TeresaA

So I invariably find myself wanting to make scrappy quilts where I only need a small chunk each of a whole bunch of different fabrics. The latest is an evening star quilt, where I'm making 2-3 sizes of stars, no more than 3 stars from each fabric.

After doing a few projects via cutting strips out of each fabric for each size of triangle and square I need -- or maybe worse! -- taking a square chunk out of each fabric to cut my pieces, I've come to the conclusion that I should cut a fat 6" strip of each fabric, then cut the few squares and triangles I need for a project out of that strip. That means the original yardage isn't sliced into a billion different sizes of strips where Murphy's Law requires that few or none seem to be the right size for the projects I want to work on in the future. Instead, I have a fat 6" strip of each fabric that can be sliced a little now for my project and sliced some more later to the right size for future projects. Six inches seems to be a friendly width for my projects, although it means I'll have a little waste sometimes and the fat strip won't be right sometimes. Maybe it's best of the worlds though, while keeping the original yardage from getting slices to pieces?

I think this is the best strategy, but I always doubt myself.

So I'm wondering. What strategies have you all come up with for rotary cutting for scrappy quilts from new fabrics where you don't need much of each fabric, need a whole lot of different fabrics, but want to keep the original fabric yardage intact as much as possible to enable future use?

KalamaQuilts

mine is very similar to Bonnie Hunter's http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2005/...rs-system.html

she and I both use smaller pieces, if you like quilting with larger pieces, just double her size.
The key is cutting scraps into the sizes you use most.
As they appear

TeresaA

I like her ideas for scraps. But the reason for my 6" strips is to minimize the amounts of scraps that I actually have in the first place. The triangles and squares that I cut from my 6" strips are in the range of 2-4 inches, typically no more.

What happens when I cut custom strips to make my scrappy (but not from scraps) quilts is that I will end up with 60 or 70 strips with only about a third whacked off! And the strips are too custom for many of the other projects I want to do so they sit in a box while I cut new strips for new projects. This is why I cut the 6 inch strip. It gives me workspace for cutting smaller things now and then other smaller things of a different size later, without locking myself into a size.

But I'm not sure if I have found the best way to do this, which is why I'm asking to see if there's an even better way. I wish Bonnie Hunter were here. Maybe she has a plan ;-). I've searched her web site and haven't found anything yet.

jclinganrey

I use Bonnie Hunter's system too. Works well for me.

TeresaA

Here's what I'm talking about. Remember that I'm only going to make 2-3 blocks out of each (non-background) fabric.

For this block, I'd need to cut 2 sizes of strips. I'd also need to cut 2 sizes of strips for the smaller size of this that I want to make. Instead, I cut a 6 incher and slice and dice it in various ways for the 2 blocks. Then I can save the rest as a non-custom chunk to use in other projects.


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My goal is to be efficient, to minimize the scrap strips I have from the project and to avoid slicing too much into the original fabric, so that I lock myself into certain sized strips if I want to use the fabric for future projects.

Is there a better way?
Is 6" a good size or is there a size that is better?

I'm asking about scrap minimization rather than scrap organization. ;-).

Those are my questions.

donac

I cut extra fabric into strips. 2 1/2,. 3 1/2 up to 6 1/2. I find that I can use these for whatever I need. I also don't have a lot of boxes with different sized squares and triangles.

PaperPrincess

I have also done this (cut a strip first). A while ago I started buying 1 1/4 yards of fabric. rather than just a yard. This way, I can cut a strip or two off and still have a whole yard for a specific project.

bearisgray

This makes sense to me.

You could also read your pattern carefully and pencil the amount needed on the piece of yardage and cut just that smount off.

I also like to keep my yardage as big and neat on both ends as possibl.

TeresaA

I have a pretty good idea about how much I'll need, but I always debate about how to get there. But I typically use about a 10x10 or less of each fabric when I make a scrap quilt. 10x10 is such a weird piece to take off an end of a yard and makes the rest of the fabric a pain, so 6" strip it probably is!

I was watching a You Tube video about what to do with the extra from a fat quarter and the suggestion was to cut it up. WHAT! Personally, I think these stash specialists are in cahoots with the fabric manufacturers. Let's get these quilters to cut up all their fabric. Then they'll need different sizes than the pieces they've cut and will always have to buy new! :::twists curly moustache:::. The very idea of spending time cutting up chunks that may never be used is probably not the greatest use of time, for me anyway. I'd definitely rather be sewing and figure out how to use the extra bits when I'm ready to use that fabric in another quilt.

Thank you all.

ckcowl

I don't cut into yardage for scrappy quilts, I use scraps. So, what ever piece I have large enough to cut a shape out of is what I use. I guess if cutting 6" strips works for you that is great.
When my scrap bins are over flowing I sometimes spend an afternoon cutting some into ( usable) sizes/ shapes-- kind of following Bonnie Hunter's scrap method. I cut into sizes I tend to use most often. 3", 4", 6" squares, strips 1 1/2", 2", 2 1/2" wide mostly. Anything larger is generally folded & on the fabric shelves, not considered ( scraps).