks are quick to finish. There are multiple layouts and no two tops look the same.

Snooze2978

I keep a container of small scrapes to use for when I'm trying out a new decorative stitch or to see if what I'm trying to accomplish will work before doing it on the real thing. Then of course I have scraps from 1" wide up to 3" wide, then they jump up to 5" and "large scraps". I never cut my scraps to fit a certain size but throw them into the container they're closest to in width so some may actually be 1.5" wide and not 1.0" and so on. I try to go thru my scraps whenever I start working on a new quilt project so I can keep the scrap bins controlled somewhat.................of course that never happens and it seems I make more scraps than I use.

toverly

Scraps multiply at night like dust bunnies. I just don't want to deal with them anymore and plan on putting my laundry basket of scraps on the free table at Guild with empty Wally World bags. Hopefully they will be picked thru and gleaned. I may even take some large garbage bags in case someone wants the lot. I'v just gotten to the point that I want to work on my pretty fabric.

Iceblossom

I've tried various methods for scrap control. I've decided that I don't like having to deal with little bits and try to not keep anything smaller than a 6.5" square but sometimes the little bits hide! Fabric larger than a fat quarter gets kept in the stash according to color or style. At some point it gets cut down to a 6.5" strip and the rest discarded. I keep a box on my cutting table and put the rough end trims, the bits and pieces that are too small for me into the "crumb" box and when it is full, I send it away. That person can further edit down what I have sent.

I've spent years dealing with strings and uneven ends, I feel I have explored that sufficiently While some people really like the idea of 2.5" strips, I realized I could do nothing but work with them for the rest of my quilting career and it sort of scared me...

When I am given a bag of scraps (or bought one from the thrift store) I am pretty ruthless on removing anything "non quilting". If it is good stuff that doesn't suit me, I try to find a new home, but if it is little scraps of whatever I don't mind throwing it out and reducing the load. In the Seattle area we had handy textile recycling and some non-quilting things ended up there instead of the trash.

Buckeye quilter

Anything smaller than 2.5" goes into the wastebasket. Ain't nobody got time for all that! I will not save triangles either. I'm not dealing with bias edges. I will organize scraps by color. When the bin gets too full, I will make a pet bed and donate it or give the scraps to my great niece, who likes to create little fabric projects. I only have so much space allotted to scrap storage and when it gets full, it must be emptied by any means.