Re: How do you use your stash?
Jean, i know this sound silly, but i truly have "the home for wandering fabrics and yarns"... my LongArm buddy gives me a lot of the "cut away" from her work... i've been know to take a piece of fabric and pin it on my quilt frame... then "puzzle piece" the batting on top... then lay a piece of contrasting fabric on top... i quilt them with a loop d loop... until i run out of fabric... take it off the frame and you have some of the best "two sided quilting fabric" in the world... ONE OF A KIND... (which of course is the best part for me... make totes, zipper bags, glasses cases... pot holders..christmas stockings... . that's my way of using it up!!!In my album, it's the 1st layer of my ornaments... my own quilted fabric.....
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Originally Posted by
Jean Sewing Machine
How small of batting pieces are useable? I guess I haven't been quilting small, so I'm not sure what to keep. I did keep the batting trimmings from my queen quilts, and was able to make some of the serger baby quilts using those scraps, also had some low loft poly that I used for pillow stuffing. But tiny pieces of batting? I just don't know how useful this is. If someone has a good idea about it, I'll fish it out of the trash can.
Re: How do you use your stash?
This may sound crazy, but I actually tuck the leftover pieces back in with the original fabric. Most of my templates utilize strips of fabric to simplify the cutting process, so I will have different width strips leftover depending on the block pattern. If I just put them back, then I know where to go look for that color for another block or applique project. If I don't have a larger piece left (fat quarterish size), then the piece will go into the leftover bag. I have paper bags from Bath & Body Works that hold the left overs and one for selvedges.
One day I'll make a scrappy pattern I found with all of the leftover bits. It is called Rainbow Rings and it is made of 1.5" 9 patch blocks sewn into rings around a central hexagon with triangle setting pieces. This will indeed be a memory quilt. Memories of all of the quilt fabrics that I have used in quilts for my friends and family. I am trying to decide if I'll keep a journal of the fabrics I put in to it so when I am old and have lost my mind, I can read about the things I did. I figure I'll need nearly 320 9patch blocks!
I do have a bag under the serger for all of the trimmings from that. Those will make great stuffing for fleece toys. I probably won't use them for pet toys since if the animals rip it open they could swallow the strings. Having seen the internal damage thread can do to a dog, I don't want to be responsible for accidental ingestion.
I have seen some good ideas for scrap management, but ultimately, it comes down to what works the best for you and your quilting style.
Good Luck!
Re: How do you use your stash?
Oh, batting!
I'll join the smaller pieces with a lightweight fusible interfacing to make up larger sizes for different projects. The interfacing will hold the bits together until you get them quilted down. Again, for pet bedding or children's floor cushions, it wouldn't matter if there were different sized chunks or lofts mixed in.
