Your's is the best advice I've come across. Knowing what kind of quilter you are and how much space you want to use were the most valuable takeaway I got from you! Thank you!
Pat I enyou making Scrappy Quilts. I cut my scraps into Squares 5", 4.5", 4,", 3.5", 3" 2.5", 2 ", 1.5" and 1" and store them to use later. in my down time I will sew them together for a project/quilt. I call it my mindless sewing. I made a purse from fabric I created using 1" Squares sewn into strips then sewn on 2.5" strips till I had a good rectangle of fabric enough for my purse.
This is the best video I’ve seen on scrap fabric organization! I love how you empower us to make our own educated decisions to determine which fabric size and storage is best for our needs. I’m using my scraps mostly for EPP, so I’ve been hesitant to cut them down any smaller than they already are. Your video helped me to realize that I don’t have to cut anything. I can keep my scraps as is, fold them and store them neatly. Thank you so much, Pat!
I am a controlled scrappy quilter but love planned out special fabrics type of quilter too. I have been gathering up my fabric that I bought the last several years and have much more than I thought that I had, and I have more in plastic containers on a shelf and stacked, due to that shelf falling, and more in a sideboard. However, when my parents passed away, I inherited all her fabric and sewing patterns and sewing things. I rented a very large building to store it until I can rearrange things in my house and make space. I had a cub-cab truck with a standard truck bed. I hauled two and a half loads of nothing but fabric, and that is including the cab being crammed full. Needless to say, I am enjoying your videos that are making me seriously think about it. I hope to get it all under our roof by the end of December. My building costs me almost $400 every 6 months. That is a little too much to spend for storage and not being able to see or use my precious fabric from my mom, my quilting sewing buddy.
I love scrappy quilts. The more scraps the better. I keep my strips in a tote and just sent half to my cousin, along with scissors and thread, who just got a machine from a yard sale. She was so excited.
I bought my Great granddaughter a sewing machine for Christmas and gave her some ssrap material and trimmings.She was 10 years old. Of course I have a lot of scraps. I am saving her. To use as she wants.
I’m a new you tube subscriber and am enjoying this series thanks Pat. For me anything less than a FQ is separated off as scrap. I used to keep my scraps in shoe boxes, that grew to a clear tote that was kept in my sewing studio closet. When I outgrew that, I went to the big box hardware store and got a plastic trash bin on wheels. I keep the bin in my garage, it’s air tight and dark so the sun can’t fade my treasure. I use the scraps for appliqué, and collage quilts which require a variety of different shades and colors. I also use scraps for small things like mug rugs and coasters and other crafty things, scrappy pot holders WHATEVER. Once a year or so, I roll the bin into my living room and dump it all on the floor. I love doing this, remembering what quilts were made with what etc. I organize it some by color and pull out things that I might want for an ongoing project. I will also pick out things that I will never use and pass them on at that time. This works for me, I have made a commitment that the big bin is the end so I won’t ever outgrow it.
thank you for joining me Dekay! I'm thrilled you have a plan that works for you, that is great!! I bet it is fun once a year to go through all your treasures. Welcome to my neighborhood!
Am started reorganizing my studio in preparation for moving to a new home! Today, I was overwhelmed with bags of scraps like partial fat quarters,small. Usable scraps, etc. So, I called our senior citizen center in town and sled what. Rafts do they do - reply was mainly quilting!!! One big shopping bag , 1 small lite box, 1 sand board for hand appliqué delivered! Stated I will have more and they were thrilled!!
I do make scrap quilts for donation. I cut into 2.5",5" & 10" squares. After watching the video I think I'll make a blue traffic jam quilt and some scraps I pass along to a church group. I have even cleaned out some of my fabric that I came across ( why did I buy that ) knowing it's not my taste . Thank you for all your videos.
You are so right in understanding how you use fabric to make quilts. Just moved into motor home full time,and hadto make choices in what keep. Lots of donations to sewing church group. Since limited space I chose not to keep most scraps. Still making quilts but not much room. It makes you sew with what have because you aren’t always near fabric stores.
My problem is not knowing what type of quilt I’ll want to make in the future.. what sizes I will need! But I think you’ve inspired me to at least cut some of my abundance into neat common sizes..I’ve been working in quilt shops for about 10 years and quilting for about 35 years... so many scraps!!! Thanks for this series!
Well, I have been “gifted” with scraps and fabrics from friends and family who have had elderly mothers who have passed on or down sized. Saying that I have been very ruthless on choosing which fabrics I keep. So I have a lot of scraps, and then there’s my own collection! I have made some very scrappy car quilts using up those fabrics I don’t want to keep. But mostly my passion is creating “controlled” scrappy quilts, adding a few fat quarters here and there as I make the quilt I’m working on. I buy yardage for borders and backing as I go, those left overs go into my coloured coordinated boxes, ready for the next quilt. And sew another quilt cycle begins!
Thank you, Pat, I needed this! First thing I need to do is iron my scraps. I enjoy using my scraps to make table runners and mug rugs not only for myself, but as gifts!
Thank you great information. I am reorganizing my sewing room a little at a time, I am enjoying getting things put together. I have bins for 1 and 1/2, 2 and 1/2, 3 inches, 4 and 5 and 10 inch squares. They are all put. Away.
I love love love scrap quilts. As I make quilts I have 3 buckets near my table, one for strips less than 2 1/2 inch wide, these are for string quilts, the second bucket is for all small peices, and I give those to a friend who likes to Crumb quilt, the last bucket is for the triangles that get get cut off while snowballing corners and these make wonderful little half square triangles that I do all sorts of things with. As soon as a bucket gets full, it has to be dealt with before I can move on to the next thing. Of course I also have a small collection of the standard precut sizes, but I keep that very small also by making charity quilts that are scrappy.
I like making scrap quilts. There is something satisfying about cutting and sewing pieces together randomly. I love doing crumb quilt blocks. I use the pre-cut sizes from my bigger scraps. I really like your idea of the 2 1/2" squares. I'm also experimenting with scrappy backs on some of the quilts I've made.
For a beginning I am a controlled scrapper. With those left over pieces I am a hard core scrapper. When we moved into this house and I now have room for my stash. I have a stack of drawers that I have my precut sizes in. I stopped and refigured what I like to use and cut them into those sizes. I used to cut into strips only but had just three drawers one for 3 inch and a light and dark for the 2 inch. Way too messy and jumbled even for me. I even have a sweater size tote now for my crumbs and am making blocks from them. Talk about a freeing way to make a free quilt. I have learned from watching you about the small squares into quilts. Love doing that. Love your blue one you are making now. I just mix them all together, but will have to see about where I can sort into color waves. Thank You for all your ideas.
I started doing scrap management a few years ago because of the scrap guilt I was having. SewVeryEasy on RUclips has a nice video about it and I started cutting up my scraps into 3.5x2.5 inch blocks and sewing them as leader and enders like you do! Anything that is smaller than the 3.5x2.5 gets turned into my 1.5 in hexies.It adds up pretty fast. I do use ALL my different scraps in it so it is truly scrappy and I like it that way. I put them up on my design wall and move them around until I like the placement and then sew them together. I love this method. But everyone has to find what works for them. I am loving this series and all the thought that goes into managing your fabric. It shows that you work really hard to make your system work for you!
@@jerib2446 it is just a different scrap quilt - sew them in pairs and then sew one pair horizontal to one pair vertical and you have a block that can be joined together with like blocks until you have a quilt. "Sew Very Easy" has a video on her channel that explains it better but thanks so much for your interest! Happy sewing!
Last winter when my husband was sick I didn't want to actually seq but needed something to do so I took my huge scrap bin and cut it up into 2 1/2 inch strips. These had to be at least 21 inches long. Then I subcut the shorter lengths into 2 1/2 inch squares. I also cut 5 inch blocks. I applique and figured I could either use for applique or sew into a quilt. So far I'm making a quilt using 5 inch squares and have dug into it for applique. It took up spool much less room than before. I couldn't believe it. I now have a grocery bag of scraps again so will cut them up shortly. It really does work. I admit it was hard to throw away the fabric that wasn't these sizes but had to stop somewhere. Thanks for this series. I'm learning and organizing my fabric.
I love to cut my extra fabric into 1”, 2 “and 5” squares and then 2 ½” strips. I love scrap quilting but I want some color way or theme to it. One of the most beautiful quilts I ever made was a scrap quilt using all the bits and pieces that I had leftover from quilts I made for my grandchildren, Greens, pinks blues. I sewed all the odd pieces together no matter what the size then cut into 2 1/2 or 1 ½ strips. They were random lengths but I added white fabric between each strip and it mad the most amazing quilt.
I've only been quilting since 2016 and wasn't sure what to do with my scraps. I knew I didn't want to just throw them away, but wasn't sure how I wanted to store them or what to do with them. Thanks to your video I have an idea!
This was great!! I love the idea of making scrap quilts and have started cutting and saving scraps several times over the years. I've recently started doing it again. Your idea of picking just one or 2 sizes to cut really makes good sense to me. Picking 1 or 2 patterns you have to use those scraps makes sense to me, too. I'd not thought of that before. I'm going to thinking about this in a new way and get rid of some of my "stuff"!! Thanks Pat!
Great talk on keeping scraps. I always wondered and no one was willing to share. So now I know. I am making a paper pieced quilt and so I always feel guilty about the scraps that go to the bin that is used for dog beds.
All I've ever made so far are scrap quilts using fabric left over from other sewing projects. I have reached the point of needing to buy fabric to finish a quilt . The idea of cutting the leftovers into useful sizes sounds good to me . Thankyou for the clear thoughts about storage too.
I love the simplicity of having one checkerboard pattern for scrap quilts, then more of my energy can be spent on important projects that are made with "new" yardage. I have been thinking about cutting down my scraps, currently stored in many bins by color, and have chosen several sizes but might have to reconsider after watching this video. Cutting only 2 1/2" squares with my Accuquilt GO! die would be a huge time saver and then I can spend more time sewing and less time organizing. Thanks, Pat!
Hi, this was a really good video for me! I do make scrape quilts and I am not terribly organized with my scrapes. I have been keeping my small scrapes in zip lock bags, which slide all over the place- so I really like the shoebox idea...and they are affordable. I have made some precuts from left over fabrics, but I have a tendency to not want to take the time away from sewing to make them. I am really enjoying this series and learning a lot! Thank you!
Thank you Pat for this series. You've helped me think more logically about what I have in my stash and what kinds of quilts I "really" make. Going to make up some bags of scraps by color and see if I can re-home them.
I love this series. I have so enjoyed your ideas. I am a scrappy quilter and I use my scraps for string blocks and bits for bitty blocks. I am going to use your idea of cutting into 2 1/2 inch squares for the bigger scraps I have and want to keep. Love, love, loved the red quilt. Thank you for making these episodes, it is a huge help to tame my sewing room.
I watch a lot of organizational videos, and this is by far the best I’ve ever seen regarding scrap organization and And personalizing the method. Pat, this was fantastic! Thank you!
I am not a scrappy quilter. There I said it! I feel most satisfied when I can use extra fabric from a project (fat quarters & yardage) for a pieced backing and then come up with accessories for my quilt. I'll make pillow shams, pillowcases, throw pillows, table toppers, drawstring bags, bunting/ornaments. Large scraps go in a standard size project bin. Leaders/enders go in a small stack next to my machine. Those mid size scraps still need cutting down to 2.5, 5 or 10" strips. I've limited myself to a project bin since I have a small sewing room.
Hi Pat, After watching your video I've decided to mark a template for a fat quarter size on my homemade iron board. If a piece of my fabric is larger than a fat quarter I will not cut it up. If it is smaller, I'm going to cut it into the largest size I can - ie. 10 x 10, 5 x 5 or 2 1/2 strips and store them by size because I am a scrappy quilt quilter. Thanks for finally making me see the light on how to get my mess in order for what I quilt. Looking forward to your next video.
Thank you! I've started to reorganise my sewing room and you have given me so many ideas that my head's buzzing. I think I'm a scrappy quilter 'cos I'll use any fabric as it comes out of the stash as long as it doesn't clash with the one next to it. But Mount Scrapmore does need attention, getting far too tall and I shall soon need crampons and a rope to get to the far side of it!
I am a total, hard core scrap quilter. My favourite type of quilting. I love your suggestion for storage and cutting up the scraps. thank you very much
I love to make scrap quilts. My scraps are in 2 plastic bags and that is the limit. There are no other spots to keep scraps in my house. l I use leftover dryer sheets. They are already used and they need a small amount of pressing. The size is 6x9 or a little more. I place longer strips on them corner to corner and add pieces as a go. They can be any color unless I decide on a certain fabric for the center strip. They really looks nice when you put them together. They rest is must leftovers cut in strips less than 2 1/2 wide. They are used in other blocks After you add scraps then trim them to fit 6x9. The quilt is 49 blocks and I use 1 1/2 inch black sashing. I do buy that in a roll. What a saver that is. I add a wide border of something that looks nice and then I quilt it. This really takes care of my scraps for me. I have made many and plan to continue the same process. The only other idea I use in cutting strips into jelly rolls and make rounds bundles until I think it is big enough and then do the jelly roll race to put them together. That is fun too. I don't worry much about colors and just use any scrap I have. Well enough for today. Love the idea.s Patty
Your comment on knowing what kind of quilter you aware is so on target. Yes, I use the scraps, but it is controlled scrappy quilts. The eye needs a place to rest, so at times I end up using a color way from my stash/scraps and then buying background fabrics. Squares don’t really appeal to me, so I have been using my scraps in log cabin quilts. The scrap bin is next on my list to sort out. Getting that organized would be nice.
Thank you for your advice... I've been keeping all my scraps so that I had a good stash to start making scrap quilts. My large bin is now going to be sorted into smaller containers by color! I'm a little bit excited out that right now🤗😜❤
Thank you so much for your informative videos on sorting fabric. You've touched on so many different aspects that makes me think of what is best for me and my space. I've been organizing my sewing space and applying many of these ideas as I go. It's been so much easier using some solid guidelines. Thanks again!
I have a couple of sizes of patriotic scraps I save for log cabins. The rest go to a quilter who loves scraps. I fill a priority box and she pays the shipping. I love hearing her excitement when she gets the box.
So I found a system for me - yardage and anything fat quarter or yardage is sorted by color and put on my shelves. I cut scraps into 10 and 5 inch squares. I also cut “older yardage” that I’m not so excited about into 2.5 inch strips. What’s left goes into gallon sized baggies by color - one per color, which I go to all the time. My homemade precuts go into shoeboxes like you have. Thinking of converting my scraps to 2.5 inch squares based on your ideas!
Pat, thanks for all the inspiration! I am currently working on a "controlled" 1930's repro scrap quilt. I saw one of your videos some time ago when you explained how to make a bonus quilt. In the past year I have been using that technique with my repro one patch quilt. I also used it while making memory quilts for other folks. I made the main memory quilt they requested and then was able to surprise them with small quilts made from the scraps of their memory quilts. When one of my dear nephews was expecting his first child, I was able to go through my scraps and find a unique piece of picture fabric for every hexagon and half hexi in the I Spy quilt I made for them. That may have been the most fun I've had in making a quilt so far. Any scrap will do!
Great tips. I like to cut my scraps into squares... 5", 3", 2.5", 2" and 1.5" is the smallest. I also keep left over 2.5 strips. I keep them in a shoe box and always have some to sew as I'm piecing other blocks.
Great discussion today (and always!) that made me think about my fabric. I think I am now fully committed to precuts, but I still have a great deal of scraps. I cut some down to 2.5 or 3.5 squares, but the larger pieces of scrap fabric I cut into large squares, along with a similarly sized light fabric, and use Triangles on a Roll or Moda Layer Cake Recipes to sew them together. I then set them aside to cut when I have time. I figure I'll have about a million HSTs at some point and then I can make a scrappy quilt!
Great ideas. I learned a lot. Thank you I’m going to pass this on to my quilting group so they can organize their scraps. I will also tell them about your RUclips video.
I have found this video very helpful! I have watched it several times. I did get into the scrappy quilt idea this year. I cut 2 1/2", 5", 1 1/2"(for a project) and crumb.
Great video Pat! This one gave me a lot of food for thought. I realized how much space all those little scraps are taking up and honestly I’m more of the Controlled quilter. I have marked off time this Friday to go through and make my shoebox cuts then donate what I won’t use. Thank you for VERY USEFUL information!
such great advice! I think I'm a controlled scrappy quilter. currently my Leader & Ender project is blue & white 2.5" squares. I will be taking a new look on how to store all the scrappy bits better. thanks for sharing 👍
I’ve always been drawn to scrappy quilts. Im also a committed environmentalist and textile recycler. I’d say I’m a composite scrap quilter. I’m hardcore when it comes to scrappy quilts to use very small or very thin or odd shaped pieces, including selvedge cut offs. I mix anything and everything to QAYG onto a 12.5” square base of recycled textile. I cut a pentagon shape for the middle, and keep spiralling out till the base square is covered. I piece smaller bits to make longer strips as the spiralling edges get longer. These make up into baby floor quilts, kids floor play quilts, or dog quilts. The other hardcore scrap quilt I make is 2” squares, pieced into 16 patches and sashed. They are good doll quilts as well as the previously mentioned uses. And I am not fussy about prints, I just make sure I like the colour spread in each of the blocks And then I’m also a controlled scrap quilter where there is rhyme and reason. Usually for these quilts I piece precuts from a collection, or leftover scraps from favourite collections, into blocks for a set quilt pattern. I love the ethic of using every scrap. If it’s too small to piece then I use it as floor cushion or dog bed stuffing. If it’s any worn textile, I’ll find a way to use it. It give me joy
Smallish stackable plastic boxes with lids. As i cut & sew a particular quilt, the leftover fabric is assigned a place, usually into precut 2.5" strips & squares for later use. By organising scraps as i go, there is less mess in my sewing corner, and its easy to locate the sizes i need for a genuine scrap quilt.
I luv my perfect 5 ruler and my perfect 10 ruler by creative grids to help make ny own layer cakes and charm packs, it has really helped condense and group. I used to go by color. Ugh too many fruit crates full. I make a Ton Of charity quilts. I also call them free quilts. I have little helpers who will finish a quilt top I’ve become too busy to git quilted. I basically give them a cut up quilt in a box, like a kit. I keep all my applique scraps by color still. Thank you Pat this is very very helpful
A few years back I cut a lot of my scraps into various sized squares 4" and less and neatly put them in containers but never did anything with them Do like your idea of all the squares in one colour paired with an alternate colourway I also love hexagon quilts so have also have a container of hexagons that would be lovely with a similar idea
Love your ideas, Pat. I have an AccuQuilt and I'm cutting my scraps into 2 1/2" and 5" squares. These work well for me. I will take a few minutes each day and cut up some scraps. It helps to keep it under control. Eventually, I will make one of your Traffic Jam or Oh My Stars. Thanks for the great tips!
Such good advice. I’m really going to have a hard think about what patterns I’m going to use in the future. I’m new to all this and have just been cutting the largest square I can from a scrap but will probably end up with too many random squares. Now I can be more focused. 👍👍
I'll be moving my sewing room to the smallest room in the house over the next few months. Great ideas to control the chaos. Might as well move rooms organized!!
I am one of those pretty hard core scrapper. I do make lots of others, too. I do pre-cutting, but sometimes get behind on the cutting. I am trying to be better at the organizing, though. Thanks for the inspiration.
I love this idea. I have thought about how i sew. Im a beginner quilter but i dabble in home decor and applique also. I have chose to order my scraps into, larger than 10 inch square, larger than 5 inch sq, larger than 2 1/2 inch sq and smaller than 2 1/2 inch sq. This means that if i was looking for a particular size for a applique project or for pouch, i know where to look first before i check my fqs. It suits me at the moment and i can manage it easily.
I sort my scraps as I cut fabrics for projects into two boxes. One for pieces and threads for stuffing projects and one for everything else. When box gets full, I take a day and pull out crumbs to make crumb blocks and then pull out wonky strips for block making or mug rugs, pot holders, placemats etc. I put these in separate shoe boxes(these make great Christmas gifts). The bigger scraps, I will cut into the largest squares or strips I can.I use a canned food shallow box near my sewing machine and work in sewing them together. Surprising what you can get done in 15-20 minutes a session. Before cutting the squares, I do pull out all the crumbs(while watching TV in the evening) from the second bin. I am blessed to have half of the basement to store everything. I do use a lot of shoe boxes. I sort more from size than color. I do like your idea of keeping the whites separate because I think whites make the other colors pop out. I use about 12 bins in all and one or 2 working shallow canned good boxes.
Some great points here. I tend to make in-the-hoop projects, so I don’t want to cut down my scraps. I also have limited storage room, so lots of different boxes for different colours wouldn’t suit. I haven’t been sewing that long, so I only had one large tub of scraps, so I sorted them, pressed them, and popped them into zip lock bags - one bag for each design or colour. I cut some light card to fit the bags so they wouldn’t slip down if I stored them standing up. I then clamped the bags together in colour groups with fold over clips and used hubby’s white paint marker to write the colour on the top of the clips. They now stand up and can be filed in the same way as fat quarters. They take up about half the space they used to before.👍
I have a of scraps that I need to do something with. I just started organizing my sewing room. Your videos are helping me to get back to my quilting. Just touching the fabric and sitting by colors was fun. I also found some material that I was able to donate.
Scrap quilt are my favorite. I don't have a lot of scraps but the ones I have I separate by color. When I realize that I have any fabric that I am not going to use it goes out the door quickly, to a local church thrift store. I don't cut my fabric ahead of time until I know what I'm going to make. I end up with a lot of different size strips and strings as well as smaller squares and rectangles. So most of my scrap quilts are string quilts and improv quilts.
Thank you Pat. This will help me get more organized, and I think I will start making the 2-1/2 inch squares as leaders. I love the controlled scrappy ideas. Thank you!!
I’m a latecomer to this video! I mostly buy yardage in 1-2 yard pieces, and as I am just getting back into quilting after a long hiatus, I don’t have tons of scraps. I am going to try to commit to sewing them as I generate them to some extent using a system such as yours, Pat. But I think my variation will be to sort my cut pieces into two bins of light and dark and then within the light and dark bins separate by warm and cool plus black and white for background colors. I think the biggest problem with scrap quilts is not adequately addressing contrast, and I find that mixing all of the colors together becomes too visually chaotic. I am hopeful that managing contrast and warm and cool will result in a cohesive quilt that is more visually appealing. Only controlling for light and dark, warm and cool means I don’t have to wait as long to have enough for a “free” quilt so I won’t need so many containers to store scrap fabric. I will also keep a small box for largish crumbs sorted by light and dark, warm and cool and see if I use them. If not, I’ll let them go. Thanks for getting me to think about this before I get too far down the garden path!
I am going to teach my husband to make quilts. That way to use up the scraps that way. I have to wait until after Christmas now before start doing it again. Hopefully it’ll be cooler by then.
I’m working on a crumb quilt of all sizes of all fabrics musky brights. I was planning making down g beds. My husband loved it too much. He wants a kings size. So when I’m in slump I just do the twosies, foursies, etc. mixed sizes and all. Pretty interesting.
Love this series. I have bins and shoe boxes like you are showing. I make my own precuts and label them in bins according to size. I have every size between 1.5 in squares to 10 inch squares. I also have different strip sizes.
I just have hard time throwing any little bit away! I’m going to use your ideas on how to organize AND how to make them into a scrappy quilt. Also, I’m a controlled scrapper. I shuddered when you mentioned mixing all those fabrics together!😂
I have lots of scraps, but I realize as I have been sorting and clearing I am not a big scrappy person. I have decided to pass on my scraps to people who love to make items with scraps. I know one lady who made an amazing pinwheel quilt, 70 x 70, and the six pieces to each pinwheel were made from 1' wide scraps. Beautiful, but I will probably never make one. I will be posting a photo once I have my area finished .
A lot of really good things to consider. Great ideas on how to manage my scrapes. Thanks!!! I realize this video is three years old but it is all still very applicable 😁
I cut mine down into charm packs, layer cakes, 2.5” strips and 2.5” squares. They’re just in color order with all strips together, cakes together, etc. Anything 1 yard or more is on a board on my shelf, in order by color and labeled with size. Smaller than a yard is folded neatly in a couple shoeboxes, in color order and labeled with size. FQs are in a drawer in color order.
My scraps are in a cloth bin. I keep it next to my sewing table so I can put fabric into it, but I also find myself pulling fabrics out of it to use. I do need to figure out some organization for it though, it’s quite full.
I use fabric cutting dies to cut my scraps into 2 1/2 inch strips, 2 1/2 inch squares and 5 inch squares. I can cut up to 8 layers at once. I love making scrap quilts for charity causes.
i'm doing the same as you Pat, 2.5" squares in colour then im aiming to make runners for bedroom side tables, dining table, tv table and also a couple of hall tables and also one for my treadle sewing machine. My colour will be mostly blue
I do both kinds of quilting, BUT I’m also a crossstitcher and a crafter, so I use scraps for other things. I will admit to having an issue with throwing things away! I guess it’s the waste not want not paradigm! I do need to make some decisions about what to keep and what to get rid of-not just fabric!
Love love your videos, and especially appreciate these ideas for storing and using scraps. Currently I’m doing the perfect 5 qal and getting ready to do drive down BL.... so much fun!
Love love all the scrappy thoughts. I was saving every little piece leftover but only done a few things so only a few scrap ziplock bags so I think I’m the type that would do like you have and cut them into specific sizes then use those for a quilts. Shouldn’t take long to color coordinate those and have a couple drawers designated for scraps only. Bins don’t work in my small space so the drawers will be best.
I'm definitely going to do the 10th anniversary quilt! I love that block and would love to have a quilt. I'm starting after I do the UFO/ WIP Thursday to Sunday Challenge.
I love just winging it, not following a pattern. I get inspiration from RUclips videos and then I go and do my own thing. I'm currently obsessed with making a crumb quilt from 2020 and 2021 leftovers. I do need better organization so thanks for these tips!
I’ve accumulated 2 large bins of scraps over the past 6 years and have dreaded having to sort through them. Thank you so much for this series I now know exactly what to do with mine, I’m not a fan of scrappy, too much chaos , I am definitely an organized scrappy quilter if I do , off to start sorting and cutting.😊
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Wow!! An oldie but a goodie.....It's fun to watch some of the older videos. Love your hair like this.
One of the most useful, practical videos I've seen on this subject. Thank you!
Your's is the best advice I've come across. Knowing what kind of quilter you are and how much space you want to use were the most valuable takeaway I got from you! Thank you!
Pat I enyou making Scrappy Quilts. I cut my scraps into Squares 5", 4.5", 4,", 3.5", 3" 2.5", 2 ", 1.5" and 1" and store them to use later. in my down time I will sew them together for a project/quilt. I call it my mindless sewing. I made a purse from fabric I created using 1" Squares sewn into strips then sewn on 2.5" strips till I had a good rectangle of fabric enough for my purse.
I am a hard core scrap quilter. I love your controlled scrappy quilts. I may start on this as my "leaders and enders".
can't wait to see it!
This is the best video I’ve seen on scrap fabric organization! I love how you empower us to make our own educated decisions to determine which fabric size and storage is best for our needs.
I’m using my scraps mostly for EPP, so I’ve been hesitant to cut them down any smaller than they already are. Your video helped me to realize that I don’t have to cut anything. I can keep my scraps as is, fold them and store them neatly.
Thank you so much, Pat!
I am a controlled scrappy quilter but love planned out special fabrics type of quilter too. I have been gathering up my fabric that I bought the last several years and have much more than I thought that I had, and I have more in plastic containers on a shelf and stacked, due to that shelf falling, and more in a sideboard. However, when my parents passed away, I inherited all her fabric and sewing patterns and sewing things. I rented a very large building to store it until I can rearrange things in my house and make space. I had a cub-cab truck with a standard truck bed. I hauled two and a half loads of nothing but fabric, and that is including the cab being crammed full. Needless to say, I am enjoying your videos that are making me seriously think about it. I hope to get it all under our roof by the end of December. My building costs me almost $400 every 6 months. That is a little too much to spend for storage and not being able to see or use my precious fabric from my mom, my quilting sewing buddy.
I use my scraps to make tote bags. I line them with curtain lining. Like a carry bag. Give them away as prezzys.
I love scrappy quilts. The more scraps the better. I keep my strips in a tote and just sent half to my cousin, along with scissors and thread, who just got a machine from a yard sale. She was so excited.
I bought my Great granddaughter a sewing machine for Christmas and gave her some ssrap material and trimmings.She was 10 years old. Of course I have a lot of scraps. I am saving her. To use as she wants.
I’m a new you tube subscriber and am enjoying this series thanks Pat. For me anything less than a FQ is separated off as scrap. I used to keep my scraps in shoe boxes, that grew to a clear tote that was kept in my sewing studio closet. When I outgrew that, I went to the big box hardware store and got a plastic trash bin on wheels. I keep the bin in my garage, it’s air tight and dark so the sun can’t fade my treasure. I use the scraps for appliqué, and collage quilts which require a variety of different shades and colors. I also use scraps for small things like mug rugs and coasters and other crafty things, scrappy pot holders WHATEVER. Once a year or so, I roll the bin into my living room and dump it all on the floor. I love doing this, remembering what quilts were made with what etc. I organize it some by color and pull out things that I might want for an ongoing project. I will also pick out things that I will never use and pass them on at that time. This works for me, I have made a commitment that the big bin is the end so I won’t ever outgrow it.
thank you for joining me Dekay! I'm thrilled you have a plan that works for you, that is great!! I bet it is fun once a year to go through all your treasures. Welcome to my neighborhood!
Am started reorganizing my studio in preparation for moving to a new home! Today, I was overwhelmed with bags of scraps like partial fat quarters,small. Usable scraps, etc. So, I called our senior citizen center in town and sled what. Rafts do they do - reply was mainly quilting!!! One big shopping bag , 1 small lite box, 1 sand board for hand appliqué delivered! Stated I will have more and they were thrilled!!
I do make scrap quilts for donation. I cut into 2.5",5" & 10" squares. After watching the video I think I'll make a blue traffic jam quilt and some scraps I pass along to a church group. I have even cleaned out some of my fabric that I came across ( why did I buy that ) knowing it's not my taste . Thank you for all your videos.
You are so right in understanding how you use fabric to make quilts. Just moved into motor home full time,and hadto make choices in what keep. Lots of donations to sewing church group. Since limited space I chose not to keep most scraps. Still making quilts but not much room. It makes you sew with what have because you aren’t always near fabric stores.
My problem is not knowing what type of quilt I’ll want to make in the future.. what sizes I will need! But I think you’ve inspired me to at least cut some of my abundance into neat common sizes..I’ve been working in quilt shops for about 10 years and quilting for about 35 years... so many scraps!!! Thanks for this series!
there thousands of patterns for common sizes!
I take crumbs and make fat quarter sized pieces of fabric. Then I can cut it down to what I want when I am ready to quilt.
Yes, like you, I don't know which project I will do in the futur, and I don't want to cut my scraps. I tell myself I always need all the coupon
Very useful suggestions for organizing scraps. I am a controlled scrappy quilter. Thanks for sharing.
Well, I have been “gifted” with scraps and fabrics from friends and family who have had elderly mothers who have passed on or down sized. Saying that I have been very ruthless on choosing which fabrics I keep. So I have a lot of scraps, and then there’s my own collection! I have made some very scrappy car quilts using up those fabrics I don’t want to keep. But mostly my passion is creating “controlled” scrappy quilts, adding a few fat quarters here and there as I make the quilt I’m working on. I buy yardage for borders and backing as I go, those left overs go into my coloured coordinated boxes, ready for the next quilt. And sew another quilt cycle begins!
As long as it is working for you Allison continue on! no law says you must own another person's scraps.. they can be gifted to those that want them
Thank you, Pat, I needed this! First thing I need to do is iron my scraps. I enjoy using my scraps to make table runners and mug rugs not only for myself, but as gifts!
Thank you great information. I am reorganizing my sewing room a little at a time, I am enjoying getting things put together. I have bins for 1 and 1/2, 2 and 1/2, 3 inches, 4 and 5 and 10 inch squares. They are all put. Away.
I love doing organizing
super~
Thank you so much! You are helping me figure out what to keep. I never thought about keeping it according to what kind of quilter am I.
I love love love scrap quilts. As I make quilts I have 3 buckets near my table, one for strips less than 2 1/2 inch wide, these are for string quilts, the second bucket is for all small peices, and I give those to a friend who likes to Crumb quilt, the last bucket is for the triangles that get get cut off while snowballing corners and these make wonderful little half square triangles that I do all sorts of things with. As soon as a bucket gets full, it has to be dealt with before I can move on to the next thing. Of course I also have a small collection of the standard precut sizes, but I keep that very small also by making charity quilts that are scrappy.
sounds like you do use them, that's great!
I like making scrap quilts. There is something satisfying about cutting and sewing pieces together randomly. I love doing crumb quilt blocks. I use the pre-cut sizes from my bigger scraps. I really like your idea of the 2 1/2" squares. I'm also experimenting with scrappy backs on some of the quilts I've made.
that's great you use them!
For a beginning I am a controlled scrapper. With those left over pieces I am a hard core scrapper. When we moved into this house and I now have room for my stash. I have a stack of drawers that I have my precut sizes in. I stopped and refigured what I like to use and cut them into those sizes. I used to cut into strips only but had just three drawers one for 3 inch and a light and dark for the 2 inch. Way too messy and jumbled even for me. I even have a sweater size tote now for my crumbs and am making blocks from them. Talk about a freeing way to make a free quilt. I have learned from watching you about the small squares into quilts. Love doing that. Love your blue one you are making now. I just mix them all together, but will have to see about where I can sort into color waves. Thank You for all your ideas.
I started doing scrap management a few years ago because of the scrap guilt I was having. SewVeryEasy on RUclips has a nice video about it and I started cutting up my scraps into 3.5x2.5 inch blocks and sewing them as leader and enders like you do! Anything that is smaller than the 3.5x2.5 gets turned into my 1.5 in hexies.It adds up pretty fast. I do use ALL my different scraps in it so it is truly scrappy and I like it that way. I put them up on my design wall and move them around until I like the placement and then sew them together. I love this method. But everyone has to find what works for them. I am loving this series and all the thought that goes into managing your fabric. It shows that you work really hard to make your system work for you!
I'm trying to figure out 2.5x3.5. I understand 2.5x4.5 bricks. Can you share what you do with 2.5x3.5?
@@jerib2446 it is just a different scrap quilt - sew them in pairs and then sew one pair horizontal to one pair vertical and you have a block that can be joined together with like blocks until you have a quilt. "Sew Very Easy" has a video on her channel that explains it better but thanks so much for your interest! Happy sewing!
@@rebeccawolf3196 In the sewveryeasy video she cuts the scraps 2"x3.5".
@@jerib2446 Ooops, I have been cutting mine 2.5 - guess it wont really matter, since I have cut mine all at this measurement.
Last winter when my husband was sick I didn't want to actually seq but needed something to do so I took my huge scrap bin and cut it up into 2 1/2 inch strips. These had to be at least 21 inches long. Then I subcut the shorter lengths into 2 1/2 inch squares. I also cut 5 inch blocks. I applique and figured I could either use for applique or sew into a quilt. So far I'm making a quilt using 5 inch squares and have dug into it for applique. It took up spool much less room than before. I couldn't believe it. I now have a grocery bag of scraps again so will cut them up shortly. It really does work. I admit it was hard to throw away the fabric that wasn't these sizes but had to stop somewhere. Thanks for this series. I'm learning and organizing my fabric.
I love to cut my extra fabric into 1”, 2 “and 5” squares and then 2 ½” strips. I love scrap quilting but I want some color way or theme to it. One of the most beautiful quilts I ever made was a scrap quilt using all the bits and pieces that I had leftover from quilts I made for my grandchildren, Greens, pinks blues. I sewed all the odd pieces together no matter what the size then cut into 2 1/2 or 1 ½
strips. They were random lengths but I added white fabric between each strip and it mad the most amazing quilt.
I've only been quilting since 2016 and wasn't sure what to do with my scraps. I knew I didn't want to just throw them away, but wasn't sure how I wanted to store them or what to do with them. Thanks to your video I have an idea!
great!
Great advice! I”m a newer quilter and couldn’t quite decide how to handle scraps. this video has helped tremendously. I now know what to do. Thanks
This was great!! I love the idea of making scrap quilts and have started cutting and saving scraps several times over the years. I've recently started doing it again. Your idea of picking just one or 2 sizes to cut really makes good sense to me. Picking 1 or 2 patterns you have to use those scraps makes sense to me, too. I'd not thought of that before. I'm going to thinking about this in a new way and get rid of some of my "stuff"!! Thanks Pat!
super Sarah!!
Thank you for this excellent distillation of how to decide about and organize scraps. You are the best!
Great talk on keeping scraps. I always wondered and no one was willing to share. So now I know. I am making a paper pieced quilt and so I always feel guilty about the scraps that go to the bin that is used for dog beds.
All I've ever made so far are scrap quilts using fabric left over from other sewing projects. I have reached the point of needing to buy fabric to finish a quilt . The idea of cutting the leftovers into useful sizes sounds good to me . Thankyou for the clear thoughts about storage too.
You are welcome 💕
I love the simplicity of having one checkerboard pattern for scrap quilts, then more of my energy can be spent on important projects that are made with "new" yardage. I have been thinking about cutting down my scraps, currently stored in many bins by color, and have chosen several sizes but might have to reconsider after watching this video. Cutting only 2 1/2" squares with my Accuquilt GO! die would be a huge time saver and then I can spend more time sewing and less time organizing. Thanks, Pat!
using the die cut, having a simple size & plan, is so freeing! you just sew sew up quick things whenever you need to
Hi, this was a really good video for me! I do make scrape quilts and I am not terribly organized with my scrapes. I have been keeping my small scrapes in zip lock bags, which slide all over the place- so I really like the shoebox idea...and they are affordable. I have made some precuts from left over fabrics, but I have a tendency to not want to take the time away from sewing to make them. I am really enjoying this series and learning a lot! Thank you!
thanks!! Cut at the end of each day whatever is laying around.. don't wait for it to pile up
Pat Sloan What a good idea!! Now, just to get me trained to do that😄 Thanks
Thank you Pat for this series. You've helped me think more logically about what I have in my stash and what kinds of quilts I "really" make. Going to make up some bags of scraps by color and see if I can re-home them.
I'm so happy I've helped you think through how you actually work to have the best of the best!
I love this series. I have so enjoyed your ideas. I am a scrappy quilter and I use my scraps for string blocks and bits for bitty blocks. I am going to use your idea of cutting into 2 1/2 inch squares for the bigger scraps I have and want to keep. Love, love, loved the red quilt. Thank you for making these episodes, it is a huge help to tame my sewing room.
thank you!
I love scrap quilts. You have given me good ideas. Thank you
I watch a lot of organizational videos, and this is by far the best I’ve ever seen regarding scrap organization and And personalizing the method. Pat, this was fantastic! Thank you!
I am not a scrappy quilter. There I said it! I feel most satisfied when I can use extra fabric from a project (fat quarters & yardage) for a pieced backing and then come up with accessories for my quilt. I'll make pillow shams, pillowcases, throw pillows, table toppers, drawstring bags, bunting/ornaments. Large scraps go in a standard size project bin. Leaders/enders go in a small stack next to my machine. Those mid size scraps still need cutting down to 2.5, 5 or 10" strips. I've limited myself to a project bin since I have a small sewing room.
Hi Pat,
After watching your video I've decided to mark a template for a fat quarter size on my homemade iron board. If a piece of my fabric is larger than a fat quarter I will not cut it up. If it is smaller, I'm going to cut it into the largest size I can - ie. 10 x 10, 5 x 5 or 2 1/2 strips and store them by size because I am a scrappy quilt quilter. Thanks for finally making me see the light on how to get my mess in order for what I quilt. Looking forward to your next video.
i'm so excited for you! be sure to give me an update Lauren!
@@PatSloan Thanks Pat. So far I've emptied 7 bags of scraps!
I love the red and white 2 1/2 inch square scrappy quilt! I'm saving my scraps to make them in different color ways.
Thank you! I've started to reorganise my sewing room and you have given me so many ideas that my head's buzzing. I think I'm a scrappy quilter 'cos I'll use any fabric as it comes out of the stash as long as it doesn't clash with the one next to it. But Mount Scrapmore does need attention, getting far too tall and I shall soon need crampons and a rope to get to the far side of it!
I am a total, hard core scrap quilter. My favourite type of quilting. I love your suggestion for storage and cutting up the scraps. thank you very much
I love to make scrap quilts. My scraps are in 2 plastic bags and that is the limit. There are
no other spots to keep scraps in my house. l I use leftover dryer sheets. They are already used
and they need a small amount of pressing. The size is 6x9 or a little more. I place longer strips on them corner to corner and add pieces as a go. They can be any color unless I decide on a certain fabric for the center strip. They really looks nice when you put them together. They rest is must leftovers cut in strips less than 2 1/2 wide. They are used in other blocks
After you add scraps then trim them to fit 6x9. The quilt is 49 blocks and I use 1 1/2 inch
black sashing. I do buy that in a roll. What a saver that is. I add a wide border of something
that looks nice and then I quilt it. This really takes care of my scraps for me. I have made
many and plan to continue the same process. The only other idea I use in cutting strips into jelly rolls and make rounds bundles until I think it is big enough and then do the jelly roll race
to put them together. That is fun too. I don't worry much about colors and just use any scrap I have. Well enough for today. Love the idea.s Patty
Your comment on knowing what kind of quilter you aware is so on target. Yes, I use the scraps, but it is controlled scrappy quilts. The eye needs a place to rest, so at times I end up using a color way from my stash/scraps and then buying background fabrics. Squares don’t really appeal to me, so I have been using my scraps in log cabin quilts. The scrap bin is next on my list to sort out. Getting that organized would be nice.
perfect plan!
Thank you for your advice... I've been keeping all my scraps so that I had a good stash to start making scrap quilts. My large bin is now going to be sorted into smaller containers by color! I'm a little bit excited out that right now🤗😜❤
Thank you so much for your informative videos on sorting fabric. You've touched on so many different aspects that makes me think of what is best for me and my space. I've been organizing my sewing space and applying many of these ideas as I go. It's been so much easier using some solid guidelines. Thanks again!
I have a couple of sizes of patriotic scraps I save for log cabins. The rest go to a quilter who loves scraps. I fill a priority box and she pays the shipping. I love hearing her excitement when she gets the box.
So I found a system for me - yardage and anything fat quarter or yardage is sorted by color and put on my shelves. I cut scraps into 10 and 5 inch squares. I also cut “older yardage” that I’m not so excited about into 2.5 inch strips. What’s left goes into gallon sized baggies by color - one per color, which I go to all the time. My homemade precuts go into shoeboxes like you have. Thinking of converting my scraps to 2.5 inch squares based on your ideas!
that is awesome you found a plan!
I love it all from Scrappy to matchy, matchy, organized scrappy, all of it. 🌷
Thank you so much. I'm donating my scraps . This video has helped me get real with my space and fabrics
Thank you Pat. I put my 2 1/2 squares in popcorn tins. But I will take your advice. I want to make the traffic jam on the 1st. Happy New Year's 🎊
Pat, thanks for all the inspiration! I am currently working on a "controlled" 1930's repro scrap quilt. I saw one of your videos some time ago when you explained how to make a bonus quilt. In the past year I have been using that technique with my repro one patch quilt. I also used it while making memory quilts for other folks. I made the main memory quilt they requested and then was able to surprise them with small quilts made from the scraps of their memory quilts. When one of my dear nephews was expecting his first child, I was able to go through my scraps and find a unique piece of picture fabric for every hexagon and half hexi in the I Spy quilt I made for them. That may have been the most fun I've had in making a quilt so far. Any scrap will do!
Great tips. I like to cut my scraps into squares... 5", 3", 2.5", 2" and 1.5" is the smallest. I also keep left over 2.5 strips. I keep them in a shoe box and always have some to sew as I'm piecing other blocks.
Great discussion today (and always!) that made me think about my fabric. I think I am now fully committed to precuts, but I still have a great deal of scraps. I cut some down to 2.5 or 3.5 squares, but the larger pieces of scrap fabric I cut into large squares, along with a similarly sized light fabric, and use Triangles on a Roll or Moda Layer Cake Recipes to sew them together. I then set them aside to cut when I have time. I figure I'll have about a million HSTs at some point and then I can make a scrappy quilt!
A plan helps so many of us.. I'm curious. what do you use a 3.5" square for?
Great ideas. I learned a lot. Thank you I’m going to pass this on to my quilting group so they can organize their scraps. I will also tell them about your RUclips video.
Thank you so much for all the suggestions. I find it difficult to part with certain fabrics and cutting them to usable sizes is a great idea!
I have found this video very helpful! I have watched it several times. I did get into the scrappy quilt idea this year. I cut 2 1/2", 5", 1 1/2"(for a project) and crumb.
Glad it was helpful!
Great video Pat! This one gave me a lot of food for thought. I realized how much space all those little scraps are taking up and honestly I’m more of the Controlled quilter. I have marked off time this Friday to go through and make my shoebox cuts then donate what I won’t use. Thank you for VERY USEFUL information!
such great advice! I think I'm a controlled scrappy quilter. currently my Leader & Ender project is blue & white 2.5" squares. I will be taking a new look on how to store all the scrappy bits better. thanks for sharing 👍
I’ve always been drawn to scrappy quilts. Im also a committed environmentalist and textile recycler.
I’d say I’m a composite scrap quilter. I’m hardcore when it comes to scrappy quilts to use very small or very thin or odd shaped pieces, including selvedge cut offs.
I mix anything and everything to QAYG onto a 12.5” square base of recycled textile. I cut a pentagon shape for the middle, and keep spiralling out till the base square is covered. I piece smaller bits to make longer strips as the spiralling edges get longer. These make up into baby floor quilts, kids floor play quilts, or dog quilts.
The other hardcore scrap quilt I make is 2” squares, pieced into 16 patches and sashed. They are good doll quilts as well as the previously mentioned uses. And I am not fussy about prints, I just make sure I like the colour spread in each of the blocks
And then I’m also a controlled scrap quilter where there is rhyme and reason. Usually for these quilts I piece precuts from a collection, or leftover scraps from favourite collections, into blocks for a set quilt pattern.
I love the ethic of using every scrap. If it’s too small to piece then I use it as floor cushion or dog bed stuffing. If it’s any worn textile, I’ll find a way to use it. It give me joy
Smallish stackable plastic boxes with lids. As i cut & sew a particular quilt, the leftover fabric is assigned a place, usually into precut 2.5" strips & squares for later use. By organising scraps as i go, there is less mess in my sewing corner, and its easy to locate the sizes i need for a genuine scrap quilt.
I luv my perfect 5 ruler and my perfect 10 ruler by creative grids to help make ny own layer cakes and charm packs, it has really helped condense and group. I used to go by color. Ugh too many fruit crates full. I make a Ton Of charity quilts. I also call them free quilts. I have little helpers who will finish a quilt top I’ve become too busy to git quilted. I basically give them a cut up quilt in a box, like a kit. I keep all my applique scraps by color still. Thank you Pat this is very very helpful
A few years back I cut a lot of my scraps into various sized squares 4" and less and neatly put them in containers but never did anything with them Do like your idea of all the squares in one colour paired with an alternate colourway I also love hexagon quilts so have also have a container of hexagons that would be lovely with a similar idea
time to sew up those scraps or move them on :)
Love your ideas, Pat. I have an AccuQuilt and I'm cutting my scraps into 2 1/2" and 5" squares. These work well for me. I will take a few minutes each day and cut up some scraps. It helps to keep it under control. Eventually, I will make one of your Traffic Jam or Oh My Stars. Thanks for the great tips!
some each day is a great plan Karen!
Such good advice. I’m really going to have a hard think about what patterns I’m going to use in the future. I’m new to all this and have just been cutting the largest square I can from a scrap but will probably end up with too many random squares. Now I can be more focused. 👍👍
I'll be moving my sewing room to the smallest room in the house over the next few months. Great ideas to control the chaos. Might as well move rooms organized!!
I am one of those pretty hard core scrapper. I do make lots of others, too. I do pre-cutting, but sometimes get behind on the cutting. I am trying to be better at the organizing, though. Thanks for the inspiration.
thanks for joining me Molly!
I use scraps for making the blocks in your Splendid Sampler quilts. I love those books. Thanks
I love this idea. I have thought about how i sew. Im a beginner quilter but i dabble in home decor and applique also. I have chose to order my scraps into, larger than 10 inch square, larger than 5 inch sq, larger than 2 1/2 inch sq and smaller than 2 1/2 inch sq. This means that if i was looking for a particular size for a applique project or for pouch, i know where to look first before i check my fqs. It suits me at the moment and i can manage it easily.
Great way to think about scraps. I found out I’m a controlled scrap quilter. Can’t wait to get my scraps organized!
I sort my scraps as I cut fabrics for projects into two boxes. One for pieces and threads for stuffing projects and one for everything else. When box gets full, I take a day and pull out crumbs to make crumb blocks and then pull out wonky strips for block making or mug rugs, pot holders, placemats etc. I put these in separate shoe boxes(these make great Christmas gifts). The bigger scraps, I will cut into the largest squares or strips I can.I use a canned food shallow box near my sewing machine and work in sewing them together. Surprising what you can get done in 15-20 minutes a session. Before cutting the squares, I do pull out all the crumbs(while watching TV in the evening) from the second bin. I am blessed to have half of the basement to store everything. I do use a lot of shoe boxes. I sort more from size than color. I do like your idea of keeping the whites separate because I think whites make the other colors pop out. I use about 12 bins in all and one or 2 working shallow canned good boxes.
Some great points here. I tend to make in-the-hoop projects, so I don’t want to cut down my scraps. I also have limited storage room, so lots of different boxes for different colours wouldn’t suit. I haven’t been sewing that long, so I only had one large tub of scraps, so I sorted them, pressed them, and popped them into zip lock bags - one bag for each design or colour. I cut some light card to fit the bags so they wouldn’t slip down if I stored them standing up. I then clamped the bags together in colour groups with fold over clips and used hubby’s white paint marker to write the colour on the top of the clips. They now stand up and can be filed in the same way as fat quarters. They take up about half the space they used to before.👍
I have a of scraps that I need to do something with. I just started organizing my sewing room. Your videos are helping me to get back to my quilting. Just touching the fabric and sitting by colors was fun. I also found some material that I was able to donate.
I'm so happy for you!
Scrap quilt are my favorite. I don't have a lot of scraps but the ones I have I separate by color. When I realize that I have any fabric that I am not going to use it goes out the door quickly, to a local church thrift store. I don't cut my fabric ahead of time until I know what I'm going to make. I end up with a lot of different size strips and strings as well as smaller squares and rectangles. So most of my scrap quilts are string quilts and improv quilts.
Thank you Pat. This will help me get more organized, and I think I will start making the 2-1/2 inch squares as leaders. I love the controlled scrappy ideas. Thank you!!
I’m a latecomer to this video! I mostly buy yardage in 1-2 yard pieces, and as I am just getting back into quilting after a long hiatus, I don’t have tons of scraps. I am going to try to commit to sewing them as I generate them to some extent using a system such as yours, Pat. But I think my variation will be to sort my cut pieces into two bins of light and dark and then within the light and dark bins separate by warm and cool plus black and white for background colors. I think the biggest problem with scrap quilts is not adequately addressing contrast, and I find that mixing all of the colors together becomes too visually chaotic. I am hopeful that managing contrast and warm and cool will result in a cohesive quilt that is more visually appealing. Only controlling for light and dark, warm and cool means I don’t have to wait as long to have enough for a “free” quilt so I won’t need so many containers to store scrap fabric. I will also keep a small box for largish crumbs sorted by light and dark, warm and cool and see if I use them. If not, I’ll let them go. Thanks for getting me to think about this before I get too far down the garden path!
I am going to teach my husband to make quilts. That way to use up the scraps that way. I have to wait until after Christmas now before start doing it again. Hopefully it’ll be cooler by then.
Good job of explaining scrap users system, Pat.🥰
thank you!
I’m working on a crumb quilt of all sizes of all fabrics musky brights. I was planning making down g beds. My husband loved it too much. He wants a kings size. So when I’m in slump I just do the twosies, foursies, etc. mixed sizes and all. Pretty interesting.
I am so thrilled to see the "free" quilt ideas! This is brilliant! So far I organize scraps by fat quarter, charm and 2.5 and I have 3 baskets.
Love this series. I have bins and shoe boxes like you are showing. I make my own precuts and label them in bins according to size. I have every size between 1.5 in squares to 10 inch squares. I also have different strip sizes.
I just have hard time throwing any little bit away! I’m going to use your ideas on how to organize AND how to make them into a scrappy quilt. Also, I’m a controlled scrapper. I shuddered when you mentioned mixing all those fabrics together!😂
Don't shudder. Check out what Bonnie Hunter does. You'll see scraps in a whole new light. quiltville.blogspot.com/
I have lots of scraps, but I realize as I have been sorting and clearing I am not a big scrappy person. I have decided to pass on my scraps to people who love to make items with scraps. I know one lady who made an amazing pinwheel quilt, 70 x 70, and the six pieces to each pinwheel were made from 1' wide scraps. Beautiful, but I will probably never make one. I will be posting a photo once I have my area finished .
A lot of really good things to consider. Great ideas on how to manage my scrapes. Thanks!!! I realize this video is three years old but it is all still very applicable 😁
I cut mine down into charm packs, layer cakes, 2.5” strips and 2.5” squares. They’re just in color order with all strips together, cakes together, etc. Anything 1 yard or more is on a board on my shelf, in order by color and labeled with size. Smaller than a yard is folded neatly in a couple shoeboxes, in color order and labeled with size. FQs are in a drawer in color order.
sounds great!!
My scraps are in a cloth bin. I keep it next to my sewing table so I can put fabric into it, but I also find myself pulling fabrics out of it to use. I do need to figure out some organization for it though, it’s quite full.
I use fabric cutting dies to cut my scraps into 2 1/2 inch strips, 2 1/2 inch squares and 5 inch squares. I can cut up to 8 layers at once. I love making scrap quilts for charity causes.
i'm doing the same as you Pat, 2.5" squares in colour then im aiming to make runners for bedroom side tables, dining table, tv table and also a couple of hall tables and also one for my treadle sewing machine. My colour will be mostly blue
super!
Thank you. I do both types of scrap quilts appliqué, strips and different size squares. Thank you for the challenge
I do both kinds of quilting, BUT I’m also a crossstitcher and a crafter, so I use scraps for other things. I will admit to having an issue with throwing things away! I guess it’s the waste not want not paradigm! I do need to make some decisions about what to keep and what to get rid of-not just fabric!
Love love your videos, and especially appreciate these ideas for storing and using scraps. Currently I’m doing the perfect 5 qal and getting ready to do drive down BL.... so much fun!
awesome Barbara!
Love love all the scrappy thoughts. I was saving every little piece leftover but only done a few things so only a few scrap ziplock bags so I think I’m the type that would do like you have and cut them into specific sizes then use those for a quilts. Shouldn’t take long to color coordinate those and have a couple drawers designated for scraps only. Bins don’t work in my small space so the drawers will be best.
I really like your suggestions for what to do with scraps.
I'm definitely going to do the 10th anniversary quilt! I love that block and would love to have a quilt. I'm starting after I do the UFO/ WIP Thursday to Sunday Challenge.
I love just winging it, not following a pattern. I get inspiration from RUclips videos and then I go and do my own thing. I'm currently obsessed with making a crumb quilt from 2020 and 2021 leftovers. I do need better organization so thanks for these tips!
I adore scraps and scrappy quilts. They’re the only type of quilts I make.
I’ve accumulated 2 large bins of scraps over the past 6 years and have dreaded having to sort through them. Thank you so much for this series I now know exactly what to do with mine, I’m not a fan of scrappy, too much chaos , I am definitely an organized scrappy quilter if I do , off to start sorting and cutting.😊
give me a status on it, you'll be so much happier!
I’m a true scrappy person. I love it all together and have all my scraps sorted
Just found you on RUclips. I am eagerly awaiting your next video on sorting scraps. I love the way you think about scraps.
it's out now Melissa!