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While away from home, I took along my scrap bag. I've been on a mission (obsession) of sorts to re-organize my fabrics for months so the scraps went along with me.

After emptying a 10 pound bag I had all kinds of lengths and widths of pieces that didn't fall into the squares, rectangles, triangles, or crumbs categories. So being a tad anal I came up with this system.

Anything less than 3/4" wide or long became 'filler'*.

Above 3/4" wide x 2-5" = micro strings.
5-10" = mini strings
10-20" = half strings
20-WOF = full strings

*Filler - after trimming up 10 pounds of scraps I had enough stuff to make a doll pillow for Gary's DGD. No need for batting or stuffing, and completely wash/dryable and fluffy.

How do you organize your scraps?

I don't organize them at all, but I thought I'd share an idea.
I have a friend who collects small scraps of batting & fabric for stuffing dog beds for the animal shelter. People drop off trash bags full & she picks them up at the shop.

Mine are done by color. Kid prints are separate. And my red,white,blue prints are separate.

My full-size strings are sorted by color/themes. "Diet" noodles (at least 12 1/2" long) also by color/theme is a seperate container. All other pieces are sorted only by color (less than 12" to 6" long). Anything smaller is cut into 2 1/2" or 2" squares (depending on the original size of the strip. All other crumbs are seperated into three containers: Dark, medium and light values.

Let's see...I have two drawers for scrap pieces, generally smaller than FQ size. Then I have separate bins for bright strings/rustic strings/pastel strings. Then there's the shoe box of small (less than 6" square) scraps.

From time to time I let them come out and play together, and we have a wonderful time.

Right now I have my color/theme sorted FQs and larger than FQs wrapped around archival boards so they can stand up on the shelves. Anything less than a FQ or similar was cut into usable squares or triangles and sorted according to size. I've about worn out two cutting mats doing this. But the strings (and noodles, ty for reminding me) were driving me crazy. There are bunches of them.

So now there are four drawers with my new categories as their labels. Just wish the stackable drawers came in fours instead of threes. Are you listening Wal-Mart and Big Lots? lollll

I like the idea of sorting by shades. TFS that idea.

Also like the idea of using real scraps for pet beds. Right now the best I can do is the doll's pillow and may continue that idea.

Anyone else willing to share their stash storage/organization ideas?

I have one drawer for strings and they aren't sorted in any way really. Usually long ones on one side and shorties on the other side.

For about a year I made one string block after I finished whatever project I was working on that day. Sometimes I would get carried away and do several. It was absolutely amazing how fast they stacked up. I made three quilt tops out of them. I really, really need to start doing that again since the drawer is just about full now.

I put all my LITTLE snippets in a basket and it is just about full also. I have no idea what to do with them but can't bear to toss them. ANYONE want them??? I'd be happy to send them to a good home.

...Weeeellll i started out good awhile back ... I did cut things into usable squares, and I did separate the strips larger/smaller, several WIPs are kitted and in zippered drapery bags, whites are all in their own container as are the asians ..BIG pieces are shelved for future ref - I have no idea when future really is but they probably have permanent folds by now. I sent my crumbs off to someone who wanted them and made us both happy, and, Oh batting is all stored in one of those many- gallon longish rectangular containers in the closet. Other than that effort I am totally not very organized.
Thanks for the ideas you all are sharing - I may get busy again and improve on my 'plan'.
PS - I mentioned earlier that I got Bonnie Hunters new book on STRINGS ... so I AM a bit more motivated to get those back out ... it's a really nice book - she does have an eye for randomly putting things together!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: City/Sandie,

mine are sorted by color..sort of. lol

i really try hard to use up/cut down, the leftovers from quilts,into squares or strips..
sometimes i only get as far as putting all the fabrics that were leftover, into a large ziplock, including the binding scraps.thats organized,right?!

Sitting here smiling - saying "who's got time - don't come look at my sewing room!"

I really did go through my scraps a year or so ago, cut and organized to a point (at that time it felt great and certainly helped neaten up the sewing room). The organization I did do back then was squares of all sized in one drawer (once organized in size piles); bricks in another, strips in another. No sorting by color or design.

The drawers are a mess again and there a large garbage bag full of scraps that need to be cut and organized. A winter project, maybe?

Gave a large bag full of snippets to a lady who makes dog beds; hopefully she needs more soon.

I started doing my scraps into bins for different sizes I cut, but then started doing a lot of art/applique type projects, and decided not to cut stuff into neat strings or squares, etc. since sometimes they don't need to be for my projects.... everything bigger than a 5" square is folded and placed with my yardage (I tend to buy 1/4-1/2 yards anyway if fabric sites let you)...

The scraps 5" or smaller (or strings) are simply sorted by color into fabric bins that fit in my Target 9 cube organizer by color (purples, reds/pinks, yellows/oranges, whites/blacks/multicolor, browns, greens, blues, and 2 with crazy quilting/laces/non cottons. I simply dump the appropriate bin on a table when I need something. It works for me since it is minimal clean up (only sewing space is the kitchen table since I live at home still), and I love handling all the scraps to find the perfect piece for my work.

The only problem is the bins are getting full, so I need to do a scrap quilt at some point, but small house + hand quilting, I am trying to do smaller projects, but less scraps are used.

I started Bonnie Hunter's system over a year or so ago. The strings start at 1", 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3. A bin for lights, a bin for darks in each size. I use the stacking shoe box type and has worked well. All my FQs are arranged by color. Yardage is folded and on shelves. All novelty, Asian and Batiks are in separate drawers.

My DD is moving this week and after she leaves I need to re-carpet the room. After that I'm moving my quilting studio upstairs. I won't have any shelves. So, I will be buying rolling carts for the FQ's. I'll probably get a few of those thingys that hang on the closet rod to stack yardage in. All my crazy quilt stuff is in decorative boxes for laces,buttons, threads and a rolling cart for beads and appliques.

I dread moving but will be happy caz I'll have more room and won't hear anymore griping from DH! but I know I'll miss my shelves!

Pam

Pam, girlfriend, they DO sell shelving, too!!! Look at goodwill and other places for cabinets and shelving. Even Wally World and Target carry some glass front cabinets that can be used. That's where mine came from. Please give us an update on the transformation of the room to your new studio, okay?????