Saturday, March 06, 2021

Thoughts on Scrappy Quilts and organizing

 I'm delighted that our Island Batik Challenge for this month is to make a Scrappy Quilt!  I'm hard at work making blocks, and spent this afternoon cutting more strips so I don't run out. 

 While I was at it I decided it was past time to organize all the scraps that are piling up!  I'm a big time saver, so I tend to want to save every single little piece, whether it's a 1 x 3 piece or a fat quarter.  I've been keeping them in their collections, but I was getting over-run with little bundles of fabric.  I truthfully don't often reuse the collections, but tend to pull out the colors I need for what I want to make, so I thought it was time to untie all those bundles, sort the into larger pieces, and cut the smaller pieces into usable units.  


It was hard to set a limit, but I decided that the smallest unit I will cut will be a 2 1/2 inch square.  Anything smaller than that has to go!


Fun to see all the fabric pieces, so many projects I've made with these!

Do you like to piece with small bits and pieces?  I though they would be fun for improv sewing, but truthfully I haven't had time.  They would be great for mini quilts, too.  I better stop thinking or I'll want to keep them!  As well as making a quilt this month, I am challenging myself to finish this process.  I am planning to cut 2 1/2 inch squares and strips, 2 1/2 by 4 1/2 bricks and 5 inch squares.  


I'm still debating what to do with all the triangles. Sometimes they are fun to play with, but I seem to be doing more collecting than playing at this point!  Maybe these are something I can let go as well and give myself some breathing room.  I do know what to do with all the binding strip leftovers!  (Yes, I save those, too!)  They will be perfect for binding my scrappy quilt!


I managed to stuff all 2 pounds of small scraps into a priority bubble envelope!  If you would be interested in receiving them, leave me a comment in this post and I'll draw a name and mail them off to you!  If you live outside the US, I would ask you to pay the postage cost over what shipping to the US would cost and I'll cover the shipping inside the US.  I'm sure someone would be happy to give these bits and pieces a new home and actually do something with them!

Happy Sewing today!


10 comments:

Quilting Tangent said...

I love scrappy planned quilts. Would welcome your scraps. 24Tangent@gmail.com

Shirley said...

Recognizing scrap "Hoarding" and dealing with it, must be going around, as yesterday was spent sorting/discarding....Will be pressing and cutting today!

@lutzcats said...

I love this quilt. I've yet to meet a scrap that couldn't use my love!!! Thus alot of scrappy quilts are created in my sewing room.

Gail said...

I love scraps and scrappy quilts. Your blocks are wonderful.

VA said...

I've been wanting to do some improv piecing. Your scrappy quilt is looking good!

Brenda said...

Yep! It must be catching! I have spent the last few days going through some of my scraps, sorting and cutting. I have 3 large laundry basket packed full to go through yet!

Carol Andrews said...

Scraps are the most fun to play with! I’ve managed to keep most of them tamed in my pizza box storage system but keep finding stashes of baggies to go through! More is better seems to be my mantra when it comes to scraps. 😉

Nancy A: SewingGranda@gmail.com said...

I would love to play with your scraps. I love scrap quilts.

Debbie Q said...

I make give away quilts for The Giving Quilt Inc in Louisiana. I would love to use those scraps. I am working on one right now using 2 12" squares.

Beth said...

I always think other people's scraps are more interesting than our own--just like it was more interesting to help clean up a friend's bedroom as a kid than tackle my own. Do you remember that? In any case, small scraps have been coming in handy with my mini quilting and I'd love to toss my name in.