After watching Di at our sewing weekend scoop up every unattended scrap and trim them to usable pieces, I think I have found my solution. Now, who wants to dig through that bin and spend a weekend pressing and cutting? Not me. Instead, I tossed them into a suitcase and brought them to a week-long conference so I could iron and cut in a hotel room when I had nothing else to do! Pretty smart if I do say so myself. (Cheeky!)
In the end, my scrap bin was turned into this: Ta da!
It's prettier, anyway. I pulled each scrap, pressed it, then started cutting the largest piece I could out of the scrap and worked my way down to cutting 2.5 inch squares. I have more 2.5 inch squares than anything else....
....have a reasonable stack of 3 inch and 3.5 inch squares....
...and then finally have a mini pile of 4, 4.5 and 5 inch squares....
There's also a good sized pile of 2.5 inch strips so I could make a scrappy jelly roll quilt at some point. Needless to say I do not have a plan for any of these pieces, but they are more manageable to store and easier to use. I'll be happy spending time google searching for scrappy quilts to put these to good use.
Here is what's left:
My stash of scrappy solids. I do not have the heart to cut these down too. Would anyone want them? I would like to split these up into two large bags and give them to someone who will use them (you pay postage). If you are interested, email me at fluffysheepquilting at gmail dot com, please. First come first serve.
EDITED - The scraps have now gone to three good homes.
I will leave you with a photo of Molly, my photographic assistant. She was great company while trying to take these snaps. Love her.
17 comments:
Oh yeah! Such a great idea!
My fabric stash and scraps are out of control! I’m digging through all fabrics as we speak and to fill some bags with fabrics I will likely never use. I will take them to the Patchwork and Quilting days this weekend to donate them to Dreamblankets. An organization I also make charity quilts for. It feels so good to donate them to people that will put them to good use.
When this decluttering part is done, I will start cutting my scraps in those nice little stashes of squares and strips as well!
Well done you for tacking them. Somehow I have managed to reduce my scraps, I actually gave away a pile that I didn't like/knew i wouldn't use which was quite therapeutic. It reminds me that I was going to find smaller boxes for mine so I have more room in the cupboard...
I so need to do this too, good for you!
Awesome! I so need to do this!
What a great idea! I'm impressed, and you're more likely to use them now. I'll do the same-hmm, tomorrow ;-)
I do this too as I go along with leftovers from my projects. It makes it so much easier to store and I always have ready cut blocks for charity bee quilts. I cut strips too and am using lots of these in scrappy quilts.
Hi Cindy! Now those piles look really beautiful and inviting! Hugs to sweet Molly! x Teje
It looks well organised Cindy, I'm not sure I'd have the patience to organise my scraps that well. I do love to rummage through my scraps, wrinkled and all, and come across unexpected gems that way (that's my excuse anyway)...
My problem is I can't throw away something as small as 1" because I think it's still great for fused applique. I do try bin them when I am brave. When actually I do make something from scrap bin, they lack something and I end up cutting from fresh and create new scraps. Great way to spend hotel stay. Well done.
I think Di learnt that trick from Sarah! So glad the idea is going back to Ireland.
Lovely squares, even lovelier assistant.
I'd love to re home some of your solid scraps of no one else has offered already?
funny, when it comes to bee blocks etc, I never have enough scraps, not the right ones anyhow. Maybe if they were all organised I would see where to go.
What a great idea- thanks for the inspiration!
What a great idea- thanks for the inspiration!
Good for you! What a nice feeling to have all those perfectly cut pieces ready to use! And your assistant is adorable!
Molly looks as though she's thinking of rolling round in those scraps and squares!
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