SLHughes

I have another fabric questions. I have 3 big garbage bags full of clothing that I was going to give away. Instead I thought that I would take the clothing and cut them in blocks for quilting. What size should I cut the blocks in? What is the most used size?

Thanks in advance,

mommamac

I would make sure the clothes are 100% cotton before I did any cutting or you'll end up with 3 bags of cut up scraps!

A charm pack is usually 40- 5 inch squares so an 8 x 5 square quilt would finish-336" x 22.5". Layer cakes are 40- 10" squares.
I'd pick one of these sizes since many patterns are using them now.

Sadiemae

I agree, I would cut 10" squares first, then I would cut 5" squares out of the scraps. You could also cut 2 1/2" strips.

Edit: I just woke up and can't get my mind and my fingers working together. LOL

featherweight

Dumb question!!! What would I do with the 10" circles???

littlehud

I think they meant squares.

Maride

I would say, since you don't know what you will be doing with them, cut them the biggest possible. Just get rid of the parts that you know you will not be using, such as seams and pockets (and even those you could use in the future). If you limit yourself to a certain size and find out later that you need just a two inches square but the fabric is not available because you threw away a sleeve, you may end up pulling your hair later. Don't ask me how I know. I say save the biggest possible to expand your future possibilities but also save the little ones for emergencies. You could use baggies to save all the pieces of the same color together.

Vanuatu Jill

I agree-I never could figure why people always cut a certain size BEFORE knowing what they will use them for! I wouldn't limit myself that way. I save EVERY scrap because I do a fair bit of applique on my quilts and sort them by color and save them in clear plastic stacking boxes. It won't save time by pre-cutting and you might just find that perfect print you cut in 3" squares is just too small for what you want if for now!

Vanuatu Jill

I also cut all the buttons off and save them-I have a hugh box of buttons and you never know when you might need one-and the decorative ones you might use for a quilt or craft embellishment. Just last night my son needed a button sewn on a pair of pants and I found one just the right color and size in my box! To save time, I have clear plastic zip lock bags to keep the plain white or black buttons separate.

featherweight

I don't cut any of my left overs. I may need for something someday but I sure don't know today what size that may be. Doesn't take any more room to save it as one piece rather than baggies full of precut ones.

Scissor Queen

I would ask myself several questions first. Is it going to be more useful to me as cut up fabrics or will the clothing be more useful to somebody as clothes? If I'm going to spend the time cutting it up will I actually use it?