World Wide Quilting Page
Question of the Week
Question for the week of January 11, 1999:
Our question this week comes from Elena in Maryland
What do you do with all those little scraps & charm squares?
Ruby-Michigan :
I just finished a postage stamp quilt using 1 1/2" sq. & have another started using 1 1/4", 2", & 3 1/2" sq. Everytime I cut out a project I cut the leftover scraps into the largest sz. scraps that I can & store them in approprietly marked tubs. I love any kind of scrap quilt and the more variety the better. Also use many of them for the BOM for my guild, baby quilts, & charity quilts.
mary lynn :
Life was a lot less complicated when I just threw them away. Now I use then for paper piecing or for making 1" sq blocks that become doll quilts
karen from wisconsin :
I make 3" sqaures and make doll baby blankets
for nieces and freinds daughters, some of those
squares can be larger and make great kids quilts.
If you donate, make them for project linus or
another charity for kids quilts in your area. Kids
dont really care about color themes.
Di (Sydney, Australia) :
Cut them into 2 inch squares and save them in colour groups to make watercolour quilts and wall-hangings. Don't waste a single precious piece.
Liz from Pembroke :
I try to be disciplined and cut them into squares of 2", 1", 1 1/2" etc. and keep them in separate containers for baby quilts or other small projects. I also use odd-sized scraps for applique and paper piecing.
Beth in Maryland :
I save everything, of course. I'm making a Grandmother's Flower Garden Quilt using a different fabric for each tiny hexagon. It will take forever, but I have been enjoying it in between other projects. I've never heard about the birds using pieces for nests. I think I'll try that in the spring.
Angela Sprengel :
I cut down all small leftovers to 1 1/4" squares to be used eventually in miniquilts. I stack them on a double a threaded needle so I dont have a mess. I have 8 threaded needles for all basic colors. Larger 2" and up scraps go into color bins!
Olga LaBranche :
Keep them "in case I can use them somewhere else.
dorwald@aol.com :
JANA FROM WASH: The birds use those fabric snippets to build their nests. They'll also use hair (dog or human) if you toss it outside.
Frank Palmer :
I use them in my Dear Jane quilt. There are so many tiny pieces on those little blocks, they come in so handy!
Michelle :
I save them all and use them for foundation piecing. If you're doing small quilts they're perfect!
CM :
I do a lot of applique so I save all my scrape pieces because I never know when I might find the perfect little small piece on a design
LINDA :
I have been sorting them into colors and
putting them into rubbermaid bins and
later I will make log cabin quilts (wall-
hangings) and sell them in the fall. The
pieces that are too small to save, I give
them to a friend's daughter and she makes
small gifts. It's a great relief for me.
I couldn't possible just toss them out, so
they have a new home. I don't have the guilt
of not using them and my friend's daughter
has the pleasure of getting something
for nothing and creating something beaut-
iful. I usually do this every January
and it helps me end the old year and
start fresh into the new year.
Jana from Wash. :
I am making a paper pieced double wedding ring star quilt to use up all those tiny "chunks" that I cannot part with. Snippets go outside and the birds steal them instantly. What do you suppose theyre making with them?
Michele :
I use my scraps in paper piecing. I have a container for each color and when I am doing my paper piecing I grab a handful from a certain color and go to work. The scarps that are too small to use I save in a bag an when I have enough I make a muslin pillow lining and fill with the fabric scraps,this bag also contains thread snippings. I must have gotten this frugal attitude from my grandmother,she never threw anything away. Happy quilting, Michele
World Wide Quilting Page * Question of the Week