what to do with leftover fabric and quilt squares

[B-LYN]

I forgot to ask in my last post,, what does everyone do with left over squares from past quilts they are all different sizes and I always hate to throw them away, What do you all do with yours I know I am not the only one that can't throw squares and scraps away thanks

[Joannequilts]

B-LYN I don't throw anything away! lol!
I have a bunch of photo boxes (the size of shoe boxes)and they are labeled with different size squares and strips. Any extra squares or strips go into these boxes according to size.
I keep a large cardboard box under a card table in my fabric/cutting room and just toss leftovers in there, unless they have been cut into squares or strips. When it gets full I sort and leave the larger pieces whole..I do applique sometimes, so I never know when I might need a larger scrap!
I also have a basket where I put my selvedges!! I have dug through them before, looking for the mfg. or fabric line on a fabric that I've run out of!
You just never know when you might NEED that fabric!

Joanne

[auntjana]

I just starting saving all my scraps - a scrap quilt and I sort thru them for small pieces I need in the wall hangings I am making- small applique pieces - Save them all!!

Jana

[knitnoid]

Like Joanne, I have boxes for my strips. In fact, since I'm not a appliquer (is that a word) and I'm a scrappy quilter, I cut my scraps into strips, rectangles and squares based on Bonnie Hunters Scrap User system.http://quiltville.com/scrapusersystem.s ... stem.shtml

My left over 4-patches, HST, blocks even, get tossed into another box to be used somewhere along the way. I did have some pre-made pieces in a couple of drawers mixed in with other stuff but finally gathered them all together. The box is getting full, so I need to go through and do something with them sooner than later.

On Bonnie Hunter's blog she shows a quilt backing she made from some of her leftover blocks. http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2009/12/ ... inish.html

[Stargatefan]

I'm glad you mentioned Bonnie's site - I have had scraps piling up from years of sewing and quilting and just could not bear to part with it. It took me almost a week to get all my scraps cut up in usable sections but it was so worth it. I find I have scraps enough for at least 3 to four quilts - which will keep me very busy! I highly recommend her site!

[B-LYN]

Thanks for all the comments, the trouble is I don't throw any thing away but I love the site you posted. I did box up some of my scraps and gave it to one of my husbands flea market friends that does alot of different crafts, she told him I don't know how she could give all this away, believe me it wasn't easy but I am glad she appreciated the scraps. I am so glad I found this community. I check it out every morning with my coffee.

[purrfect-lady]

I, too, save all scraps. I used to have a 3-drawer Iris cart and sorted my scraps by light/med/dark values. Then I made a king scrap quiltlast summer and used them all up. Now my scraps are in a single shoebox-sized container. I don't cut them into squares or strips, because I never know what I'll need for my next project. If the scrap is large enough to fold, like a fat eighth, I put it with my regular fabrics.

I do a lot of Christmas sewing, so my Christmas scraps are stored in a big ziplock with my Christmas fabrics.

Mary Z

[girl]

I just read the article about scraps on quiltville, oh my I can't believe all I read. I just made a bunch of two inch strips with different lengths and now I'm gonna have to do some thing with them. Any Ideals?

[Stargatefan]

Isn't Quiltville great? After reading all of that, I find I have enough material for at least 4 scrap quilts. For starters, why not try the Fun With Bricks? Or any of the patterns on the right hand side. The beauty of it all is that you can start on quilts and then lay them aside until you find more scraps. I have some unfinished ones on hangars that I keep in my closet.

[lorettav]

I make string quilts for charity. They are easy, a no brainer and kids love them because they are usually bright.