Such a loaded question, but I'm going to make this easy on you!
A lot of people keep their quilt scraps and I want to talk about your 'Scrap Quilt IQ' so you can decide the best way for you to store (or maybe not store) those scraps
Read on!
*** Take the Scrap Quilt IQ test ***
Watch my video then read on!
Do you currently Make Scrap Quilts?
- Yes – be honest here, do you really make them or is it just sometimes? this will help you know how much to keep
- Sometimes – when you make them do you like them?
- No
How many Scrap Quilts?
- It’s all I make – again, be honest… do you really make only scrap quilt or is just sometimes?
- I do a few – think about how often
- I have yet to make one
*** here is your Scrap Quilt Type ***
This puts you into a category as of today (and it might change over time as your interests change)
- Scrap Queen – Makes almost exclusively scrap quilts – your whole stash needs to be sorted around your scraps
- Occasional Scrapper – how often do you make them? Do you actually use your scraps to make them or go buy lots of new fabric to ‘go with’ your scraps because it needs to be coordinated?
- Scrap wanna-be – you are planning scrap quilts, might have made a few blocks but have yet to make a whole quilt
- Scrap dreamer – you ‘think’ you need to be a scrap quilter but actually don’t like making scrap quilts but still save scraps
*** What scraps to keep ***
- Why keep in Precut sizes? There are tons of patterns already!
- 2 1/2” squares
- 2 1/2" strips
- 1 1/2" strips
- 5” squares charm packs
- 10” squares layer cake
*** Keep it Simple ***
Sometimes just keeping one type of scrap is the easiest to manage for your time and space.
Right now I Just keep 2 1/2" squares to make
- Checkerboard quilts https://blog.patsloan.com/2016/07/pat-sloan-how-to-make-a-bonus-quilt-while-you-make-other-things.html
- Traffic Jam quilts https://pat-sloan.dpdcart.com/product/193284
*** Kate shared her scrap storage ***
Thank you Kate for sharing your scrap storage!
What Kate Shared:
- Pat has a couple of videos on organizing scraps, cutting them into precut sizes and a free quilt pattern Traffic Jam that uses them. The key to using those pre cut scraps is to have projects they will go into. Pat Sloan has some great free patterns on her blog that would be great options for scrappy quilts.
- I used this concept with mix and match half square triangles. So far I have taken a pile my blue and white scraps and cut them to make into 4" finished and 2" finished half square triangles. These will go with 2.5" and 4.5" squares to make a variety of quilt blocks and blue and white quilts.
- I have a Postage Stamp Quilt project made from 2"squares that I have been using as leaders and enders that is using up a lot of my very small scraps.
- I do need to find a pattern I love that uses 2.5" strips because those leftovers are piling up.
- The top shelf has 3 bins of scrappy projects I am working on. The left is the start of a bargello tote bag, the center is my postage stamp quilt, and the right is a bin full of blue and white HSTs.
- The middle shelves have bins of scraps between 4 inches wide and 9" wide. They are not cut down yet. I got an Accuquilt Go last year so now I am leaving my scraps in chunks till I know what I will be cutting them into.
- There is a bin of 5" squares and charm packs.
- The bottom shelf has a bin of strings and crumbs on the left and the right is more parts of a English Paper Piecing project I am working on.
- On the floor is a box of hexagons ready for English Paper Piecing.
- The blue box on the floor is one of many boxes I have that have my scraps between 1/4 yard and just under a yard. They are sorted by color.
- On the left is a rolling cart with drawers that has my cut and sorted scraps smaller than 5". It is strips, squares, and hexagons. I have the drawers sorted by size for 1.5", 2", 2.5" and 3.5" squares and strips in them.
*** Get these books! ***
- Perfect Quilts for precuts https://amzn.to/318xwu0
- Big book of Nickel quilts https://amzn.to/2QpGPU5
- Perfect 10 https://shrsl.com/2v8j1
- Perfect 5 https://shrsl.com/2dtvf
69 Responses
I did cut a lot into 2.5 inch strips and sew together 5 rolls (30 yards in each roll) to make rugs. I did the same with the scrap batting and rolled that up too. I’m a pretty frugal quilter, but do love to buy fabrics when on trips.
I do lots of scraps quilt. All out your SAL I’ve done have been scrappy. I don’t keep anything smaller than 2.5; I don’t care to work with real tiny pieces. I keep them in containers in the storage room!!!
Priscilla
I love scrappy quilts but I use precuts. I have started using my accuquilt go to cut my smaller scraps into 2.5″, 3″ 6″ squares and 2.5″ strips. Making 5 and 10 inch squares and 1.5″ strips make lots of sense. That’s what I’ll do with future cuts. Thank you for the inspiration.
I have all sizes of scraps as I made 9 I Spy quilt so I’m making scrap kids quilts for the Shelter. ur quilt grp. takes them.
Having made only one scrap quilt (a baby quilt with “coins” from Covid mask making) I would be a Wanna Be Scrapper. I love following Bonnie Hunter (have for years) but I have next to zero scraps amassed. There is a container of HST that I add to after a project is completed, but there are not enough of them yet. Your Crumb Blocks have totally intrigued me, Pat and I am saving strange little pieces I would normally have put in the “Pet Bed” box. Another rabbit hole!
I love making scrappy quilts, Traffic Jam is a favorite, I make it without the sashing, I also have made several quilts from Judy Gauthier Books, my new favorite is The Quilting Marine on youtube made an illusion quilt from scrappy crumb blocks, I couldn’t afford fabric, so would get scraps from the local quilters, and make quilt tops for their charity. What Fun!
I enjoy making scrap quilts. My favourite has been crazy quilts. I make string quilts on occasion, and also hot pads for my own use and some friends when they see mine. I love working with 2 1/2 in squares and have made your traffic jam. Also granny square quilt types. I don’t save anything beyond 2 in square or 2 inches wide in lengths. I love the precut 5 in squares, jelly rolls and the 10 in blocks.
I love scrap quilts. My grammas made scrap quilts. My first quilt was a Sally Schneider pattern from the first book I bought. I bought fat quarters of mediums and background lights because I didn’t have scraps (first). It is queen size, hand quilted (because that’s what my granny did). And it got honorable mention at state fair because I didn’t finish the corners of my binding correctly.
I stumbled on to Bonnie Hunter at a time when I was wondering this same ? what kind of quilter I’m I. I learned that I love her style and find it hard to do other types of quilts. I do try to challenge my self from time to time. I did Pat and Jane’s first Spender quilt blocks all 100 plus bonuses, but I never put the quilt together. they are in a binder still. I love fabric and love using what I have. I’m not a kit quilter. I like them and think they would be nice to make, but I just don’t. I stop buying jelly rolls, charm’s and layer cake’s they just sit on my shelves. I’ve given more away then I use. Know what you are and you will do more of what you like. You will be happier too.
I have buckets of precuts, especially the 5” square charms. Lately all of my quilts have been coming from my stash of precuts, so I suppose it looks like I’m a scrap queen, but I would say I’m only an occasional scrapper. This is because I’m finding it hard to use the scraps I have generated while quilting. Turning most of them into precuts where possible seems a good idea -thanks!
I am the Occasional scrapper who uses them to fill out small projects: row quilts, embroidery pieces, strip quilt blocks, wall picture hangings, etc. I just used several 5″ blocks and 8″ strips to make the Amsterdam tulips.
I am definitely a Scrap Queen! I keep everything!!!, and Scrap Quilt’s are 98% of what I make. I keep anything smaller than a fat quarter down to crumbs. I separate them from 10″ down by color,size, strips and crumbs. I like working with the crumbs the best you can make new fabric out of them or just turn them into scrappy blocks to make a quilt of many colors. Holidays are also sorted just by themselves.
I’m pretty sure I am a Scrap Princess! I am always attracted to the scrappy quilts. I think they are so beautiful. I love beauty from ashes, so to speak! I have only been into quilting for about 4 years now, so I couldn’t call myself a Queen. The reason I was so drawn into quilting was the fabric stash my mother has collected over my lifetime. She is so creative and such a good seamstress. I always had beautifully sewn clothes from babyhood to my wedding dress! But she never threw anything away. Quilting gives me the outlet to spend time with Mom, remembering the “whatever she made” and turning it into something I can make (with straight line sewing!) and to me, it’s beautiful!!! My mindset is that you cannot go wrong with scrappy!!!!
I’m a Dreamer. I’m saving and organizing 2 1/2 squares and have made a few 9-patches, trying to figure out what I like to do with them, what look I like. Pat, I love your idea of a 2-color quilt and I think I’ll do that to get started. But I will have to get some bins. I was trying to reduce the amount of plastic and thought glass jars would work for my little scraps. They don’t. They’re not even cute. So, back to plastic.
I love scrappy quilts and have made several. In fact I could easily become all scrappy! I am woking on a pineapple scrappy now. Wish I could send you so e pics.
I am a scrap quilter. Make charity quilts only, for children in treatment for cancer. Kids love loud colors, with pictures, the more the better
I’m an occasional scrapper. Working on one now, and I’m obsessed with using a different 2 1/2 “ fabric throughout my quilt. 🥴
I’m in another category not mentioned above. I paper piece small quilts. I basically consider all of my fabrics as scraps. I buy mostly fat quarters. I occasionally purchase half yard lengths and, off-and-on, one yard lengths–no bigger–to use as backings or bindings. Fabrics are stored in small bins by color. I keep my scraps folded with the original fabric until I’m down to nearly nothing of that fabric. As the scraps get smaller I put them in a zip-loc bag in their color bin. My goal is to cut a paper piece “section” from the smallest piece of fabric in my stash that is the fabric I want to use. I keep batiks and fabrics I might want to fussy-cut in separate bins. A tiny “section” in a paper piecing pattern is surprisingly big when you add 1/4” all around it so I toss anything smaller than 3″ square.
Thank you, Pat. I’ve been saving ” leftovers” for years. Just can’t throw the bigger pieces away, I’m okay with getting rid of the too small pieces.Now I know what I need to do with the bigger pieces. Love……….