SCRAP Quilting Like a Boss - My Top Organizing Secrets Revealed!

Scraps! YES quilters have them in abundance but what NOW? How I sort, store and process my scraps into a system that I actually USE!

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[mariejohns]

I live for scraps!! And yes I use them all but not before they multiply lol. I recently learned a new trick that might help add to your cutting process. All you need are some big zip lock bags and a pattern. Take that pattern and cut what you need to make that quilt. Voila…. You just made your own quilt kit!! Super effective for busting that stash!! I also add the birders and binding so its all together most of the time.

[TheRozylass]

I came to quilting from garment sewing so I began with scraps from that. My first quilt was one for my daughter who asked for a pink and purple quilt. I pulled out all the scraps in those colors and set to work making a nine-patch for her. Most of the pieces had memories attached and that's what makes scrap quilting so fun to me. Before the 1970's most home-made clothing was made from cotton (or wool in the winter) so scraps made wonderful quilts. I still go into quilt shops and look at the fabric and think "Oh, that would make a gorgeous dress or blouse." I process scraps similar to you, by color, and in pre-cut sizes. I'm amazed at that ruler you use, wow! That is like magic. I'd like to get one of those. Thanks for sharing, I love learning new things. I live in a tiny rural town and haven't found an active quilt group near me, so I consider my YouTube "friends" my quilt group. Keep up the great work.

[Lauria]

My paternal grandmother would get precut squares and sew them together any old way as they came to hand. Didn't even bother to line up the corners. Some of her seams were a quarter inch off. On the other side, my great grandmothers ...I honestly don't know how their quilts were made. Its like they grabbed two pieces of scrap, sewed a straight line. Grabbed two more, and kept going till they somehow had a full quilt top.

I've tried to recreate both types and discovered I can not deal with random fabric placement. It sets my teeth on edge. The closest I've ever come to random was a nine patch with solid squares between. And that was hard! lol

THEN I decided to try paper piecing. Low and behold, I could deal with random. But only hexagons, and only paper pieced. I have no idea why, but that's what I'm going with for now.

[bonniewoodfine]

Love your sense of humor....15 minute increments is a great idea.

[Avotts]

I dont mind creating fabric. put a seam in it and get your 10 inch sq pieces. Oh my, pandemic squares...crazy mam crazy.
I had no scraps because I had not seriously sewn in years. I decided I wanted to sew someway. I bought and had cleaned 2 machines, I watched a ton of videos. I went to Joanns...I lost heart. I went to walMart and picked out various colors all the same size..1/4 yd. Washed all and ironed all and stored them away. I was not happy at prices or selection. I remembered how my great grandmother used crumbs of all the clothes she made, mostly from flour sacks. I said well let me find cotton clothes that I can deconstruct, I went to Salvation Armt thrift and bought mostly kids clothes. I washed and ironed and stored it away. Later I decided to try a large Goodwill. I found yardages of beautiful dress fabrics that I had to buy. Also, lots of new flat sheets in white and various colors. I founf drapes and duvet covers. Almost every thing was new, I also found drapes. All were washed and ironed and stored away. I did cut apart most of the shirts. I did not cut the sheets. I have lovely fabrics in many colors and designs. Mostly from $1.00 mens shirts. Look at shirts...there is a lot of fabric in them. So now I have scraps and dress making fabric and sewing machines and backing. I hope to soon be able to start working on them. I have a tote full of clothes to mend. I also bought a mid arm quilting frame. Before now I have only done hand quilting and dress making. I also picked up some silk to mend a damaged comforter.

[Hitchhikergal]

💙💚💙💚💙 I love the stripology rulers too!

[monataylor]

Saving scraps is easy … using scraps, oh my. I did just finish a Halloween quilt with scraps! One win!!!

[lorraineleclerc]

Wow, I just found your channel, while I had all my scraps out. What a blessing. I wasn’t processing my fabric effectively. You are a blessing. 😊🇨🇦

[kathleenmayhorne]

Thank-you or your ideas. I watched the lady from the quilted forest. She got out her many scrap bins, with her 2 1/2" strips she sewed the ends together and ran them under the iron, some were a real mess, then rolled them up like jelly rolls on an old spool, ribbon or elastic? She got two rows side by side on it. She got a whole bin tamed neat enough to put on a shelf, for her next jelly roll race style quilts. Have you seen Brenda from mt scrapmore, she makes potato chip blocks, with 2 1/2" × 4 1/2"bricks or their smaller or larger cousins. She also put together an orphan blocks quilt, in the jr race style, that worked well. She does a lot of tedious work with leaders and enders, while sewing up other things. Ready in advance for the next project. Pat sloan has light and dark squares for leaders and enders, keeping to a theme, she does blue, green or another colour, sews two pairs light and dark, turns them into 4-patches opposite corners for lights, after she's done her project for the day, puts 4 together for a larger block, and sets them aside until she has enough. 4×4, 32-patches could be a baby quilt? 5 or 6 × 9 or 10 would be a twin? Or mix up the sizes and do a really scrappy one. You could make all sorts of smaller gifts with the double 4-patches. You could really tame those blues? Tiffany recently did a free visual pattern with increasing 4-patch sizes that fit all together. 1 1/2", 2 1/2", 4 /2", and 8 1/2", i think? And said if you don't "do" fiddly little pieces, skip them. You can easy cut down those 10" squares too, for the right colour 2 1/2", 3", 5", etc. You must have so much fun, from the quilts on your wall for exaample, with your scraps. All the best.

[jeaniemichaels]

I use nothing but scraps. I get friends' leftovers, mix them all up, then try to make some sense out of them. I make quilts for charities, bunting, santa sacks and so on. Some scraps are as large as fat quarters but I have made several crumb quilts. It's very satisfying knowing that I am saving fabrics from landfill, making useful and beautiful projects, and giving myself hours of gainful occupation.

[judydomke]

Morning coffee with Amy!! I just told hubby I will be in my sewing room all day. I'm all set for a morning of cutting, sewing 1 block, attaching a binding and possibly cutting again. How satisfying is the sound of that rotary cutter thru the fabric. Thanks for jump starting my day in the sewing room with another great video.

[rebeccapullen]

I adore scraps! They make the most dynamic, beautiful quilts that represent the essence of quilts of lore. It feels thrifty and somewhat virtuous to make something beautiful and useful from scraps that others would discard!

[peggyfanning]

Love, Love, Love scrap quilts! I think this is because I am utilitarian at heart. Thank you for your videos!

[Mrsjaydee]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who has a hard time with math in my head. That was actually 40 5" squares. 😂 I love your method. Your personality is so cute and bubbly! I must subscribe!

[DandelionStitches]

I am inspired! I needed this video in my life! xo

[DonnasCreativeAdventures]

I use to toss anything less than half a yard. Then, I donated. Thanks to you, I have a whole new way to look at the extra fabric which I always thought was a huge waste. Hope you have a fabulous day.

[pauladimattei]

Oh do I save scraps, and I use them. I sort scraps by color. I used to process them into pre cut sizes. But I didn’t tend to use them. I have an Accuquilt electric cutter and many dies. So what I do now is this. I plan my quilt and decide on a color “story”. And choose my chosen colors from my scrap drawers. I sort of kit my quilt and cut the necessary sizes I need then. I love hearing about how people “process” their scraps. I too keep strings. I have a large tub of neutrals and a large tub of colored strings. I do love string quilts. I got hooked on them watching Bonnie Hunter. She has some great string quilt books. Love all of your videos. Thank you for all you do. ❤

[myrahaner]

I process my scraps like this as well. I cut sizes I use most. Anything over 1 yard gets folded and put with yardage. Anything under a yard and larger than a fat quarter gets folded and put into shoe boxes, sorted by color. I started doing it this way because I wasn't using my scraps because it was too overwhelming. I also work with a lot of hand me down fabric and thrifted fabric, which tends to be smaller remnants anyways. I do find it a little time consuming cutting it all up. I keep a small bin and try to process scraps once it's full. I was surprised at how fast you processed yours with that ruler though. During your video I realized I have a shape cut ruler that was given to me and it goes up to 12 inches square! I don't know why I didn't think of using it before. So thank you for the inspiration! My scrap bin is full and this afternoon I plan on using that ruler to knock out some precuts and have some progress satisfaction 😂

[pilardougall]

Yes! I keep scraps 🎉 I love them and yes I use them, too 😊

[upriver]

Hi Amy, You just popped up on my suggested list. I'm Rose and it's nice to meet you!

I just worked scraps today after being gifted 3 trash bags of scraps yesterday. I sort large pieces by color into ckear pkastic bins. Smaller pieces get processed much like yours but I use different sizes ( Lori Holt method). I'm working on scrap quilts for five sisters and nine grandkids, all nade from scraps. I've finished seven quilts this year and haven't made a dent in my stash. Almost all my fabrics have come from garage sales snd estate sales. The only time I pay full price is if I need a large backing or a background in a specific color. I'm cheap like thst, lol but recipients would never know the difference.