QUILTING SCRAP MANAGEMENT: Organize Your Fabric Scraps: Make Scrap Quilts Faster!
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- čas přidán 25. 12. 2019
- I’ve been tackling my scraps bins over the last few days to make all my scraps more useable. I’ve come up with some tips for my process if you are looking to tackle your scraps and transform them into useful precut sizes.
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After sewing several PJ bottoms, I used the selvedge strips to tie up vines on my front porch. Two days later I find 3 kitchen trash bags of yardage on my welcome mat. No note. I recovered all my floppy porch pillows (13). I've pretty much invited the whole block (2 or 3 at a time) for cookies & lemonade on my porch. Still no note but I'm cool with that now. ♥️
Thats quite a mysterious gift! I'm glad you put some of it to use :)
IF anyone finds out you quilt, you will have secret mystery cloth show up at your door FOREVER ))))
What a wonderful neighbor! If she/he would ‘fess up to being the thoughtful, generous, anonymous neighbor with the crazy stash/scrap pile, y’all might form a quilting friendship!
Best demo on scraps !!
This seems doable.
Excellent! I toss all my selvedges, tiny bits into a fleece pillowcase that will fill up and eventually be sewn into a nice dogbed. ❤️🐾
I’ve just started doing something similar in the past few months! I’ve been using mine for pillow inserts for throw pillows. It feels really good to not throw anything away. My dog would probably love a new bed though!
Great idea.
You made it simple and your efforts will
Pay off, thanks for sharing..👍👍👍👍👏👏👏👏
One time I cut all the selvages off of my material and made a selvage quilt top.
Now that's dedication!
Wow. I have to say that this video is THE MOST helpful I've EVER seen regarding scrap management! Real tips. Excellent.
wow! Thank you!! It has certainly helped me jump into a lot of scrap projects!
I really appreciate when people share their ideas on organizing and effective ways to use resources. My brain just doesn’t seem to work easily toward these kind of effective solutions, at least not in a timely manner. But once I see such solutions that I need, it seems to release some stress and fill me with a pleasant experience of clarity. So thank you.
I’m so glad it helped you! I still do this with all my scraps and I just started a new scrap project and it was so easy to just pull the shape and color I needed! I hope it works well for you :)
Brought a smile to my face hearing your dog trotting down the hallway!😊
Thank you so much for sharing this! I did a little bit of this method today to try on a few of my smaller scraps. I needed some charm squares for a future project so I used 5 or 6 scraps that were less than 10 inches. I ended up with 20 charm squares and a few odd lengths of 2.5 inch strips plus some bits and strings. I was surprised at how much I got out of those few small scraps. I used the large Stripology ruler and it took no time. I can't wait to get to the rest of my scraps!
Now, I just need to separate them by color before they get out of control. I saw your other video and loved how you did that to organize.
Thank you so much for sharing your method. It was much easier to follow than every other one I've seen on the same subject. I love the way you teach and your videos are shot so beautifully and professionally. Keep up the good work and God bless you!
Thank you so much for the sweet comments! ❤️ I’m so glad the method worked for you-I’ve been making so many more scrappy projects since I really organized them. :)
I have two garbage under my sewing desk. One is for garbage and the other one is for small fabrics or batters. When that basket of fabrics get full, I use it for stuffing that I make dog bed with.
I try to use up as many of my battings leftovers as I can but there are just so many!! I should make my dog a little pillow. She would love it!
I was just organizing all my scraps this morning. Where were you then! Lol thank you so much now going to go back and do my scraps again.
I desperately need to go through mine again! I've been shoving all my scraps into the bucket that sits on my cutting table and I need to organizing :). I'm glad you liked the process :)
Great lesson you gave...
I’m inspired now to get to doing mine this Friday and sit and sew some waiting projects with a bit more organization in my sewing room
Today I just started sewing scraps together, cut blocks, and made a crazy quilt. So relaxing!
Fun!! I love how low stress scrap projects are!
I love this! It has been incredibly useful to address my continued scrap management frustration. I find it captivating and have been watching over and over - so much so I have started the same system! Thank you so much!
Love this idea. You make it look manageable. Thanks
My cutting table scrap basket is overflowing right now, so I need to catch up! It’s pretty manageable but I’m curious to time myself to see how long it takes!
I began this same process a week before New Year's Day. I have bins, not baskets! It is very satisfying when you finish a pile and have such a nice, organized assortment of usable fabric instead of the huge variety of scraps. However, at this point - and it may change - I am saving everything. I even save the shavings from squaring blocks. I use those for stuffing pillows, stuffed animals or unusually shaped pillows or objects. I have crumbs, strings and 2", 2 1/2", 3", 3 1/2," 4", 5" and 10" cuts. I'm really excited to get it done. I may take all year, but it will be worth it in the long run. And even somewhat in the short run. :) I have already been able to use some of my charm squares for a Member's Choice block from one of my guilds. :)
Very efficient! Will save oodles of time. Thank you.
Love this system! Thank you 😊
I keep coming back to this video. It works so well using these cuts. So I have spent 2 days washing and ironing my newly yard sale purchase. I don’t have them sorted by color but this is a start. Thanks for this video and your organizational one
Great way of handling scraps!!
I just found your channel and I LOVE it! Your voice is so calming and I love fabric, print, color and the idea of string quilts. It's been a while since I've quilted or had stash, so I am envious of all of your choice! You are inspiring me...
Absolutely feel this was helpful. Like how you encourage us to try to organize the scraps that can definitely take over the sewing room
They really can!! Even contained in bags it seems like they are multiplying when I'm not looking! 😂
Excellent way to use scraps for another day and project. Thank you.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I’ve certainly made a lot more scrap projects since I started really organizing them.
Yep! Im gonna do it!
Great idea to align the corner of each piece when pressing. 😁
I love this idea. I am new to quilting and this will help me a lot 😊
Thanks for a greàt video. This is a must do and try. Blessings from Missouri ❤️,
This is a great way to do it. Thanks!
Great video!
Love this approach. Your fabric stash is beautiful!
Thank you! I really enjoy having all my fabric out and accessible--I'm definitely a visual organizer!
Really enjoyed this video! Thank you😊
This is exactly what I have been doing for about 2 months! It was a huge chore and I am finally cut and organized! I still have more actual yardage than I need and I had to purchase about 25 plastic shoe boxes to organize squares, strips, half yards etc. but what a huge difference! I'm happy to know that I am not the only one who did it this way!! I'm looking forward to using up everything I have now that I know what it all is and what I have!
Thanks for a good informative video!!!
Awesome tips! 😃 Thanks for sharing! I must admit I don’t hold onto the smaller tidbits of fabric but this is motivating. 🌷
Love how beautiful all the colors of the 5” squares are in a nice, big stack! Oh, the possibilities! 🌸🎉
After every quilt I cut all of my scraps down into 2 1/2 inch strips, 10”, 5”, 4”, or 2 1/2 squares. Since I do that every time I finish a quilt they don’t pile up. Then my scraps are ready for a scrap quilt. I also keep them in boxes, not thrown into a bag or basket so that when I’m ready to use them I don’t have to worry about ironing them. I’ve never had any desire to make a crumb or string quilt. But, I have tossed them into a pillowcase until it was full and made beds for my animals. It just works for me. 😉 I enjoy your videos.
Loved that piece that looked like an old newspaper. :)
Come back… I miss your designs and tutorials! I learned so much from you ♥️
Thank you for that video. I really enjoyed watching that. You’re so organized. I should do that also. Really good ideas.
Thank you! Organization can be a struggle for me sometimes but it does really speed up the sewing tasks!
thanks for sharing you way. I have been cutting my scraps to strips and different size squares for some time but I do like the way that you do it. I will be giving it a try....Happy New Year 2024. I live near Calgary Alberta Canada.
Perfect timing. This weekend I separated all my purchased fabric by size and color (1/8th, fat. Quarters and yardage) and put them in my pull out drawers which I labeled by size. Everything that was not these sizes I put into a bin until I can figure out what to do with them. I will be cutting these into jelly rolls, fat eights, charm squares, fat quarters and layer cakes. All my smaller pieces will be cut into 1/ 1/2 , 2 1/2, 3 1/2 and 7 inch strips. Thank you for sharing
Love the piles idea. Sizes I keep are 5", 4", 3", 2"x3.5, 2.5x4.5, strings under 2", and crumbs. Nothing goes back in the basket. Each size has its own storage container. Selvedges are tomato ties.
TOMATO TIES! You are a genius! My tomatoes and peppers are woefully unruly this year since I was in a rush to get them all in. At least I'm still getting enough for my salsa loving kid :)
@@TinyOrchardQuilts LOL I'm an OCD Green Quilter. Absolute minimal waste and used fabric is preshrunk.
Wonderful you are very strong cutting those big stacks
A sharp rotary blade is the key! I change my blade every week or two cutting like this.
It is much easier with the larger rotary cutter. 60 instead of 45 mm. My grandson bought me one for Christmas one year. I love it for cutting jeans and also thick layers of fabrics.
I've subscribed! You have some very wonderful suggestions...can't want to make my next quilt.
I love this idea!!! So very neat and organized! I’m sure you’ve thought of this....but you can use the tiny left over scrap pieces for a crumb quilt.
I definitely kept all my tiny pieces! I’ve made one scrap quilt starting with tiny pieces and then surrounding those with strings and it’s once of my favorites! I definitely have more ideas for more scrappy quilts! Thanks for watching :)
Idea for all the gardeners in the fan base...I use my "trim a straight" edge 1/4 - 1/2" to tie up my tomatoes in the garden every spring. My father in law and I were talking about it one weekend when he was up and I was trimming selvedge edges. so, I save all scrap strips too small for quilting to use in the garden.
So smart!!! What a great use for all those little skinny strips.
I need to do this!
I just subscribed. I’m trying to organize a large amt of fabric! Thanks for the tips.
Good luck! Its quite a job to get organized but then everything else goes so much more quickly after you are done :)
You explained and demonstrated your process well. This has been very helpful, thank you. I've been looking for something like this. So glad I found you! I've just subscribed. Can't wait to learn more from you. I may buy a bigger rotary cutter and blade just for scrap cutting. Saving this video to my playlist for referencing.
Thanks! I definitely prefer my larger blade. It seemed gigantic at first but now I’m so used to it!
I tried this Megan and I found this to be so helpful. Prior to that, I basically just saved my scraps. Then I actually used them to make a quilt too, yay me 🤣👏😂. And I owe it to you! Take care and best wishes for you and your family, 🥰 Chris-Raleigh NC
I’m so glad it worked well for you!! ❤️
I love this idea. I've always struggled to deal with scraps and they end up in ziplock bags, never to see the light of day again. I'm going to go for charms and layer cakes.
Definitely go with the sizes you use most! I’ve also started leaving some pieces large enough for one of my machine embroidery hoops so I can use them for labels :)
May I suggest putting an 8 pound weight on your ruler when cutting long strips ... really great to prevent shifting of your ruler when you cut.
Perfect. Thanks
New subbie
I've been watching for recent videos. Have you stopped doing them? I love what you teach and how you teach!
Thank you so much for showing how you do it! I have seen so many videos where they say to do it but not how! I have been paralyzed not knowing how to go about it....worrying that I would not choose the correct size to make the most use of the fabric....heaven forbid I “waste “ any!
Great idea
Thanks! It’s really handy for a quick scrap project!
Genius!!
I too cut my scraps into precut sizes -- I keep the small strings and odd pieces for my improv projects. Good video!!
Thanks! Scrap projects are some of my favorite things so it’s great to have everything ready to sew at a moments notice!
Great job. I actually cut up charms and jelly roll strips when I cut out the fabrics. I do have several bags of "crumbs" though and need to get to them soon.
Thanks! I have a lot of crumbs too! I love the look of them all sewn together but they are certainly more time consuming than a big block!
this does look motivATING, IT WOULD MAKE A GREAT VIBRANT QUILT
Thanks! I have a few things planned but I'm not sure if I should go with a string quilt or a smaller scrap quilt next!
I organized all my stuff about a month ago... 1st by yardage, then fat quarters and color, then strips 1 1/2” 2 1/2” 3 1/2” and then borders, next was scraps squares 1 1/2” , 2 1/2” all the way to 10”. Lastly I did designers and kits... took over a week but everything is in clear containers and clearly marked so I know at a glance what I have. ♥️♥️ the only thing not organized is Christmas and I have one large container of.
I recently moved my sewing into a dedicated room. When I did this I purged many of my scraps. Our quilt store collects scraps for a person who makes beds for the local animal shelter, and she uses the donated scraps. I also use the small scraps you threw out as leaders in piecing as well as sample stitching when I change out the bobbin or want to use one of the decorative stitches on a project. Then they go into the donation bag for the animal shelter. I throw very little away now that my sewing room is organized. I do have a bin of scraps I need to cut down and this method is genius. Thanks for posting.
I’m glad you enjoyed it! I did save a lot of the small scraps to use in crumb quilts. I love the idea of using the smallest things as stuffing-I’ve been collecting mine for a while so I guess I should make a pillow or something!
I’m gonna do that to all my fabrics cause I’m making a 10 “ square scrapy quilt for a quilt
Oh my! I had a problem watching you toss away the small pieces. I use 1” strips and squares for leaders/Enders and use those for a future postage stamp quilt. 1 1/2” pieces are great too! Use those for crumb quilts, crazy quilting and pieced scrappy sashings. I only toss selvedges, bias cuts and pieces smaller than 1” square. The 1” squares are also used for small block piecing, Lori Holt has lots of blocks where small pieces are needed.
This is a great KanBan system. When the basket fills, trim down the bigger pieces, leave the small string in the basket. I did this 2 years ago and it helped me greatly toknow what I had and what direction to take.
Yay! I agree-I am so much more likely to use my scraps when I know what I have.
Knowing I need to do this, I've bought 4 cube bins that can be labelled and put on my cube shelf. One for 2.5 inch strips or squares, one is for 5 inch, one for bigger squares that are prepared into pockets for bag making, last one for skinny strips and crumbs. Skinny strips go to make loops for bags and for tying up tomatoes in the garden.
If when you plan to cut for sizes, try keeping the largest pieces on the bottom, so that when you cut and the next piece won’t be the size you are currently cutting, pull it off and put it to the side. Pulling from the top of the stack only keeps the rest perfectly together.
This is my project for today. I am doing basically the same as you but I am also cutting 2.5 inch blocks. Good luck!!
2.5” blocks are my downfall. I love them and have bought so many mini charm packs but I never reach for them for a quilt. Maybe an Irish chain is in my future!?
2.5 inch blocks are good for those "snowballed" corners.
also very helpful!! I am trying to organize scraps but didn't know where to start!!!! Okay...off I go to organize!!!
Hmmm I have been waiting to try this!! But I also make a lot of other things like bags and stuff so I don't know
My issue is that all fabric has to be put away (aka not on an open shelf) because we have several cats and their fur becomes airborne. I don’t like stitching over cat fur lol. They also love laying on anything that is left out. So my system has to be easy to see without being out in the open. At this time I am using those IKEA cube things and some zipper containers with vinyl windows on the side. I do like the idea of cutting scraps into standard sizes. I have an Accuquilt so I’ll probably go with the sizes that I have in dies.
This is a system I can actually manage. I like this the best. I was wondering about the direction of some of the cuts but seeing how many times you use strings this make sense. I might do 2 strips of 5" instead of your 1 strip from a partial FQ but I'll check for height and make a decision based on whether or not I can get a 10" string. If so, then string. If not, then another 5" strip across and subcut. You are very helpful and I'll share your videos with my friends. I love watching you.
Thank you so much! I definitely use strings the most but you should definitely prioritize your favorite shapes!
I also save selvages. Hurt me to see you cut up that Tula pink selvage. LOL
Lol-I’ve since started saving them so it makes me cringe too!!
Nice job. I do similar and give the smaller bits to a friend. She likes to make crumb quilts and I do not.
That’s a great idea!
I use a 5 pound weight to assist in keeping the ruler steady
Thanks so much! Do you happen to have the list/piles written down ? I'm new to this and need to get organized
I have personally enjoyed your thought process as I've watched a few of your shows...it really helps me 'tame the beast' of scraps.
And then making something out of them in an orderly fashion. Too often I've got a hot mess.
I save strips, squares...all different sizes, and bits. But it takes a lot more work initially to get going. Am pleased to try your method.
May i ask what size Ziploc u r using for storing them on your trays and the brand of that scissor?
And super thanks again from another scrap lover!
I use the ziplocks from ikea! They are really thick plastic so they hold up well. And the scissors are probably my Kai scissors-they are so sharp!
This looks really nice! I have a shelf with clear bins that hold all my scraps. I will keep having these for crumbs but didn’t know what to do with my larger pieces. I think I’ll cut them into layer cake and charm squares from your video. I love having them somewhere visible so I can see what I’ve got. I do a lot of pictorial appliqué quilts so I need little bits for eyes and such.. this is wonderful, excuse me while I go cut stuff for days. Lol.
How often would you say you cut your scraps? Do you always do bulk cutting like this video or do you cut as you go as well?
Some of us are newbies and still not familiar with the quilting lingo- layer cakes, charm? Does not mean much if one has not memorized those sizes.
It probably is hard to know unless you google those terms. Layer cake & charms are Moda terms for their precuts. A layer cake is usually 42 - 10” squares of a single line of fabric. A charm pack is usually 42 - 5” squares of a single line of fabric. A jellyroll is 42 - 2 1/2” x WOF (width of fabric) strips, also from one line of fabric. There are also mini charm packs that are 42 - 2 1/2” x 2 1/2” squares, i think there are turnover packs that are triangles, honey buns are 42 - 1 1/2” x WOF rolls & Fat Quarter Shop sells jolly bars which are 42 - 5” x 10” rectangles.
If you go to most online fabric stores, they will usually have pre-cuts listed separately from yardage & you can get familiar with the sizes. I will say that the pre-cuts come in 40-42 pieces, it depends on the manufacturer.
Hope this helps! 🙂
Also, when I say “line of fabric”, I mean entire collection by a designer. For example: Apricot & Ash is a current collection by Corey Yoder for Moda Fabrics
Just a tip - it's safer and smarter to place the ruler over the part of the fabric (or whatever you're cutting with an xacto knife or rotary cutter) over the part you want to keep. That way, if the blade veers off course, you're messing up the part you don't need, rather than the "prime real estate" (love that term!!). Totally off-topic; as a leftie, I always shiver/cringe when watching right-handed people cut stuff - it just looks so weird to me!! And, thanks for sharing your process! It gives me "permission" to toss the small stuff, and to waste on purpose to get usable/typical chunks of leftovers 😉
I love your fabric collection. The scrap management is great. I think some of the “scraps” you threw out I would keep to use. Overall helpful video
I do the same as you do for layer cake and charms. Everything else gets cut to specific cuts, 2.5x5, 2.5x2.5, 2x4 1.5x5 and 1.5x2.5. I don't keep anyone that does not fall into one of the above cuts. I have been organizing by size & color
My scraps have been accumulating for many years and I never know what to do with them. I've tried several different organization methods and they just haven't worked for me. I watched your video yesterday and was inspired to try it when I got home from work. I started with one big basket of all colors and sizes of scraps and got it all set in piles. I just have to press and cut. Once your piles are cut, do you store the pre-cut sizes by color or only by the type of pre-cut?
Great ideas
Thanks! I have a lot more coming in the next few weeks!
oh lord, did she say she was throwing fabric away! Egads. :D
Lol-I promise I didn’t throw anything away but the tiny trimmed off bits. I’m even saving those now for another project!
@@TinyOrchardQuilts it is hard, even when I should, I can't do it! :D
Why do you not save the smaller pieces for crumb squares?
What do you do with the scraps that you put in the basket?
I keep them and make crumb quilts :)
@@TinyOrchardQuilts you need to make A tutorial on that!!
What do you use the strings for?
I cut anything smaller than 5 inches into 2 1/2 strips and strings.
💞
Definitely would cut some 2.5 inch strips. They make great strips for nine patches etc. etc. etc.
They are so useful! I’ve pulled from my scrap bags to make bindings as well!
Good for scrappy borders too!
What patterns do you use to make a scrappy quilt?
I create a lot of my own patterns :) I've made several wonky log cabin quilts from scraps though--thats definitely my go-to quilt pattern! I use crumbs in the center and then build around with strips.
I would have to cut up the pieces you put back. Then, I could start with a clean basket.
if you have leftovers from a bundle or pre-cut kit do you still separate the colors or try to keep those fabrics together since they are already grouped together for a project?
Thats a tough one! I usually separate them unless they are really specific fabrics. For example, I keep all my holiday prints together since I don't really like to mix a halloween print into a "regular" quilt.
I wondered the same thing. I made a beautiful quilt and had quite a bit of extra fabric from the same batik line. I kept it together in hopes of making a smaller project. I'm not sure I'd like that fabric randomly mixed with other fabric. I also separate holiday prints.
I enjoyed watching but wondered if I'm wasting time cutting 2.5" squares. Should I just use charm squares to cut my 2.5" squares. I know it's probably personal preference but I do want to save time. TIA
Do you use a lot of 2.5" squares? You could always cut 5" squares and cut them down later to give you some flexibility! :)
Your scraps are so much more likely to be used for something now! That’s what I see.
They definitely have been! Just yesterday I dug through the layer cake squares to make something and it was so nice to have it all pressed and organized :)
Is charm squares just plain squares? What size is jelly rolls? Newbie here
Hi!! A charm square is a 5” square. You’ll also hear the term “layer cake” which are 10” squares. A jelly roll is 2.5” wide by the width of fabric which is usually 40-42” long depending on the manufacturer of the fabric. There are a few other precut sizes but they aren’t nearly as common.
I have cotton and flannel scraps. Do I have to separate the flannel from the cotton??
I probably would because I don’t usually mix fabrics but if you use them together, it might be easiest to keep them together :)
I would agree to seperate them. I put flannel backing on most of my quilts, and make baby or lap blankets out of my flannel scraps each year around Christmas. I donate these quilts in 3 places. 1. State Patrol 2. Fire Departments. 3. Premie Wards for Newborns in incubators at local Hospitals.
I also watch for good flannel sales online, just for this purpose. I am retired and quilting is now my obsession! I put aside $150.00 each month, just for fabrics. I purchase baby panels, reminents, 5 and 10 inch squares also 1 and 2 yd cuts.
At almost 70 yrs old with little family, this gives me a reason to get up in the morning, something to get excited about and as I am pretty much alone, it gives me something to look forward to and goals to meet. God bless you in your endeavors.
Not wanting any recognition, I usually deliver my quilts in a box to their main office, once or twice a year.
What size is a string?
It can be almost any size! It’s more of a shape-a long skinny rectangle. Mine are usually anywhere from 3/4-3” wide and 12” to 40” long.
Bag up your scraps and sell them on eBay. I just scored a beautiful bag of scraps to add to my monotonal scrap pile.
Check out my Instagram @mermerfabrics to see my scrap sorting system with details
You prefer to cut your fabric to a band instead to keep it larger ? waw... I couldn't do that. I always say to myself that maybe I will need in the futur this larger fabric.
Are you not into crumb quilting? Lots of what you threw away could be used for that. And lots of people use their salvages also.
I definitely saved those little pieces for crumb quilting! The only thing I pitched were all those super tiny strings from squaring up. :)
And I forgot to say-I save my selvedges now as well. I filmed this quite a while ago and have since started saving them. I wish I had done it all along!
Hi there ill take all the pieces you want to throw away. Let me know when you have a bag of them please.
Let me know where to send my tiny scraps to. I hate throwing them away but they become unmanageable and I end up throwing them away.