I have had a lot of people asking me how I am keeping my scraps under control.
They know I'm not big on having LOTS of scraps around. I have a small home and studio space so I have to work very smart. I can't keep lots of bins of scraps.. and honstly i don't want to.
I love NEW FABRIC... so my scraps are little treasures.. but treasures that need to be USED.
First I do not keep tons of scraps. I enjoy what Joan Ford told me, she only keeps so much then she makes quilts with it. I love this idea. I was talking to Heather Valentine on the radio show yesterday and she said the same thing. Once the bins are full.. make a quilt or donate the fabric!
This works for my space and my interest level for scraps. I want to USE them.
CLICK HERE to listen to my talk with Heather on April 7, 2014 and to Joan Ford on June 10, 2013
I've been working on a lot of quits lately. They generate lots of scraps. I either put the scraps into one of my small shoeboxs or into a large box. If both those boxes are full.. ahem... then I pile on my cutting table. yes... there is some overflow allowed
The cutting table pieces ALWAYS get addressed first.. I wonder why?
I am cutting scraps into
- 2" squares
- 2.5" squares
- 3.5" squares
- 5" squares
- 2.5" WOF strips.
There are a lot of patterns using these sizes available. Joan has written two great books worth of patterns for the sizes she cuts.. you can get them on Amazon
First i try and squeeze out something from the scrap. 2.5" won't work here
So I have a 2" square
Triangles produce smaller triangles
Sometimes when I'm feeling very thrifty... I will sew these randome triangles together to make squares. then trim those down to a regular size.
When I am short on time or not feeling very thrifty... they go in the bin
So how BIG a piece do I keep? if I can get a few 5" squares out of it.. and I'm NOT excited about the fabric anymore.. they get cut.
BUT.. if there is a piece bigger than 5" square and I'm super pumped about the fabric.. you might call it.. hoarding... I call it excited... don't judge...
Then I do not cut it.
I... Save... it... maybe for a very.. very.. long time.... but that's another story.
I have at times sewn strips and chunks together.. but I'm trying a new thing to just keep the sizes standard. So for strips... I keep just the WOF strips so they become 'jelly roll' strips and allow me to easily use a jelly roll pattern
smart right? Well it works for me.
This bin is getting very full of 3.5" squares and 2" squares... soon they will need to become something!
5" squares are charm packs.. right? PERFECT for many things.
I have been sewing my 'low volumne' 2.5" squares into 6 x 6 blocks for a full size bed quilt. I am SO excited about this one.. it's going on my bed this summer!
I'm keeping 3 small shoeboxes.. and the 2 large ones.. that... is it.
Once you cut up the fabric it takes so much less space then when you throw it in a bag.. I'm so amazed by that!
Tell me
What are you doing with YOUR scraps?
And click to my FREE PATTERN PAGE for 2 free pieced patterns using 2.5" squares and one using Charm and more!
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