Organizing Your Scraps

I just posted this in another thread but thought this might be a handy (easier to find) reference for some folks trying to stay on top of their scraps. There are many ideas out there on the web, this is just how I did mine. I used to cut more sizes but finally realized I never used them so pared it down to this system.

It is hard (read "time consuming"), to get the scraps in order but once you do, they are seeeew much more user friendly. I bit the bullet and organized mine a couple of years ago. Now, no scraps get put up unless cut to size. I use 8 different size scraps and from them can use all my templates such as hexies, Dresden plate, etc.

10"squares- lg twister, lg Dresden, lg tumbler, and a few others I have. Plus works with patterns designed for layer cakes

6 1/2" sqrs- med twister and one of my hexie rulers or on their own

5" sqrs- anything you use a charm sqr for and my small tumbler

3 1/2" x 6 1/2" rect- I use as is in many patterns and my half hexie template and small Dresden fit it

3 1/2" sqrs- use with the "bricks" above and on their own

2 1/2" strips- anything a jelly roll can do, scrappy sashing and I think one of my dresdens fits on it too

2 1/2" sqr- works with strips, 4 patches, 9 patches, etc

1 1/2" strips- log cabins, sashings, etc Can cut 1 1/2" squares if needed for cornerstones

I can easily cut more 5" charms from the 10", more 3 1/2" from the bricks, etc. I have a box with odd shaped leftovers that I use for applique and frequently rummage through my precut scraps for colors before going to my stash for a little bit of something.

Figure out what you like to do, what you want to use the pieces for (with), label boxes or baskets and either start by color or stacks or however you have them stored now. Takes time and may need to be broken up over time. I did a lot in front of the TV in the evening. Started with the biggest size, went through the stack I had pulled, got all the 10". Then went through and got all 6 1/2" I could. Kept doing this until stack was gone. I found this easier than trying to do all sizes from one piece of fabric at a time. You might like doing it different. Find what works for you. I think it also helps not to clutter up you sewing space with them. Then you can still work on projects when not in the mood for scrap cutting. I kept mine in a laundry basket that I would set by my chair in the evening. Had a small cutting mat in there, rotary cutter and would gather my rulers and drop them in before I sat down for the evening. Shoved everything back in the basket when I was done and and parked it in the corner until the next evening.

Probably more than you wanted to know but maybe this will help someone. Took me a while to get it done but have never regretted it.

Thanks!

Thats a great amount of info you have shared, thank you. I dont have a lot of scraps, I toss teeny bits, I have a shoe box I keep batik scraps in as I use them for applique all the time, if a piece gets to many skinny bits on it I trim it neat but thats all, oh and I do fold them in colour groups in the box, makes finding a shade faster. I recently started to pop bits I could get 2 1/2" squares out of into another shoe box to start cutting whenever Im cutting other stuff. Generally anything I guess 8-10" I stick back in my stash and I tend to put pieces like that folded into the bigger piece of fabric they came from if any of that remains. I might rethink what Im doing and what I do in future. What do you keep yours in?

I do the same, but also cut 2.5x5.5" pieces because one of my fav scrappies, called vestibule or square cross calls for 2 pieces that size, a 2.5" square and a 5.5" square.  My most frequent piece is a 2.5" square.  As I am working, I often have a leftover that can become that size, then goes into a bin next to my sewing machine.  When that gets full, they go into a baggie.

It really makes a difference to organize those scraps. I am not an organized person, but several years back, I took 6 large boxes of scraps and organized them into one box, by trimming, compressing and, in a few cases, tossing things I never wanted to see again. I had been in a dry spell for creation. When I was done I made 2 large scrappy quilts and gave someone else a large baggy of 2.5" squares. One of the bed-sized quilts was there to grab when someone we knew was diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer.

I go thru scraps so fast its not truly worth the time to organize them. Its just that my most recent projects have generated a lot. Today I started a new string quilt. It's amazing how fast that makes the most daunting piles disappear,

Sew true.

Great advice! Thanks for sharing TXM.....I have mine semi organized but this would really work for me. I do keep a lot now that I have the embroidery machine, because I do a lot of small applique w it.

An excellent reason.

Those are good tips. The brick shapes caught my attention. The old hired man quilts, usually made of wool, used that shape.

A lady brought me one to repair so her brother could use it at the family cabin. Moths had gotten at it so I added patches till it was whole again. She was really appreciative but I swore never again. Boy, was that a lot of work. And I really prefer cotton to wool.

I will spend a little time every day now cutting things to size. If there's anything left over from the string quilt.