Organized storage for all those 2 1/2” squares you have been cutting from scraps!
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Iowa
Posts: 437
For everyone who saves their scraps!
i use my Accuquilt cutter to cut hundreds and hundreds of 2 1/2” squares for making scrap quilts. I am a big Bonnie Hunter fan so those squares are my basic building blocks.
But it wasnt long before i realized that i was going to need a good way to store them where i could actually SEE them as opposed to putting them in baggies and stashing them away where i would forget about them and/or where i put them. The old out of sight - out of mind dilemma!
Artbin makes what it calls a FABRIC STRIP CASE for storage of jelly roll strips. The item number for the case is 6999AB. I happened to have one when i started cutting 2 1/2” squares and SUDDENLY THE LIGHT BULB WENT ON! LOL!
I found that i could easily and neatly organize 8 stacks of squares into those cases! They hold a LOT of squares and because they are clear you can easily see what you have at a glance. I usually make stacks by color which makes it easy to find what i need for a project!
They can be a little expensive, but if you watch for sales with free shipping you can easily get a pretty good deal if you are patient. I think the last time i ordered a couple they were less than $11.00/each.
Thought i would pass this discovery along… cuz CARING is SHARING!
i use my Accuquilt cutter to cut hundreds and hundreds of 2 1/2” squares for making scrap quilts. I am a big Bonnie Hunter fan so those squares are my basic building blocks.
But it wasnt long before i realized that i was going to need a good way to store them where i could actually SEE them as opposed to putting them in baggies and stashing them away where i would forget about them and/or where i put them. The old out of sight - out of mind dilemma!
Artbin makes what it calls a FABRIC STRIP CASE for storage of jelly roll strips. The item number for the case is 6999AB. I happened to have one when i started cutting 2 1/2” squares and SUDDENLY THE LIGHT BULB WENT ON! LOL!
I found that i could easily and neatly organize 8 stacks of squares into those cases! They hold a LOT of squares and because they are clear you can easily see what you have at a glance. I usually make stacks by color which makes it easy to find what i need for a project!
They can be a little expensive, but if you watch for sales with free shipping you can easily get a pretty good deal if you are patient. I think the last time i ordered a couple they were less than $11.00/each.
Thought i would pass this discovery along… cuz CARING is SHARING!
#2
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,392
Thank you, April. I have been using the bins sold at Sam's to store things in but those fabric strip boxes look great, too. I'll have to keep my eyes open for them. Thank you for caring enough to share! Keep those great ideas coming.
#4
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Carroll, Iowa
Posts: 4,005
I'm always afraid if I precut my scraps, I'll find I need a larger or longer size than just 2.5 square so my strips I hang up on a hanger and onto my pole I keep my scrap batting and quilts waiting to be quilted. I also keep wider strips as this keeps them from getting wrinkled up in my scrap containers. That's a great idea for those that use a lot of 2.5 square though. Great idea!!
#5
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Davenport, Iowa
Posts: 4,375
A few years back JoAnn's was having a close-out on their Christmas ornament holders. Each one has three seperate layers of divided boxes, and all three layers snap together and has a carry handle. Imagine the size of an ornament and it's a little bigger than the 2 1/2" squares....you can literally get thousands of little squares in these boxes. Very simular to this one from Amazon....but mine have three layer and were only about $15 each.Amazon.com: Sterilite 24 Compartment Stack & Carry Christmas Ornament Storage Box | 14276604 : Home & Kitchen
I have 6 of these containers and boy to they come in handy when organizing by color. I'd look for ornament boxes as they will hold more.
I have 6 of these containers and boy to they come in handy when organizing by color. I'd look for ornament boxes as they will hold more.
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Iowa
Posts: 437
Just in case ya need a VISUAL - i should have included this photo in my original post, but i still had to take one, email to myself to reduce size, then attach here! A process i didnt have time for at the time 🤷♀️
NO WORRIES, Snooze… i only cut the small stuff into squares - like you, i would rather not limit myself when it comes to future scrap use! I just found that with all the squares i was cutting and all the patterns i use them for, i needed a more accessible storage solution.
As you can see, i still have room for expansion right up the wall! Just not too high cuz im only 5’2”! LOL!
NO WORRIES, Snooze… i only cut the small stuff into squares - like you, i would rather not limit myself when it comes to future scrap use! I just found that with all the squares i was cutting and all the patterns i use them for, i needed a more accessible storage solution.
As you can see, i still have room for expansion right up the wall! Just not too high cuz im only 5’2”! LOL!
#9
You are so right about pre-cutting. I cut a container full of 1.5" strips, but now I need 2.5" strips for a basket weaving idea from YT. I prefer flat-ish storage boxes that are stacked. BTW, Love your space.
#10
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Iowa
Posts: 437
Aashley and Ibex… thank you for the thumbs up on my work area for cutting! 💜 When my sons grew up and left home i finally got a sewing room, which was one of the empty bedrooms. I picked the one two windows for lots of light. The room isnt very big but i measured everything i wanted to go in there within an inch of its life to make it all fit and had to be really creative on use of the space! About 5 years before i retired i bought a sitdown longarm… so the Rubiks Cube had to twist and turn so everything could fit and be functional again. Its cozy but very workable for two people to work in there at the same time 🤩 it took me three years to convince my husband that i should paint the room lilac but he finally realized that i was serious about my Happy Place being the color i wanted! Its perfect for me 🥰

