Scrap Defination

What do you define as a scrap that you put into your scrap bin?

I just watched a Bonnie Hunter video where she says that she cuts her scraps into strips sized like she knows she will use in the future - 2.5, 2, 1.5, etc.

My scraps are odd shaped pieces that I think are big enough to be sewn into something like a crazy quilt. If I have enough fabric left over big enough to cut strips, it is put on my foam board for future use. I may not want to cut it into strips in the future. Maybe I want bigger squares from it.

Do you cut good size leftovers into strips? What do you define as a scrap?

As a side, I did see a video where a lady took her like-colored scraps and sewed them together into a "fabric" that she could then cut up for a quilt block. Her quilt was beautiful.

I have scraps as well. Some, that are like colors, I've put into a small shoe box or something like it. Here of late, I've used the little bags that are like gift bags from the quilt shop. I have no idea what I will do with them, but I guess I will cross that bridge when it's time.

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Originally Posted by Sew Perfect

I have scraps as well. Some, that are like colors, I've put into a small shoe box or something like it. Here of late, I've used the little bags that are like gift bags from the quilt shop. I have no idea what I will do with them, but I guess I will cross that bridge when it's time.

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What size are your scraps? Are they odd shapes or small shapes? Or are they strips?

Joyce, I have done it all with scraps. I have them in strips, squares from 2.5 up to 5 inch and have done a few layer cake pieces from shirts and skirts as well.
I've also sewn strips to make my own fabric for handbags, blocks and sashing.borders. It all depends on how much you love the scrappy look, how badly you want to save scraps, space and knowing when to purge. I just recently began getting rid of some of the smallest scraps I had been hoarding for why Uncle Pete only knows! It is so much fun for me to make my own "fabric". Sometimes when I go in a thrift looking for shirts, etc, I look specifically for a certain shade to cut into strips or blocks.
Another book you may be interested in checking out at the library on scrappy quilting is: Cut the Scraps- here is a link to amazon so you can see what it looks like. The author has her own method and it has merit as well.

http://www.amazon.com/ScrapTherapy-C...quilting+books

I wrap 1+ yards on a board. I have a bin (going to need a larger one) for larger scraps that can be cut for other projects. Then I have a set of plastic drawers where I keep the small and/or odd shaped scraps.

I'm still working on a spiderweb quilt with all those little scraps. I will look at the larger ones for pot holders, mug rugs, practice sandwiches etc.

I guess, I should have mentioned that . I have made a jelly roll out of scraps and 2.5 inch squares to go with those. They are put into a box. Then there are others that are in strips, like if it's the end of my cuts, I will leave them as strips. I've started saving my selvedge too, because I thought I've make a bag or something out of those. Then there are the odd shapes...yes, I have lots of those that are tossed into a bag.

I guess the answer to your question is I have all of the above, but I've organized them in a way that I can tell what is what.

I consider anything less than 1/2 yd scrap. I save anything that is bigger than 2". Was just thinking last night about sewing scraps to make one big piece.

- I have two type of scrap bins -- one for those pieces I really can't do anything with -- but use them for animal bedding for my VETs office -- then there is a bin for scraps that are sewable for the crappy . . ooops I mean scrappy quilt . . when I have nothing else to do . . then I sew the scrapable pieces into 7" squares and put in a ziplock

then there are times I pull loooong non-sewable pieces out for a tie/bow around a package or a jar ; )

Im just starting out but some of my scraps I save diff sizes and shapes..Some I feel are way to small and those go in the trash...

I keep EVERYTHING. No I'm not a hoarder, I keep those cardboard squares from charm packs along with the ribbon too, I keep the bags that come from the quilt shops (for future shipping), I use the cardboard for making templates. I save every bit of ribbon for small projects like pin cushions. I save all scraps. I separate them by color in those big, clear plastic jars that animal crackers etc come in. I don't precut my scraps because I may want to use the size it was before I cut it. I even save those 1/2" pieces because you never know when one of you sisters from the forum are looking for tiny pieces or I can use them for stuffing. I may save all these things but I have them organized so my room doesn't look too sloppy. I'm not a house keeper, I'm a quilter. At least that's what I tell dh lol.

:icon_attention: I would just like to interrupt here & say.....save your scraps! I mean the dinky ones. I will pay the postage if you will send them to me! I collect ALL scraps. none too small :icon_noob: I know... I'm a little over the top...ok then...I'm WAY over the top with this, but I love using bitty pieces of fabric, thread & yarn leftovers, batting scraps ~ all that kinda stuff for ....STUFFING. (I stuff a large assortment of things....I may have even stuffed my hubby....not sure... :icon_hihi:)
if you wanta save them for me, just let me know. I'll pm you my addy.

I keep plain colours in a separate bag for future applique projects - might add some to my next tote!

I don't keep anything smaller than 2 1/2 inches.....leftovers from fat quarters get cut up into either charms (if large enough) or 2 1/2 in strips or squares...if larger I make layer cake blocks..and then down from there.....all my leftover batting that is too small for another project goes with those pieces and are then made to stuff cat pillows for the local humane society!

I keep all fabric scraps. The little half triangles you get from making a snowball block are put in a separate bag for my kids. I am hoping to collect enough of them to teach them to do mosaic designs. The rest go in a wicker laundry basket and stay there until I need them. Only the cuttings go in the basket. Anything else stays with the original. I don't save selvages, don't know why I just don't.

I LOVE reading the forums here! I have a big smile on my face and it feels so good!

I'm just a tiny bit OCD - I too save the MSQ cardboard and plastic. I use them as templates, or when I'm done with a top I'll nab one and write the measurements on the cardboard to keep with the top for when it's ready to add the back on.

I save those ribbons too and tied several together to wrap my finished quilts to give as presents. After finishing Bonnie Hunter's Easy Street Mystery Quilt I have 3 bags of scraps that are so small that won't take a stitch! Those I'm going to put into animals pads for the shelter.

I was sorting through one of the plastic tubs tonight (in an attempt to make a scrappy Mug Rug) but I didn't like the look of it. Guess I like more organized looking items - err except, while I type this I'll admit I also saved those 45 degree angle snips from my latest Jelly Roll top and have them on my table with a Dryer sheet "thinking" do I really, REALLY want to go and sew those???

I don't see cutting scraps into smaller scraps because what if I want them to become binding or ?? Guess I'm not an organized quilter yet. My larger fabrics are on bolts in shelves if they are big enough, or on cardboard fat quarter sleeves if not, the rest just seems to get dumped into large plastic tubs until I decided if I want to go that small or not.

I was saving all my selvedges, but after tonight maybe they'll just get added to my collection of Animal softy group.

My next project I want BIG, HUGE squares or triangles -- I think I've had enough after the 1500+ pieces cut and pieced for that Easy Street quilt hahaha I'm just on overload perhaps.

Good question! Scraps

;-Debbie

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Originally Posted by Donna F

I keep EVERYTHING. No I'm not a hoarder, I keep those cardboard squares from charm packs along with the ribbon too, I keep the bags that come from the quilt shops (for future shipping), I use the cardboard for making templates. I save every bit of ribbon for small projects like pin cushions. I save all scraps. I separate them by color in those big, clear plastic jars that animal crackers etc come in. I don't precut my scraps because I may want to use the size it was before I cut it. I even save those 1/2" pieces because you never know when one of you sisters from the forum are looking for tiny pieces or I can use them for stuffing. I may save all these things but I have them organized so my room doesn't look too sloppy. I'm not a house keeper, I'm a quilter. At least that's what I tell dh lol.

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Oooo! I'm with you Donna. Can't bear to throw any scraps out. Look at very small pieces and wonder how they could be used. Those scraps have cost money too and can be used in something ..... just never know when the day will come and there's just the piece I wanted!!!!! I must admit tho' they my scraps are only organised into colour - not widths or lengths - but that method seems to work too.

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Originally Posted by jingleme

:icon_attention: I would just like to interrupt here & say.....save your scraps! I mean the dinky ones. I will pay the postage if you will send them to me! I collect ALL scraps. none too small :icon_noob: I know... I'm a little over the top...ok then...I'm WAY over the top with this, but I love using bitty pieces of fabric, thread & yarn leftovers, batting scraps ~ all that kinda stuff for ....STUFFING. (I stuff a large assortment of things....I may have even stuffed my hubby....not sure... :icon_hihi:)
if you wanta save them for me, just let me know. I'll pm you my addy.

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:icon_hihi::icon_hihi: got to say LMAO!! Thank you for giving me my first big laugh today hahaha STuffed your husband *oh don't get me started*

:-Debbie

On my first quilts I tossed all my scraps. But then I read Bonnie Hunter on quiltville.com and decided to start saving my scraps. So anything less than 1 inch gets tossed, but I'm saving all the others 1" or bigger. I have them all in a bag right now, when I get a lot more I will set up some sort of scrap bin system to organize it all.

I get such great ideas from ya all. I hate throwing away anything that cost me "good" money. (that's the kind that is hard to come by and rarely sticks around) I had not thought of using scraps for stuffing... and I do like making animal padding for the local shelters. So I will have to find a neat little container for my scrap saving ways...

I generally have 3 boxes for scraps. One where I have Squares, One for Strips, One for Odd shaped but too big to throw away. I seldom trim or cut to size any scrap til I actually use it.
I also pick up cotton shirts, skirts, bed clothes and cut the left overs into 2.5 strips for future use. These are mostly used in the Animal Shelter pads I make.

Great thread.....

This is a great question. I'm enjoying the replies too.
I'd read about Bonnie Hunter's method of cutting scraps into strips but I can't seem to do it. Only the last few years, have I bought quilter's cottons so I tend to treasure those. The selvages I keep in a jar as I've made a mug rug with them and want to do more. At this point, I'm keeping designer lines all in separate bins, with baggies of any scraps left over. Bits that are less than 2" go to my 4 year old daughter's bushel basket of scraps! She loves playing with them.

When I started, I saved everything! Now I try and limit to what I think I'll use at some point. Have made several pot holders using the 'string, quilt as you go method', on a piece of muslin, as well as blocks. I lay the strips diagonally so to use up the smaller pieces. Guess you can say that scraps are whatever the quilter decides they are!!!
Cynthia

I would agree with Blondie on that book suggestion, but that being said.....I started to do that with my scraps then stopped. I now have various sized squares cut and stacked, but also have lots of odd sized scraps. After trying to do several scrappy projects and finding just the right color or print of fabric and then finding that I had cut it too small to use for that block.....I decided to stop cutting those odd scraps up till I knew what I was going to use them for. I don't do much with strips, so I wouldn't think to cut scraps that way....for me. I have 12 plastic totes (large shoebox size) that are labeled with colored tags. When I have scraps (and I stop at 1 " squares or more) then I toss them into......ok...cram them into the box by color. Now when I need a small piece for applique or quilt blocks, I look in my scraps boxes first, before cutting into larger fabric pieces. I think what ever system works for you. It is interesting to see how others do it and you might find some tips that work for you............but I do believe you have to quilt and save for a bit, before you see what system will work.....squares, strips, or just scraps.

I have just kept all the small leftovers of a project in a ziplock bag with any larger pieces of the same line of fabric. I keep all of those little triangles in a separate bag; thinking I can use them for a doll quilt for the girls. At this point there is no other organization to it; maybe I don't have enough of a stash yet.

I save everything too, it's not organized though. lol

Debbie what is an Easy street quilt?

I keep anything larger than a 1" square piece of fabric because I can always use small pieces for Applique! Think about all the little berries, leaves, eyes, noses, balloons, hearts etc. that could become appliqued shapes for a project! I don't currently have a very good method for organizing my scraps though. Any scrap fabric that already has fusible applied to it, I keep in ziplock bags so the fusible will remain useable for a long time. Regular fabric scraps from each completed project are generally put in a ziplock marked with the name of that project in case I ever want to make something coordinating or do a repair. After I square up a quilt for binding I like to keep my trimmed batting/backing strips for FMQ practice. Sometimes I just gather up scraps laying around my work area and dump them all together in a plastic bin or box. I do need a better method for organizing scraps I guess!

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Originally Posted by Hulamoon

I save everything too, it's not organized though. lol

Debbie what is an Easy street quilt?

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Hey Lorie -- here's a photo of mine before I spray basted it. Still waiting for my Viking's new walking foot then I'll attempt to quilt it. This was a Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt along that began in November! New Year's day she did the "big revel" of the blocks -- someone said we'd cut over 1500+ small pieces and made them into small shapes, then into larger blocks hahaha An amazing adventure to this almost new quilter!


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Bonnie Hunter ADORES tiny pieces!