wesing

I’m a lazy scrapper. I fold leftovers somewhat neatly and then sort and store by color. I’m always concerned that if I cut them into consistent sizes I won’t use them because I’ll need a different size than I have cut.

Small scraps do get cut into 1.5” or 1.75” strips to make Pineapple blocks. I go through spurts of working on them but my box never seems to get emptier.

I need to find a pattern or two to use up some scraps. They take up space and we are trying to live leaner and not have so much stuff around that we don’t use.

Buckeye quilter

I tried to cut my scraps into usable sizes, but when I went to use them, I had to sort through several boxes to collect the color I needed. Now I have 2 dresser drawers dedicated to scraps. I have the dividers in the drawers, resulting in 6 bins. The scraps are not cut until I decide to use them. I will not keep anything smaller than 2.5 inches. These are used for scrap quilts, scrappy bindings or just to stretch out a backing that is a few inches short. I'm currently hand stitching a Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt and that is using a lot of the scraps.....although it doesn't look like a dent has been made in Mount Scrapmore.

WMUTeach

I went through a phase of cutting up all my scraps into standard sizes but after doing it, I found I did not use them very much except for 5" and 2.5" squares and strips. The lesson I learned is to consider the sizes I tend to use the most. For me it is the 5" and the 2.5's. Even now, I find that some patterns may need 8 of one color and all I have is 5 or 6. Now, I only cut 2.5 and 5" strips that can be cut down to a smaller size if needed. If I can't get two or more 2.5 squares from the piece, I cut 2.5" squares. That fits how I use fabric. I hate finding a lovely pattern that calls for pieces of a certain size only to find the perfect fabric cut into a smaller size.

There is a certain sense of adventure and creativity into diving into a small bin of scraps and pulling out a piece to use in a block. I do not keep anything smaller than 2.5. That is my choice. I know many quilters use 2 and 1.5" strips, Go ahead and cut and save if that is what you use. Bottom line, know how you use fabric before cutting up and storing in multiple sizes. That is my 2 cents.

bearisgray

I once cut a bunch of scraps into squares - thinking I was going to make 9-patch blocks.

Still have the nice little squares. Did make a stack of the blocks, but never had quite enough of one color or print to make any more.

For my style, I prefer to sort my small pieces by color into small totes. I thihk I gave away all my scraps when we moved. Wish I had them back, because now I am making chemo port pllows and many of those pieces would have been large enough. Sigh.

Sorting by color and having the pieces laying flat in the contaner is the way I deal with scraps/

If I was going to use 5 inch squares as my "big" piece in a block, then I would need 3 inch squares/strips to make a 4-patch unit that wouold fit.

If Ii was going to make a 9-patch block - then the 2.5 strips would make a 6 inch block. So 2.5 and 5 just don't compute for me when trying to combine them together for quilt blocks.

GingerK

Actually, 2.5 and 5 inch squares can compute if you are making 4 patches and HST's. I made a take on Jacob's Ladder that used a lot of 2.5, 4.5 and 5 inch blocks. Hmmm....have to make that pattern again!

bearisgray

Pretty quilt.

When i sew four 2.5 inch squares into a 4- patch unit, i end up with a 4.5 inch " unfinished" unit.

If i make HST squares out of two 5 -inch squares. , i ( theoretically) end up with two 4--3/8 inch square unfinished size units..

Maybe it was Mary Ellen Hopkins that said to make the units with smaller pieces first, and then to cut the units using larger pieces next.

But with many things associated with quilting - what works well for one person does not work for others.

GingerK

Hmmm... Bear, I will admit that I always fudge my HST's seams to make them a tad narrower. But even so, rule of thumb is to add 7/8 inch to the FINISHED size of the HST so that would mean using two 4 7/8 inch squares. Using 5 inch squares should give you slightly oversized 4 1/2 inch HST's. I wonder why yours are undersized.

bearisgray

You are correct - the theoretical unfinished size would be about 4-5/8 inches. I did not measure my test paper triangles correctly.

QuiltnLady1

bearisgray,
To paraphrase Mary Ellen Hopkins - that is your personal, private measurement.

SuzzyQ

I save my scraps (that I like) until the tote gets full, then spent a few hours watching TV and cutting 2 1/2" strips (in any length, then sorted into WOF and shorter strips), 2 1/2" mini charms and 5" charms. Occasionally I will also cut 10" squares. These are sorted into clear shoe boxes. Great for a day you want to do some mindless stitching.