As a scrap quilter I don't think of this as purging, but the way I work my scraps normally. BUT, I really need to tame these. Blue basket is a mix of civil war, mini prints, blenders, and modern. Green basket is a mix of brights and juvinile and novelty prints. Old apple basket is lights and lots of muslin scraps - LOTS! A little baggy of skinny whites and white on whites and a baggy of a few strings. Those strings have been going into those phone paper blocks(see a few papers there - I needed a few more blocks - can't count).
I don't like to take my scraps and cut them down - they are yardage to me. I wait until I am down to the last useable or maybe I have just used that fabric too many times - then they are cut into my system. Snack barrels for 1.5", 2", 2.5", 3.5" and 5" sizes. I admit that I don't use the 3.5" too often - usually when that barrel is full, I pass them on. The 5" barrel is for left over charms - I tend to pick those packs apart and the odd balls go into the system. I can get a lot of mileage out of a 5" square of scrap, so I don't pre-cut those.
A lot of my projects come from those baskets and barrels. My 'Let's Book It' project is being made from them right now. Most of my doll quilts come from those and the latest Moda Bake Shop 'Trifle Dish' quilt - see, not a dent and that was a big quilt!
Now I did pick up a couple of strip bundles during Connecting Threads clearance (not sure of the line name - think a mix). But I am mixing them with some left over various FQs (yes, I tend to strip bundles like my charm packs), and I have a few different baggies of solid strips from jelly rolls.
Those are going into the 'Nested Churn Dash' blocks. Yeah, I was going to make just one, but I had all those pieces of fabric to play with. All my centers are the same as I find working with small pieces easier to strip piece and chain thru the machine. Ready for the next round.
The Purge project (see button on side bar) goes into the middle of September, so it will be interesting to see if I can clear out those baskets and baggies - NOT taking bets.
Sewingly Yours,
Sharon
21 comments:
LOLOLOL!! Boy, Sharon, your scraps are sure a lot more organized than mine!! I keep saying I am going to do something with them . . . and then they just continue to sit!! Some day!! :-))
I have no doubt you will be able to clean out a good portion of your baskets and baggies by September. I feel as though I have been purging all of 2014 and I am definitely enjoying it.
wow i hope you get your scraps down Sharon,sounds like fun.xx
You go girl, you can do it!
I don't cut my scraps down either because I just don't know what I might need for paper piecing or hexies.
If I just have a few pieces left they go in with like colors. If I have a lot from a bundle, I just keep them together.
Come and organize me Sharon......PLEASEEEEE....:)
I am so unorganized. I have rubbermaid totes of yardage and a small basket of smaller than a yard.
I do find though I mostly play with the smaller pieces and not the yardage. hmmmm........
It's almost a traumatic thing to see all the scraps that need taming. I have a trash bag full that I keep tipping over when I use my Ironing space. I need to get them tamed in time for Bonnie Hunter's next Mystery! Gotta have a goal. The jars are a colorful idea.
I would bet on you but know that even though you use up scraps they have a tendency to "go forth and multiply" and that's just a fact. I do think you will tidy up those baskets though. Have fun.
Every now and then I have to re-group my scraps. Except for the one, two, three, and four-inch tins, I tend to leave things in strips and put them in a bin by color. Nothing I make seems to put a dent in my stash though.
I'm glad to hear you're another one who doesn't cut her scraps down, I always have a "what if" feeling when I think about it, I keep them as big pieces but they're messier than the little guys.
I have done some purging by getting rid of three boxes of scraps. Now I need to keep working on sewing what is left. I like how organize you are. You have some great scrap blocks.
I kinda do the same thing. I sort by color but I don't cut mine right away only if it's a really small piece ( fat eighth or less) I also have 5" squares leftover from charm packs and from samples thrown in with a fabric purchase. I'm thinking one day soon they will make a great and colorful quilt! Thanks for sharing this Sharon.
It is nice when a full assortment of scraps (or an over abundance) gets you thinking of the possibilities....
I cheated and actually took a small portion of mine to guild and threw them into their Fat Quarter raffle. It was refreshing to get rid of some of it.
You always do such a great job with your scraps.
Love your scraps. I NEED to do that with my scraps, too. Purge is a great excellent idea. You go girl!
Love to read about how you organize your scraps. Nice to hear where you get the fabrics for your doll clothes.
Love it... all those baskets full of treats :)
Darn...wish I saw this post before I made Jackson's dog quilt...as i love that dog pattern in the christmas cats and dogs book...smiles! COngrats on the successful purge:)
You certainly do more with scraps than anyone else I know Sharon! I don't cut down my larger scraps either - you never know when you might need that bigger size! Love all your red scrappiness :)
Looks like you have a system that works for you.
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