Sew What’s Up Presents
The Sew What’s New Archive
This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
quilting message board “Sew What’s New,” which was
retired in August 2007. It is being provided by
“Sew What’s Up,”
which serves as the new home for many members of “Sew What’s New.”
From: mozeyrn
Date: 01-17-2006, 03:55 PM (1 of 18)
|
What amount of scrap fabric do you ladies/gentlemen consider worth keeping? I'm afraid I'm saving pieces that are too small.....which is just adding to the clutter I'm trying to prevent. Is there a general thought on how much left-over material is worth keeping vs. what to throw out? I'm talking about basic cotton/polyester stuff, not the high priced kind. Thank you for any kind of advice. - Maureen.
Learning something new with every stitch!! Kenmore 16231000 |
User: mozeyrn
Member since: 11-29-2005 Total posts: 349 |
From: Melanie T
Date: 01-17-2006, 05:19 PM (2 of 18)
|
I'm not a quilter, so I don't save the little bits. I keep anything over 1/2 yard with my fabrics because with small children, that will make a shirt or something. Smaller bits, between the 1/2 yard and around decorator sample size (has to be squarish or rectangle to be usable) I put in my scrap box for my sewing lesson students to practice on. Other than that I toss it. My grandma used to keep everything and when we cleaned out her house.... I'm not going to put myself or my kids through that. Melanie
4 little sewing machine mechanics (6, 4, 2, Born June 14) Ontario Canada |
User: Melanie T
Member since: 09-21-2004 Total posts: 155 |
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 01-17-2006, 05:29 PM (3 of 18)
I keep anything from 1/4 yd up.. If I have smaller pieces of fabric or trims and laces I keep a container close to my machine, and I put short , short items in there and give to friends who make doll clothes. I have several friends who do this each year at Christmas for the Salvation Army.. They can always use small amounts for their work..( and my thrifty nature does not feel guilty for throwing something away).. 
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
|
From: carman
Date: 01-17-2006, 05:37 PM (4 of 18)
oh my gosh, you all are going to cringe  i even keep the little triangles i cut off when i am piecing, a friend of mine does miniatures and she uses them as well as i put them to use in the oddest places in my quilting, so 1 1/2 by 1 1/2 is a how small I'll keep 
|
User: carman
Member since: 04-17-2000 Total posts: 692 
|
From: HeyJudee
Date: 01-17-2006, 06:16 PM (5 of 18)
|
I'm with you Carman...I keep scraps as narrow as 1" especially if they are strips. In quilting I can use them to make log cabin blocks, pieces for appliques or for something else, eh. I even keep the smaller strips in a box for my sewing buddies...to start sewing and help prevent the edges from being eaten by the machine esp. those triangle points. I cringe when I finally decide to throw a piece out!!!
TTFN from
Judy |
User: HeyJudee
Member since: 01-25-2005 Total posts: 1366 
|
From: pretnichols
Date: 01-17-2006, 07:52 PM (6 of 18)
|
I too keep everything, no matter how small. I just completed making a second pillow today, entirely stuffed with fleece scraps. My daughter and I cut them into small strips and pieces and stuffed away. It was a super nice feeling to rid myself of a garbage (13 gallon size) bag full of fleece scraps that weren't big enough for anything else. Plus, there's this nice feeling I have that I didn't waste material!
Peggy
So little time, sew much to do........... |
User: pretnichols
Member since: 10-16-2005 Total posts: 342 |
From: Chrysantha
Date: 01-17-2006, 09:45 PM (7 of 18)
|
I'm a scrap keeper too...you never know when a 1" piece could be needed to be a fill in for 'something/anything'.
Chrys
|
User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414 
|
From: debsews
Date: 01-17-2006, 10:26 PM (8 of 18)
|
I think I've found a group that will take my cotton scraps. They make Teddy Bears for a camp for disabled and abused children. They each get a bear when they arrive and then take that bear home with them. I save the bigger scraps for kids shirts or shorts but I'm starting to think I save too much. I have to go through the rubbermaid tub again and weed some things out. My son called tonight and wants me to make him some lounge pants so i can use some of my stash for that. I'll make his son a matching pair and hopefully not have too much waste. |
User: debsews
Member since: 09-16-2005 Total posts: 254 |
From: Dustbunny01
Date: 01-17-2006, 11:01 PM (9 of 18)
|
If you have extra fabrics.. please don't forget about this site.. the lady is lovely and loves making quilts for homeless animals.. her web site is here: http://community-2.webtv.net/crittercomforts/CritterComforts/ DB
|
User: Dustbunny01
Member since: 11-11-2005 Total posts: 159 
|
From: DorothyL
Date: 01-18-2006, 08:49 AM (10 of 18)
|
For me it depends on the type of fabric. I tend to save the smaller pieces of quilter's cotton if I can use the print for an applique or something like that (I don't quilt). Other fabrics -- it just isn't worth it for most to save less than a yard unless it can be used as some sort of trim or other decorative use. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: Pudge99
Date: 01-18-2006, 10:42 AM (11 of 18)
|
I used to keep everything. Now I have a plan. If it is still the full width I keep it no mater how short. If it is the bits and pieces left over after cuttng out a garment, I have templates for the small craft items I make and I cut them out right then. If I am doing a bunch of things at once I basket all the scraps up and then cut them out later. The stuff that is left over goes in the garbage bin. But I think I am going to change the garbage thing because someone here on the site said birds love to use our scraps to make their nests. So I think I will keep a wooden box out on my back patio with the little bits so the birds can have their pick. Won't the kids get a kick out of seeing bits of their clothing in the birds nests in our neighborhood? Mostly what I use my scraps for is yo yos (http://sewnews.com/resources/qa/qa1104b/) . They make great busy work for doctor office waiting and they can add zing to a bland project. Grouped together they look like flowers, a bit of stiff interfacing inside and they can become a button. Gina
Pictures of my successes and failures Pfaff 2040 Janome Mylock 134D Singer Futura CE-100 w/ Autopunch Husqvarna Viking 3D Sketch |
User: Pudge99
Member since: 10-30-2001 Total posts: 1375 |
From: pretnichols
Date: 01-18-2006, 11:20 AM (12 of 18)
|
Hey ladies, thanks for the great ideas for the scraps. I think I'll teach my daugher how to make yo-yo's, and I also contacted the pet group that wants scraps. I bought a box of scraps at a garage sale, and have no use for about 1/2 of the material. This group is the greatest! Thanks for sharing ideas and keep them coming!
Peggy
So little time, sew much to do........... |
User: pretnichols
Member since: 10-16-2005 Total posts: 342 |
From: gm23237
Date: 01-19-2006, 03:14 PM (13 of 18)
| I keep anything about 2"x2", I can use them on quilts or small quitling blocks and projects. Waste not want not. LOL |
User: gm23237
Member since: 11-03-2003 Total posts: 145 
|
From: grandma3
Date: 01-20-2006, 12:08 AM (14 of 18)
I'm so glad I found this group and joined this forum. It feels so good to know that I am not the only one who doesn't like to throw away those scraps of material "cause I just might need them."  I think I will enjoy coming here and learning new ideas from everyone.Mim |
User: grandma3
Member since: 01-19-2006 Total posts: 3 |
From: carman
Date: 01-20-2006, 01:34 AM (15 of 18)
glad you found us too i think there are a lot of us out there that seem to keep these tiny bits, you just never know 
|
User: carman
Member since: 04-17-2000 Total posts: 692
|
From: cake
Date: 01-20-2006, 06:49 AM (16 of 18)
|
Hi everyone, I save everything as stuffing too.. even thread. If you add it all up it doesn't take too long to make a bag of stuffing. Katie |
User: cake
Member since: 03-24-2003 Total posts: 27 
|
From: Amie
Date: 01-20-2006, 02:00 PM (17 of 18)
|
I am also one to hold onto every little piece. My dad is horrible about bringing me his ratty work clothes to patch up. He has puppy dog and race car patches all over them and loves it. He says that are great conversational pieces to talk about his grandson.
AMIEMama to Gavin, 3 ½ years oldKenmore 385.12116690
|
User: Amie
Member since: 12-01-2005 Total posts: 21 
|
From: Magot
Date: 01-20-2006, 03:31 PM (18 of 18)
|
I have a distressing amount of fabric left over - My ever loving Hubby refers to it/them as the loft insulation project. At the moment my wardrobe is 2 foot deep at the bottom with scraps - there must be something I can do.... YES more quilting! Why is it that even though you plan to always use up odd bits you have more left over when you finish than when you started. I very rarely buy new fabric - I am always using up old and yet it doean't go away.. love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626 
|
Visit Sew What’s Up for the latest sewing and quilting tips and discussions.
This page was originally located on Sew What’s New (www.sew-whats-new.com) at http://www.sew-whats-new.com/vb/archive/index.php/t-17898.html
Sew What’s Up is hosted by ZenSoft