Thursday, August 6, 2015

I finally did it!

For years I've been saving scraps and little pieces of left over fabrics. But no more!  I decided I needed to purge the scraps.

I've saved every little piece, and the pile has finally overwhelmed me.

How about you? Do you save left over pieces from your projects? Do you have a plan to use them?

19 comments:

Barbara said...

I used to save every little tiny scrap. I do a lot of applique and all those little pieces can be used, except it became clear that I would have to remove all the furniture from the sewing room (including the sewing machine) if I kept up at the rate I was going. Then I started throwing away anything smaller than two inches. Now I'm throwing away larger pieces...it gets ridiculous. Yes, I could make pet beds, but I won't. Yes, I could do this or that thing, but I won't. I don't want to. I just want to make quilts. If it's too small for a quilt block, out it goes.

Donna~~ said...

I save them. I cut the smaller ones into 2, 2.5, 3, or 3.5 inch squares. I throw away smaller bits unless it is a 1.5 inch strip of a usable length. And I used to sort the bigger bits by color into bags. But lately, I've been using up a bunch of them in a Scrap Vortex style quilt (see Crazy Mom Quilts). It takes time, but uses up all the scraps pretty well.

Phyllis in Minnesota said...

I save my scraps and give to a lady at my sister's church in northern Minnesota because she makes quilts from strips to be sent to Lutheran World Relief in Africa. A good feeling to know that even the little bits and pieces are put to good use.

Connie said...

I love my scrap pile and go though it all the time. Sometimes you just need a little bit of a certain color fabric, or they always make great hexies. If I want to add a ribbon or tie a tag to a gift I often go to my scrap pile and tear a skinny strip of fabric instead of using ribbon. I hope you gave them to someone and didn't throw them away:)

Rosa said...

Yes, I make hexies and strings quilts.

Rina Spina said...

I save every small fabrics piece, and now I have two large bins full of scraps bags in all the spectrum colors. I use them to make pot-holder, place mat and table runners, even when they seem "ugly" the final result is amazing!
Hugs, Rina!

Average Quilter said...

I have a plastic tub by the sewing machine that keeps getting bigger and bigger. I have a friend that just started piecing and she thinks its Christmas every time I unload on her. She has a room full of kleenex boxes with different colors and sizes. I take her a jumbled mess and she organizes it like precious gems.

Jacqueline said...

Yes I am a scrap saver... Use some in string quilts and some in mini's, but mostly they just keep accumulating. I give the to fellow quilters if there is a need.

sunny said...

I like saving mine, but they were taking over the sewing room. I'm participating in RSC15 this year, as well as making doll quilts for a children's hospital, place mats for Meals on Wheels, and other small projects. Almost everything I've made this year has been made from scraps. I've also donated some that I know I'll NEVER use to a group at my guild. It's been a fun challenge since I've been unemployed for several months. But there's nothing wrong with donating them if that makes you feel freer. Gotta make room for new fabric!!

Sandie @ crazy'boutquilts said...

I am always digging through my scraps for mini quilts, string quilts etc. I am making doll quilts too. Lots of ways to use them up~ time is usually my problem. ;-)

Motherdragon's Musings said...

Crikey, I save all pieces. Some I can use in applique, other are to small, day I shall go through and sort them into usable pieces, and those that are not.

Wonky Girl said...

So many would covet your bag of scraps. They make great string and crumb quilts, I save and use mine.

Brenda said...

I save all my scraps too. I love making scrap quilts. I cringe when I hear of people tossing their scraps! I want them!!! It gives my quilts different colors and styles from what I normally use.

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

I have scraps from almost every quilt I've made. I did hand off a full tote bag full of scraps to a scrap quilter at Quilts of Valor this week. I've found that I don't really use scraps myself. I prefer yardage.

Susan said...

I have so many scraps...a lot from the 129 aprons I've made:-D One day, I say, I'm going to make a quilt with all of these to remember how precious making friends has been:-D

Jeanna said...

Yes, I have bins of scraps and I have been using them in a scrappy project. They need to be better organized and hope to get to that soon.

dortha said...

I save all my scraps. I love scrap quilts.

Sowing Stitches said...

:) Yes I hoard, I mean save! Every little bitty tiny scrap, even the ones I don't like! [why?] I do use all of my scraps eventually! I make re~purposed yardage scrappy fabric then cut it all up again into quilts or clothing. The itsy bitsy pieces are used as well in other crafty projects involving ModPodge! For some strange reason I can't discard fabric to the trash...possibly it is similar to throwing away loved ones or cherished friends...I don't like goodbyes.

Kathy ... aka Nana said...

I save scraps if they're about 3"x3", give or take. I don't make quilts with teeny tiny pieces, so I don't save them from my scraps (although I do love quilts with teeny tiny pieces!). Plus storing them with any hope of actually finding the fabric I want is an issue.