Organize Your Quilting Fabric Scraps With These Sew-per Easy Tips!

Do It NOW! Organize those quilting scraps with these tips and tricks!
This is Week 7 of the Sewing Room Organization Challenge and this week we are tackling fabric scraps. Are you buried with piles and piles like I am? Let's tame that pile together with these tricks! Before you know it, we will have our sewing rooms ready for any project!
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[@tinawelch3005]

pause at 2.12. Thank you. To hear someone of your talent and vast projects say "it got out of control" and "i have got to figure out how to fix it" was like getting a rainbow AND the pot of gold. NOW i am ready to tackle my textile beast

[@SewtheDistance]

Oh my goodness! Thank you for your kind words! I certainly don't have it all together, that's for sure! You can do it!

[@debbielee7117]

I put my scraps in a relatively small bin. When it gets full, I iron them and cut them into 1.5 inch strips, 2.5 inch strips and squares, 5 inch squares, 10inch squares, and fat quarters. Since I usually use pre-cuts, these sizes work for me. Bigger pieces are wrapped on comic book boards. Each size is put in color order. Works for me. One of my favorite ways to use scraps is to make sample blocks before I go whole hog into a project.

[@SewtheDistance]

I do the same thing, when I am on top of it! LOL! I will be covering precuts next week and will discuss this. Love the idea of making sample blocks. I try to do this, too. Thanks so much for watching and commenting.

[@suzanne529]

I just have a paper bag of scraps under my work table. I recently went through all my fabric, sorted UFO's, and got rid of craft items I haven't used in over a year. My sewing room still looks messy, LOL,

[@SewtheDistance]

LOL! I know that feeling! It is messy getting things organized. My sewing room currently looks like a fabric factory exploded as I tackle these scraps. Love the idea of a paper bag! Thank you for sharing!

[@stitchann]

When keeping my scraps I keep my binding strips together in one bag. I have been fortunate to find a piece that will do for another quilt or I sew my scraps together and do a scrappy binding on a quilt. As for the rest I too have a large bag that needs sorting but I usually cut them into usable pieces. I bought some 10 papers from Missouri star and was hoping to work on a string quilt. I has not happened yet.

[@Stoffmonster467]

I recently finished a string baby quilt and will not do it again: most ugliest quilt ever. Maybe I will use the scrappy squares as mug rugs.

[@SewtheDistance]

I have a bin of strings, too! EEK! Too many scraps! LOL! Next week we are tackling precuts, so I will talk about 2.5" strips. Love collecting them.

[@sewbeitquilts]

I love the idea of a scrappy binding! How fun!

[@conqueringmountscrapmorewi2509]

A great tutorial and lots of good ideas! Thank you for sharing.

[@SewtheDistance]

You are so welcome! Thank you for watching!

[@celiadonnelly255]

I actually did sort the majority of my scraps. I sorted by color and then sorted each color into strips and larger pieces.

[@SewtheDistance]

Love it! ❤️

[@vanessajohnson1944]

Hi! I've been enjoying various episodes. I am working thru my crafty-mess this last month. I want to finish things and stay on task to getting organized. I found a drawer with crumb blocks and need new dish draining mats...so that is what is on deck this week...and finishing a tied quilt top I've had forever. Thank you for the continued motivation that your videos provide. You are awesome. = ]

[@SewtheDistance]

Awww! Thank you! You can do it! Love the idea of dish draining mats with scraps. Crumb quilts are so much fun, but they seem to give birth to more crumbs, don't they? LOL! So happy you are enjoying the series!

[@vanessajohnson1944]

@@SewtheDistance The fun just never ends! I think we like it that-a-way! =]

[@sewbeitquilts]

I like those UFO planning sheets. What a good idea. I didn't know people sell their scraps on Etsy. I might have to look into that.

[@SewtheDistance]

Aren't the planning sheets neat? I wish I knew where I got them so I could credit whomever created it.

[@barbaracoleman9215]

wow! Thank you so much for encouraging me to manage my scraps. I started dong this sometime ago and stopped. I thought I was being harsh. It all makes sense. I like the idea of using the unwanted scraps for stuffing.

[@SewtheDistance]

Yay! So happy this is helpful! ❤️

[@viviannefraser5974]

Love your vintage scrap storage it’s so pretty! I’m 😮

[@SewtheDistance]

Thank you! 😍😍😍

[@suzannemiller993]

I've been doing "scrap Sunday" whereby I take a few handfuls of scraps and cut them into strips or squares.

[@SewtheDistance]

What a great idea! I love it! I am tackling these scraps this week and will give an update next week. Things are turning around some. I think. :)

[@Stoffmonster467]

I cut 2 1/2 " stripes and made bindings: pink, red, dark green, light green, dark blue, light blue. Scrappy as I realized that it doesn't matter in the finished quilt. I use the slotted ruler to cut them down.

[@SewtheDistance]

I have a huge collection of 2 1/2" strips too. I will be discussing them next week. EEK. I have too much fabric! :)

[@auntieann3000]

Thanks for the tips! My scraps are so out of control that I just started tossing to maintain sanity. Feels wasteful so hopefully I can get to an organized point to keep & sort.

[@SewtheDistance]

I feel the same way. Is it really wasteful if it gives us sanity? I think sometimes you just have toss some stuff without guilt, right? At least I hope so.

[@tracystrobel1065]

Hi Kris, just got home and there was a package on my doorstep. So excited to fire up the longarm and start to doodle and build some fmq techniques. Thank you so much and will send photos during the process. Tracy

[@SewtheDistance]

Yay! So happy you received them! Have fun! I would love to see pictures.

[@tracystrobel1065]

@@SewtheDistance so excited. Gonna work on the smaller pieces first to build some muscle memory before i tackle the big one. Thanks again

[@davidshettlesworth1442]

Thank you for this video. I needed this.

[@SewtheDistance]

You are so welcome! Glad it is helpful. ❤️

[@veronicasiczewski299]

Thank you so much for these tips. So helpful. 👍🏼🥰

[@SewtheDistance]

You are so welcome! Glad they are helpful! ❤️

[@alisonmary1443]

I don't think I would ever have a bucket of scraps that size, I would love to that's what I call playtime :) Although I have tidied my scraps, I am creating more and making 3 things, 2 EPP cushion covers and a small curtain for my Granddaughters b'day playhouse, on point squares that keep confusing me :/ Now that I am also EPP-ing there is a new size of scrap manifesting, so I have an old Christmas bauble box that is sectioned, I have the pieces I am using in some places and the scraps stuffed in another but I will need new jars. It's looking wild at my righthand side but having fun. Thank you and have a blessed and peaceful week with love💖 Ps I would love to send you pics of what I am working on, now that it's coming together. A week or so and there should be a bit more structure to my cushion covers :)

[@SewtheDistance]

I would love to see it! Send it to me! My email address is [e-mail].

[@pattiemoss2287]

Sorry for my ignorance but what is a "UFO" loved your video. Will have to watch the first 6! My stash is a mess! LOL!

[@SewtheDistance]

Oh no problem at all! I should have explained it. A UFO stands for UnFinished Projects. They are also sometimes called WIPs (Works in Progress). There are ton of silly acronyms. I probably should do a video on that alone. Lol. Glad you love the videos!

[@anitalapierre1585]

Hi. I just started watching your channel recently. I came over for a visit when I saw the video with Falon. To organize myself, I cut down everything that was from completed projects as well as remnants & miscuts from the fabric store as well as stuff that came in scrap bags purchased from the fat quarter shop.. This last week or so, I decided that I wanted to make my own precuts, I used standard ones, 10x10, 5x5, 2.5x2.5, and some jellyroll strips. I have also to include non-standard sizes of 9x9, 4.5x4.5, 2x4, 1.5x5, 1.5x2.5 and 2.5x5. These I use when fabric doesn't fit into the traditional precuts. I have a small box for each size and plan on sorting each box by color. The jellyrolls I'm cutting are kept with all the strips of one print neatly rolled up and a tiny elastic holding it. I slip a small paper saying how many strips are there so I don't have to unroll them to see how many are there.

[@SewtheDistance]

Great ideas! I am always envious of quilters who can do this systems and keep up wit it. I always have good intentions, but oftentimes I don't keep up with it. Thank you for sharing and inspiring me! And thank you for popping over from Fallon's amazing channel. ❤️❤️❤️

[@pam.scountrysewing4047]

hugs from pam keep the video coming

[@SewtheDistance]

Thank you, I will! Hugs to you, too, Pam!

[@mariettedemarest5173]

That's a lot of scraps !

[@SewtheDistance]

YES! Almost 25 years worth! Time to make some scrap quilts. :)

[@chfmrk49]

I sort by size using Lori Holts scrap saver system she ha a you tube video on it and so does Bonnie Hunter on her websiye

[@SewtheDistance]

I used to do this. I actually found I never used the scraps then. I now have another system. So many different ways to do it. Thanks for watching and sharing!

[@heidilecompte4198]

Throw all unwanted scraps no matter how small, selvages, etc. into a pillow case and when full, sew up the opening and use or donate for a pet bed.

[@SewtheDistance]

Thank you! I actually have a video on this! LOL!

[@heidilecompte4198]

@@SewtheDistance I’ll have to look for your pet bed video. Thanks!

[@SewtheDistance]

Here's a link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gonNaGmHbr2ifaM

[@loraineleuschke4186]

40? UFO’s! I thought my 5 were a lot.

[@SewtheDistance]

LOL! Well, actually 42, but I like the sound of 40 better! When I started making quilts 23ish years ago, I think I would make a mistake and abandon the project because I didn't really know how to trouble shoot it, you know? Anyway, I am going to do much better from here on out. Five should be my maximum. Well, maybe six. Eight? :)

[@darlenem4940]

I am making a scrap quilt with my smaller squares. Made 4 inch blocks. I got a little ambitious and am doing hand stitching. All of it....ya, I'm crazy

[@SewtheDistance]

Wow! That is ambitious! But imagine how that will look in the end. I think it will be well worth the effort. Scrap quilts are magical!

[@helenehart5491]

I was wondering hal did you get started with organic the fab. I have trouble getting there and do you wash them

[@SewtheDistance]

Hi! I think you mean organizing the fabric, but I am not positive, so please forgive me if this isn't the right information. To get started, I just started and didn't expect it to be perfect. I think that is where people (myself included) get hung up with organizing fabric. We want the perfect method, systems, etc. and want everything folded and lined up. What works for me is to just start, even if it is with bags or bins or whatever, and sort. I hope this helps! Let me know if you had (or have) a different question! Thanks so much for watching and for commenting! 🥰

[@kathleenstorer691]

My problem is that I have scraps in 2 different areas-my current sewing room (which was supposed to be temporary 4 years ago) and upstairs where I have bins and bins of literally everything. My scraps downstairs are sorted in plastic bags and from time to time I make a couple scrap blocks but who knows what I have upstairs? LOL!!!

[@SewtheDistance]

LOL! I know that feeling! That was me before we moved. Everything was all over the place. In a way, not knowing what you have is better, I think. Ignorance is bliss? :)

[@lizagervais8621]

I don’t have enough variety of scraps to do anything with as I hardly have any scraps.

[@SewtheDistance]

I need to be more like this. I have too many scraps.

[@ritawhitney210]

Help me… I received donations of 4-10 finished blks and don’t know how to figure out pattern. ?

[@SewtheDistance]

Yay about receiving blocks! How would you like help? You can email me pictures, if you'd like.

[@carolinarv5255]

I'm starting quiting, I need scraps.....

[@SewtheDistance]

They will automatically appear after a few projects! LOL! I have so many...

[@cathinkabloom4914]

When is a scrap a scrap?

[@SewtheDistance]

Great question! I have thought about this a lot since I saw your comment. I think it is a personal decision. Some makers keep teeny tiny pieces, where others won't keep anything under ten inches. I guess it goes along with the question: When is a leftover a leftover? When do you get a doggy bag at a restaurant and when do you leave it? Thank you for making me think about this one! And thank you for watching and commenting.

[@suestutzle2779]

I have the problem that my fabrics don't even end up being scraps or UFOs because I buy the pattern or pattern and fabric to make something then never get around to making it. I go off on other directions. Sometimes the fabric I end up using for something else and sometimes it just sits in my cupboard as another piece of fabric. I need to be more disciplined.

[@SewtheDistance]

Ohhhh! I do this, too! I am with you--I need to be better, as well. But to our defense, they are so many great fabrics and patterns, right?

[@suestutzle2779]

@@SewtheDistance Right. That's a good defence line. I'm adopting it. haha

[@rise2824]

I am someone who doesn't have scraps (yet), but if you want to donate some to me I would gladly take them off your hands ❤❤❤

[@SewtheDistance]

Lol! Love it! Since making this video over a year ago, I donated a lot of these or I would have shared some with you! ❤️