Spring is in the air and I’m feeling the need to clean and organize. I like to sort my scraps according to color. Until last weekend I kept my yellow and orange scraps together and my blue and and aqua/turquoise scraps together. The problem with not having a separate bin for the aqua/turquoise scraps was sometime I didn’t know if I should put a fabric in the blue bin or the green bin. Adding the extra bin has eliminated that problem. In addition to the bins shown I a low volume bin, black/gray bin, brown bin, and aqua turquoise. I’m thinking eventually I’ll need to separate my pink and purple bin. The problem there is I have a lot of pinks in various shades but not many purples. So I might have to find a different way to separate this bin, maybe light pinks and hot pinks.
In addition to color bins I organized my pre-cut pieces. I don’t do a lot of pre cutting. If you would like tips on that check out Bonnie Hunter’s system here. If and when I get on a cutting spree I cut into units that will make 4″ and 6″ blocks. The 2″ and 3″ units hold half square and quarter square pieces. I can make hour glass blocks, flying geese and half square triangles from these units. You will also notice a bin with 1/4 circle units. I have a bunch of these from making drunkard’s path blocks using the curved seam ruler. I didn’t want to waste them and recently saw and idea to use them up on Cynthia’s blog.
You’ll notice the bottom draw of my scraps has various sized squares. These ones don’t play so well with others. I got a little zealous when cutting out various quilts. I don’t want to waste them and I’m sure I can find a home for them somewhere. Having them labeled and out where I can see them keeps them in my mind and hopefully my sub conscience will form a plan.
I just hope it’s not at 2 in the morning. Do you have a method for your scraps? Share any tips in the comments. Also didn’t realize until just now that it is Pi day. How did that happen? Will my math wiz kids forgive me? Probably cause there will will be pizza tonight. Should have posted my circle applique tutorial. Here’s a link in case you want to make a few circles for Pi Day.
I don't think there are enough buckets in the world to hold my scraps. I love how visible yours are going to be.
I just sorted through my red scraps as part of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge crystalscraps.blogspot.com/2017/03/red.html
The only problem I have with 2 am inspiration is finding it again at 7! I know I filed that idea somewhere
It looks so organized!
There is a Quilty Adoption Day over at
quiltingismorefunthanhousework.blogspot.com/2017/03/mark-your-calendars.html
Where you can trade or giveaway your Orphan fabrics.
I have a fishing tackle box with deep dividers, which store all my pre cut 2.5" squares and half square triangles by colour. And I just purchased another container which has a similar divider as an insert, but room underneath which I am going to start using, so scraps go on top, fat quarters underneath, per colour. I try keep colour sorting into big groups eg blue covers everything from navy to aqua and baby blue.
Great ideas for storing scraps. I like mine sorted by color too. Funny you linked to my circle quilt – I was just thinking about making another one.
I am a scrapaholic. I just can't throw out a useful piece of fabric. I cut my leftovers into the largest possible pieces. My scraps are sorted by size. I have bags of strips, 1 inch, 1-1/2 inch, 2 inch etc. I have boxes of squares, my smallest square is 1-1/2 inches.