At what size is a scrap too small to keep?
#13
Power Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 17,858
Find yourself a pattern ... or several, that you want to do as a scrappy project.
Then make your own precuts from those scraps, sized according to the pattern.
Then allow yourself to turf the remaining trimmings!!
I started with one pattern, that needed 1-1/2", 2" and 3-1/2" squares.
Then I tackled a large pile of trimmings that had been building. To me, they were just too big to turf. Yes, I had the classic mindset of waste not, want not, but never did anything with them. So far, all I am doing is making the precuts, with no sorting as to colours, etc. If I have a particularly large scrap, I will cut it into 5" squares. Once cut, I neatly pile into see-thru plastic boxes, a separate box for each size.
When I decide which pattern (now have four possibilities), I am going to work on, then I'll sort according to the colour scheme I want. Meanwhile, I'll just let the inventory build!
The best thing ..... the messy scrappy trimmings pile has disappeared, and my sewing room is looking much tidier already. Now, as I have trimmings, I immediately cut them into the precuts.
Then make your own precuts from those scraps, sized according to the pattern.
Then allow yourself to turf the remaining trimmings!!
I started with one pattern, that needed 1-1/2", 2" and 3-1/2" squares.
Then I tackled a large pile of trimmings that had been building. To me, they were just too big to turf. Yes, I had the classic mindset of waste not, want not, but never did anything with them. So far, all I am doing is making the precuts, with no sorting as to colours, etc. If I have a particularly large scrap, I will cut it into 5" squares. Once cut, I neatly pile into see-thru plastic boxes, a separate box for each size.
When I decide which pattern (now have four possibilities), I am going to work on, then I'll sort according to the colour scheme I want. Meanwhile, I'll just let the inventory build!
The best thing ..... the messy scrappy trimmings pile has disappeared, and my sewing room is looking much tidier already. Now, as I have trimmings, I immediately cut them into the precuts.
Last edited by QuiltE; 07-09-2021 at 04:26 PM.
#14
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 41,548
I don’t think I will live long enough to use all my stash so I have been tossing anything smaller then 2-3 inches. My scrap bin is getting pretty full again and Bonnie Hunter’s new Bitcoin pattern may be in my future.
#18
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 3,334
Your comments have been so helpful and I've gotten a couple of ideas about how to store all these scraps that I have. I was doing some applique last night and used a piece less than 1" square to sew on a small circle 1/4" in size. So I guess I still need very little pieces of fabric for some things.
But, storing small things by color does seem to be the best idea. And, I do agree with whoever said anything smaller than a FQ is a scrap, haha. I am cutting a lot of my scrap fabric 2" x 3 1/2" for a scrappy quilt I've fallen in love with. But if I cut all my scraps that size, I'll have many quilts to make.
But, storing small things by color does seem to be the best idea. And, I do agree with whoever said anything smaller than a FQ is a scrap, haha. I am cutting a lot of my scrap fabric 2" x 3 1/2" for a scrappy quilt I've fallen in love with. But if I cut all my scraps that size, I'll have many quilts to make.
#19
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 12,861
My scrap savings has really nothing to do with size, it has to do with usage. I will save some pretty small pieces if they will be a perfect eye- or flower center or whatever. On the other hand if I have a fabric I doubt I will ever use it might be fairly big- I will not save it. I only save what I will use. There are plenty of people out there who love receiving my scraps so I pass them on when I have a bag full that I know I won’t use. I never just throw them away- I give them away.
#20
Power Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 17,858
So it would give you a few options, beyond that first pattern!