Stop Wasting Fabric! | Episode 62

In this episode, The Opinionated Quilter shares a few tips on ways for you to save fabric and end up with less waste.
Fast Flying Geese: • No More Crumb Quilts! ...
Using Precuts To Make Half Square Triangles, Quarter Square Triangles and Combo Units: • Precuts: The Good, The...
How I Make A Quick & Free3 Yard Quilt With Tutorial (Di's correction): • How I Make A Quick & F...
Instagram: quiltershea...
Twitter: / opinionquilter

[@dorothydishman4664]

To control waste and make usable left overs, I try to cut & process any left overs right after completing a project. Cut into usable strips, blocks in all the sizes you can and any scraps after that process can be used in strip sewing into fun blocks. I used to think the quilt was finished when the binding was done...now the final step is clean up the leftovers before starting a new project. It takes some effort to establish a new habit, but well worth it in the future as you will have an orderly (somewhat) stash from which to work. Good luck..

[@gwynwellliver4489]

❤I always do this now.

[@heatherarlen8966]

Is there a way to give these fabrics to people who would like to sew but cannot afford the cost of the fabric? There was a time in my life when those bags would have been a gold mine to me.

[@bethkoch11]

You've made me so much more conscious of the fabric I have left over after a project. I just finished a quilt top that called for 6-1/4" squares, matched up with a background square to make a single half-square triangle. The pattern also called for 2-3/8" squares out of the same background to snowball another square. Before I got all the cutting done, I thought "what would Maureen do?", and instead of cutting WOF strips 2-3/8" wide and subcutting as the pattern directed, I cut these squares out of the leftover from the big half-square triangles. I used the rest of the leftovers to add to my growing box of 2-1/2" and 1-1/2" squares. I ended up with almost no waste after it was done and used less fabric than the pattern called for. I probably could have cut this even more efficiently if I had thought about it more before I started, but I feel that I'm on the right track, thanks to your suggestions.

[@theopinionatedquilter]

Thank you so much. So glad to hear my suggestions work.

[@charlenemorris6391]

I always love your encouragement to use your scraps and create. I make 4.5 inch blocks and some day I will be able to make a bed quilt. Some are 4 patches, stars, rail fence, crazy blocks, square in a square. I think about your strategy often.

[@lucilegubbins4433]

I loved this video! For someone who has too many partial jelly rolls, consider making Donna Jordan's Scrap Strips Diamond Trip quilt! Great way to use up leftovers!

[@omisfavorites1054]

Great ideas! And an excellent reminder to think about reducing waste as we quilt. Thanks for another very useful video. Love following your opinions!

[@Kim-xg1vm]

I am new to quilting, and far from any kind of perfection, but I started to quilt for the "Joy" of it. Life is full of stress and when I sew it is a creative process that needs to be allowed to make mistakes. If you are sewing and it turns into a chore or a guilt trip ... take up fishing.... I do enjoy your tips!

[@theopinionatedquilter]

I always say, life is too short to work on something you don't enjoy. When it is no fun there is always someone that would love it so pass it on.

[@susanswanson8404]

I love your mindset, the no-no sense view. I think of my grandmother and what she would say about scraps. She was an old Yankee from way back and they had the motto, use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without. Thank you, Maureen 🌞

[@franpatzcraig6713]

I love the way you think. I rarely use precuts these days.

[@pollyjazz]

Omg! I wish you could re-home some of those scraps to me! I don't have access to most of those pretty kind of patterns. Bummer i live so far away. I try to make the least amount of scraps possible. I avoid patterns that waste fabric or find a different way to do them, like you do. I never use precuts unless i can use it all. I am forever altering measurements of blocks so I can get the most out of the 10 inch squares which is the only kind i have access to. It's become a sort of challenge for me , a fun puzzle to keep my mind occupied. Sort of like my own personal sodoku....

[@theopinionatedquilter]

I would be happy to ship to you. There are fixed rate envelopes and boxes as well as just regular shipping which can be cheaper depending on how far you are. email me at quiltersheaveninc@gmail. com if you want to price it out.

[@damecupcake]

Another great episode, Maureen! I enjoy each and everyone.

[@theopinionatedquilter]

that is so good to hear.

[@arabellalunkes4532]

I use anything bigger than 1” square. With that said I will continue to buy fabric. I worked so darn hard since very young and now one of my few pleasures is quilting. What ever is left behind is to be donated to friend and charity. If my children complain too much about all my fabric I’ll hide all the dólares I am leaving behind hidden within my fabrics.

[@cathycurrier4443]

I use most of the left over fabric in the block Potato Chip block from Conquering Mount Scarpmore. Great way to use up the left overs.

[@dianagrant9479]

I have recently become acquainted with the fact I'm not going to live forever. With the FART's I've taken, have led to a FABLE. I don't know how to make this dog bed you often refer to, and no one to give it to, so my thread strings, cutting waste, keep piling up. Holly from String & Story has a vlog post suggesting efficient use of fabric & not buying as much. Not purchasing just because one can. So much to think about. (FART - fabric accumulation road trip. FABLE - fabric acquired beyond life expectancy)

[@marygem]

I make most of my quilts from leftovers of fabric and quilt projects from others. To me , it's inspiring to see the completion of another's hard work that is enjoyable, as if I have a companion who enjoyed sewing as much as I do. Very satisfying after I am (or, rather, "we are") done, to know that another woman's efforts, time spent, and life, were not wasted. I hope someone will do the same for my work that's left over when I pass. We have a nonprofit store, called "Legacy" in my county, run by volunteers, which makes these collaborations possible.

[@judyrobinette2674]

Maureen, I love your videos! I consider myself a scrap quilter and try very hard to use up what I can to make lovely quilts. I am working on gathering fabric leftovers to make your Chip off the Old Block. I look forward to your videos every Monday morning. Keep up the good work!

[@littlejoan7473]

Maureen, I'm guilty of two timing you, I've been watching other quilting videos. So sorry!😋But Jo Kramer has a genius method for making her Piccadilly Circus quilt. It has been in American Patchwork & Quilting and Quiltmaker magazines, only with paper piecing instructions instead of her method. She designed the blocks to save the cut off corners from the piecing to use in the borders and sashings. An amazing quilt with no waste, in fact she uses donated scraps to make the quilt. Hope you are getting help with making charity blankets. I'm drooling over those scraps!

[@theopinionatedquilter]

Love the no waste. No guilt, watch as many quilting videos as you have time.

[@violaswann5619]

Great opinion! We can use all the reminders for keeping things out of the landfill, and with using up all the fabric that we paid for and have something useful out of it make its win-win for all.

[@theopinionatedquilter]

I couldn't agree more.

[@BonnieWaldrup]

Boy am I guilty!! I have tons of fabric that I will never use. I have fun playing with my little left over triangles though. Thanks to your video "World's Greatest Scrap Quilt" and other videos for leader ender and crumb quilts I'm having a blast with all my tiny left overs. I'm a fabricholic, no doubt about that and I love my fabrics, even the scraps. Occasionally I'll donate or sell fabric to ease my guilt. Thank you for your videos!! They help rein me into reality! 😁❤

[@peggymeathenia8175]

Please continue to make videos of ways to cut efficiently to eliminate waste. Any 2.5" wide pieces I have left at end of 40-41" w o f cuts, are sewn into 4 patches as I am completing that specific quilt top. Then I have 4 patch samples of all the quilts given for charity purposes. It's amazing how the many colors of the 4 patches make a new and beautiful memory quilt for my use.

[@ladyhawthorne1]

I just discovered today that I can get 4, 9.5" squares out of a width of fabric. You have great info, thanks so much for sharing! I'm making charity quilts this year and I'm buying scrap fabrics and some yardage from a local thrift store that gets it periodically, lots of lovely colors and patterns that I get to play with. Less waste means I can make more quilts!

[@theopinionatedquilter]

absolutely.

[@alison5072]

Pattern writers need to take note!

[@marymannion4445]

Yeah… please give us the bigger pieces to cut BEFORE the smaller ones.

[@matthewmosher3712]

Such a great video! Thanks!

[@C123abc]

Thank you for another great and useful video! I'm now a big Deb Tucker fan and I do appreciate the heads up about the Elizabeth Hartman patterns. I have one that I will work on soon and will use the Corner Pop ruler!

[@TollerLuv1]

Once I have completed the quilt top, I incorporate any larger pieces into the back of my quilt and then cut 2.5 inch squares out of anything smaller (which I will use in a checkerboard style quilt top once I have enough). I like having an uncomplicated plan for any leftovers.

[@janrichardson8331]

Good video! Thanks for suggestions. ❤

[@juliaconner5445]

Love your channel!

[@dcatweaver]

This was a very informative video. I look forward to Monday's.

[@theopinionatedquilter]

So glad to hear.

[@ilamigut992]

I love your videos and appreciate your pragmatic approach to so many quilting issues - but I think you may have missed an opportunity when you talked about QSTs that need to finish at 10". I agree that it's wasteful to cut 11-1/2" squares. The better solution is a different ruler that will let you cut the triangles from a strip. Sometimes resizing a block will change the entire look/construction of a quilt. The right tool can help you be more efficient. Thanks again for doing these videos!

[@abeullah03]

Thank you for another great video

[@theopinionatedquilter]

You are so welcome.

[@robintaylor8421]

With the scarps i have left over i make pillow cases to put quilt in.

[@theopinionatedquilter]

Great idea.

[@nancyboettiger1480]

I hate clipping corners. I was watching the snowball segment and thought I could do it with HST's and strips, lot of sewing but less waste. I was looking at the Swoon pattern and all I could see was clipped corners. I love the look of that quilt but just think the process is tedious. Thanks for bringing this up, but I don't see it changing any time soon.

[@jackiematsumura2649]

I’ve made scrappy backs- Karen Brown of Just Get It Done quilts calls this style of back the after quilt. I started putting orphan blocks on the backs also. I also use the strips from backing (after trimming a finished quilt) in other quilts. I like your suggestions for more efficient piecing.

[@theopinionatedquilter]

Thank you.

[@marchann9086]

You have really made me think about all the fabric and scrap I have in my Quilt Room. I am 73 so my time is shorter than it has been and I am just not using my fabric as much as I can. I also started cutting up my scraps and felt really good about it, but if I don't use them what good is it that I pre-cut my scraps. Thanks you I look forward to your Monday video's.

[@MartyLawless-kh2jd]

I think there are plenty of people who will enjoy the scraps you leave behind. I am the same age as you, so I understand how you feel. I appreciate the waste saving measures discussed in this video, but I feel bad that she views this as a burden placed on her. Maybe she needs to say "no" to donations. Or put it in a "free" bin at her store.

[@theopinionatedquilter]

Not a burden. I would rather give the scraps to the dog bed lady than let them go into the landfill. I just like to give tips on using the scraps and making less of them to start with.

[@AvivaHadas]

If you need a home for those scraps.... My introduction to quilting was charm quilts (Y2K) As a result, I still strive to use as many different prints as possible. (So I buy pre-cuts mostly charms or mini charms, but I use 99% of them.)

[@jeannemcmillintwinlakeses3767]

I am loving all these tips for sewing with less waste and don't know if you have talked about this or I just missed it. I am making blocks that need strips of the background sewn onto each end of a strip of the main fabric. They are done by sewing the strips onto each end like you would to make bias joined binding. So you end up chopping off a lot of triangles like most everything else. I hope I explained that so you know what I'm talking about. Any words of wisdom there?

[@theopinionatedquilter]

I didn't follow. What is the name of the pattern?

[@suzannemiller993]

My biggest issue are orphan blocks. I have lots of them...BOMs, test blocks, blocks done in the wrong colorway, blocks given to me, etc.

[@ksharpe8137]

I have a box full of orphan blocks as well. 😢 I don’t know what to do with them.

[@gwynwellliver4489]

Scrappy sampler, pillows, tote bags. There are endless possibilities.

[@user-og6rz3mx7s]

❤