Today is Open Line Friday. I love Open Line Fridays because I learn sooo much from you! We have discussed everything from Marking Pens HERE, Movies, HERE, and Pressing Products HERE -just to name a few. (Type Open Line Friday into the search box on the bottom of the sidebar to find more.) The usual form on Open Line Fridays is:
- I share a question I am frequently asked.
- I offer my suggestions for handling the issue.
- I open it up for others to give their suggestions.
Today, we are breaking with tradition. I have no answers when it comes to the scrap heap in my sewing room! The fabrics are too pretty to throw away…but they defy order! How do I turn these boxes (and there are more in my basement) into manageable mayhem? I know some people cut their scraps into squares…tell me more!
What do YOU do with the beautiful scraps and leftovers??? What about the not-so-beautiful ones?
Disorderly yours,
Lori
Lots more quilting next week-including a Giveaway…Stay tuned! And to our Australian friends who report that it has been 115F Stay cool! –I’ll stop complaining about the snow and cold here in Minnesota. Yikes!
109 comments
Rosemary B
That’s all you have? In that tiny box? haha
I have a box, billowing with scraps. Right now I am working on a project for sewing club – making SunBonnet Sue needle holders (can’t wait to finish it. Creative and fun but I have had enough of this) So, my scrap box is right in the middle of my sewing space and bits on the floor as well, just looking for little pieces for hats and dresses and other things. After that, I will clean it all up and put it away.
I really love the ideas shared here!
All of you are very creative (peeked at your blogs)
Have a lovely day with sunshine.
It will be 47º in Northern Virginia near the blue Ridge Mountains
~Rosemary
Ness
I vowed this year to spend one hour a day exercising….SEWING!! I meant to say sewing! (Wow where did that come from! heehee!) Sewing only from my scraps. It sounds so easy and then I get hung up on color and design and there are just so many scraps I’m overwhelmed and I can’t even cut a bigger scrap cuz what if I “need” it later on something….oh bother!! I’m hopeless!! I’ll be checking in all day for help too!!! Thanks Lori for this bringing this subject up!!
Martha Henrichs
I’m working on a Trail Mix quilt. It uses 1 1/4″ pieces. I also cut 1 1/2″ strips. Bonnie Hunter says if a fabric is still ugly, you haven’t cut it small enough.
Laura
This is a great question because I’m always looking for ways to do more than just save my scraps.
I do a lot of applique so I like having a supply for applique work.
Here’s another great way to use up some scraps that I saw at Sew Can She blog:
mini log cabin blocks. I am going to make some this winter.
Here’s the link: http://www.sewcanshe.com/blog/2013/12/30/its-here-the-2014-its-a-new-year-sewalong
Valerie Duff
I have a wall of cubbies in my sewing room. One set of nine cubbies has colored wire baskets, so scraps go into the baskets for future scrappy projects (usually string quilts) and applique work. Problem is, they are all overflowing instead of reducing in size!
sue
Log cabin blocks for strips and pinwheels for triangles. They make great borders!
joan
The smallest scraps I use are 1″ X 1″. I have made nine-patches out of those for a Jack’s chain quilt top. I also use those for the start of log cabin quilts, sewing two of them together, one red for the center, and a light scrap. To that I add 1″ X 1 1/2″, etc. until the blocks measure 6 1/2″, with lights on one side and darks on the other. I also have a 1 1/4″ log cabin scrap quilt in progress. They seem like small pieces to begin with, but once the centers are done the work is easy–and a good way to use small scraps and end up with quilts that are pretty awesome!
andrea_r (@andrea_r)
I don’t really organize them other than tossing them in a big plastic container. Every so often I pull a bunch for a scrap quilt then I cut what I need according to my inspiration.
I always want to try precutting squares and stuff, but I have an insane amount of scraps and I’d get distracted partway trhu and plan a quilt anyway. 🙂
Wendy
I’m a ‘scrap’ quilter so if you’re stuck, send them to me love, send them to me!
I use all scraps in my quilts, in mug rugs, in mini wall hangings, in all my charity quilts. Most popular shapes are 2 1/2 squares, then triangles sewing into squares. Scraps are especially great to make your own fabrics and then cut them into shapes – perfect for traditional styled quilts.
iquilt4ever - Jeanine
I use my leftover strips for string quilts. I have made many blocks from those. I sew them on a foundation (size of your choice). I am in the process of making a Crumb quilt with the really small scraps like on Bonnie Hunter’s website. I do this while making other blocks, and use them as enders instead of cutting my thread every time. I have quite a pile of them made right now. I also have a tub full of all different sized squares, and I need to do something with them. I cut them from 2.5 to 6″, no quarter in cuts. I don’t deal with triangles – I sew the leftover ones together to make small pinwheel blocks. I have a friend that uses the little triangles to make wonky star blocks.
Teri Powers
My really small scraps I put in a pillow case and when it is full I sew it shut and donate it to the animal shelter. Makes a great pillow/bed for a dog. I even put in my scraps of batting.
Julie
Thanks for the idea to use a pillowcase. I have a box of scraps too small to use for a dog bed but was putting off actually doing anything because the thought of buying material that cost more than I could buy a dog bed for was bugging me. A pillow case is a much better though.
Dahlene Raigel
This is one of the best ideas I’ve heard of in a long time….thank you.
Diane Taughinbaugh
Those must be what I think of as scraps-anything less than 1/2″ wide. I have trouble “letting go” of event the smallest piece of scrap. I don’t call 1/2 yd a scrap. I posted a use for the very tiny scraps.
Pat S
One of my guild members does that, too. So that’s where my little bitty scraps go – and batting, too.
Sandy
Teri: this is an awesome idea! I will starting doing this straight away.
Kathy
I’ve been doing that for years! Last year we moved and I got my guild to give me all their scraps. I’ve made almost 100 dog beds for our shelter! They love them, the dogs love them and we’re keeping the scraps out of the landfills. I don’t feel like I’m throwing good material away, I’m re purposing it and it makes me feel good!
Lucie the Happy Quilter
Super topic. I use scraps for applique work but scrap levels don’t seem to reduce very quickly. I look forward to the suggestions you’ll receive.
Linda Swanekamp
Send them to me! Half kidding, I just love scraps. I separate strips by color and put them in plastic shallow boxes. I cut 2.5″, 3″, 5″, 6″ ones from scraps and put by size in plastic drawers. Random size scraps, I sort by colors and put in plastic shallow baskets. People give me scraps thankfully. I have collected patterns to use. I use the 2.5″ ones as leaders and Enders when sewing and build up a collection of four patches real quick for quilts. I use my treadle as a crumb assembler for crumb blocks, usually 6.5″. I make wonky log cabins. These scrap quilts are given away as comfort quilts for chemo patients. There are great websites like http://quiltville.blogspot.com http://filminthefridge.com and favequilts.com and lots more. My blog, http://artinsearch.blogspot.com shows some of my scrap quilts. Scraps are my favorite things! There are no ugly fabrics once they are cut up small. I use anything over 2″.
Paul Burega
I’m using my scraps to English Paper Piece hexagons. Spent the last year working on them, and I have a box now of hexagons, you can use odd sizes like triangles, or strips, and the hexagon papers come in sizes from 1/4″ to 3″+, so you can use all sizes of scraps.
darlene
I am making scrap rag baskets with my scraps. All I need is about 1 inch strips, like when I square a quilt piece. It’s very exciting not throwing them away. But I Ned to know what to do with triangles. Any ideas?
Lori M.
flying geese just add the rectangles onto sides
Renata
Squares, strips and bricks!
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