Dealing With the Scrap
Posted on February 13, 2023 by prairiemoonquilts in Stash TalesI’ve been getting asked more and more questions about my fabric stash, about how I deal with my scraps, how I store them, and how I use them, so I’ve decided to begin a series that will hopefully answer all those questions and give you some ideas for your own stash and scraps.
Keep in mind, this is only MY method of doing things, and it evolves every now and then. As my Grandma always said: “There’s more than one way to skin a cat!” So take what works for you, and ignore the rest.
I’m gonna talk about how I store all my fabric, from yardage on down to the tiniest of scraps, and I’ll also talk about how I use it. I’m gonna post pictures of my fabric and scrap storage, hopefully lots of links to some good scrap quilt patterns, and show you the scrap quilts I’m working on along the way.
And I’m not gonna sugar coat anything — I have problems with some of my methods, so I’ll also talk about those — what works and what doesn’t — and what I hope to change or fix about it. And as I change it, I’ll show you that, too!
You’ll be able to find all these posts HERE under the Stash Tales category, which you can also find in the sidebar under the categories drop-down menu. As I continue working on my web site, I have plans to set up a page with all the links so you can find them easier — I’ll keep you posted on that. I’m also hoping that the comments you all might leave on these posts will add to the good ideas we can come up with together.
I worked hard on whittling down the size of my stash last year. I made lots of backings and pillowcases, gave some of it away, and started a few new scrap quilts. As I cleaned up the rest of my studio (slowly), I ran across more fabric that had not been put away properly. I downsized or got rid of some UFOs and needed to put that fabric back in the stash. And then, of course, I did purchase a little bit of new fabric, and one huge tub of fabric from an estate sale.
I’ve said before that my goal is to get all of my stash to fit into the tubs I have for it, and that’s more important to me now than ever. I’m trying hard to downsize. We’ve downsized the farm a lot — now it’s time for me to downsize my studio. It’ll be nice to have less stuff to deal with and worry about.
Other than the large tub from the estate sale, I did manage to get all the fabric to fit into the tubs last year (not the big yardage, but the “regular” stash). However, it’s not in those tubs the way I want it to be, and some of the lids are bulging. So this year, I’m working to get the tubs more organized and to make all the lids fit. And the ultimate goal, in the end, is to have fewer tubs.
To do that, I’ve been choosing one color a month to concentrate on, since I have my regular stash sorted by color (which I’ll talk about in the next post).
We’ll start, tho, with talking about the large pieces of yardage . . .
Anything I have that’s over a yard gets folded and stored in the closet in my sewing room. I have one shelf for it to fit on . . . PLUS two large tubs that are on the floor down below. One tub is specifically backing pieces. The other tub is the largest pieces of yardage. The shelf holds the rest of the yardage, mostly the smaller pieces. You can sort of see it here, altho it’s very dark in the closet, in spite of my efforts to find lights that will actually illuminate the interior of the closet. I usually just take a flashlight along when I’m digging for something!
As you probably know from your own experiences, if you’re using out of your stash, it gets rearranged and ruffled, and out of order now and then. Every once in awhile, I have to go in and re-fold/rearrange and get it back under control. I use out of these pieces for backings, backgrounds, and borders, mostly.
Lately, I’ve been seeing patterns that use up three (or five) one-yard pieces, and I’m thinking that I should pull a few yards and try several of those quick quilts to use up more. Finding time for that is a problem, tho. I can’t start ALL the quilts at once, even tho it appears that I try quite often!
Here is a post with links to some 3-yard quilts: Three-Yard quilts
Since sorting through my tub of to-be-quilted quilts, I discovered a lot of them that need backings, so I hope to be able to use up a lot of these large pieces for that purpose. I pulled out a large piece yesterday to use for background for a new scrap quilt I’m starting.
I’m not in a huge hurry to use it up, because I like having the option to shop for scrap quilt backings in my own stash, altho I would like to have a bit less of it. Maybe I can eventually use enough from the shelf that all the fabric will fit into the tubs down below.
My main problem with the tubs down below, however, is that it’s a major production to get the tubs out and locate the piece I want, so that needs to change. So I’ll keep you posted on what I come up with!
Perhaps you don’t have as much large yardage as I do, but I welcome any of your ideas and suggestions on how you store your large pieces, so please comment below.
Thank you for sharing your system, Shelly. Far be it from me to suggest any kind of storage ideas as I have very little yardage, but I do separate the basic colors in bins. Lately, I’ve been tossing triangles altogether. I plan to do some ‘sorting’ if I ever get my entire stash to my new place. So, I’m eagerly reading your system. 🙂
I’ve been eyeing the cardboard that’s left after the last bit of fabric is sold at the local quilt store. I was told I could take them because they just toss them in the recycle. I have an old high boy dresser in the basement that I will use to store my Grunge stash. I just need to get around to doing it.
Ioleen, I also use those cardboard bolt holders as little ironing boards…just cover with batting and fabric.
Great topic Shelly! I hope I can stay focused and work through my scraps especially.
My stash is halfway under control in a two-sided five shelf glass doored cabinet. I have folded fabric on the top four shelves on each side and large pieces folded bolt like on the bottom shelves of each.
Scraps = one huge bin.
I like this series and look forward to your ideas.
I have a lot of yardage. I live 50 miles from a quilt shop ( that’s my story and I’m sticking to it) and it is stored on shelves in a walk in closet. I realize I’m very fortunate to have a large dedicated closet for quilting so that probably contributes to my fabric largess. But in my defense, a lot of it has been given to me from other quilters downsizing. I am looking forward to making some of the 3 yard quilts.
It is always difficult to find the right process to use. Hope you find a process that works well for you.
Regarding lighting for your closet. We have a “linen” closet in our bedroom. When we moved in 11 years ago, we put a ” rope” light around the inside of the door. It worked great for about the first 8 years, now it’s more like a night light. Truth be told it is on 24/7. However, over the holidays, brand (unknown) I found a battery operated light that is in the shape of a light switch. It was a stocking stuffer for my daughter, they needed a light that her husband could easily reach in the middle of the night to luminate the hallway. ( he is hopefully in a wheelchair temporarily) She explained it lit the hallway like a you could imagine a pot of gold, it was shocking to them. I am currently looking for where I found it. Home Depot or Grocery Outlet, 99 cent store, who really knows when I am Xmas stocking stuffer shopping where the best finds will be!
I have been cutting my scraps into usable sizes. I’m not sure all of the sizes are for me but I’m trying it anyway. I recently helped a friend move into an old house. She put the file cabinet that holds her fabric in a closet that had no light. I told her to get a stick up light. She found one at Home Depot that is motion activated so when she opens the closet door it comes on.
I have been cutting my scraps into pieces that I then piece into small quilt tops. I send them to my sister who quilts them and donates them to a couple of places where she lives. If you go to my facebook page you can see a picture I took this evening of the way I have these scraps sorted into various sizes. I think I have to get some sanity and hanging around fabric is not helping me!!!
I picked up a strip of LED Christmas lights (cheaper than strip lighting!) and used command hooks to put them just inside the (glass) doors of my fabric hutch, and along the back of the lowest shelf. This keeps my fabric illuminated all the time, no worry of fading or cost. After about 6-7 years, I just replaced them. I recently purchased a matching but smaller IKEA cabinet and did the same thing. I have to see my fabric! All about de-stashing this year. Thanks for your info. 🙂
I think I have a pretty good system for my scraps. Any fabric more than 2 yds goes on cardboard from quilt shop. My husband put up shelves on two walls in my sewing room. Be sure and mark the yards at end of bolt. I have plastic file cabinets marked 1 1/2 yd, 1 yd, 1/2 yd, fat quarters, 10 inch, 5 inch, 3 1/2 inch strips, 2 1/2 strips, 1 1/2 strips. The rest go in dog beds for the local shelter. Sure could use some patterns!!!!
My cat, Tom, hates that saying although I do use it often. As for my scraps, I have no organization going on. I hope to learn better skills this year. This sounds so interesting!
Hi Shelly. Now this sounds familiar. DH and I lived in a home where my studio was 12’ x 24’. We moved in to an 800 sq ft apartment when we sold the property. My sewing space is 4 1/2 sq ft now. I had fabric in one 5’ tall cupboard and several bins of backing fabrics in the storage room. Then the Pandemic hit and I stayed home and sewed from my stash. My fabric now fits in the cupboard (the bottom 2 shelves are my backing fabrics). My fabric on the shelves are yardage only. My fabric from fat quarter to 1 yard fits in 2 plastic 3 drawer units. My scraps are cut in to squares- 2”, 2 1/2”, 3”, 4”, 5” and 10” and stored in clean pizza boxes. I have one 12” square bin in a cube unit with strips and strings. The rest of the 6 cube slots are filled with my project bags and baskets, my UFOs, my containers of notions and trims and my bins of thread. I’m proud of the job downsizing. A lot was either used or donated to my Guild for our annual fundraiser. Those bins I had fabric in in the storage room now contain finished flimsies, stored with their backing AND binding, just waiting their turn to be put on the longarm. It has taken me 5 years to get to this point, but I’ve met my goal of fitting everything in my little corner. For a light for your closet if you have a ceiling socket, I can highly recommend a garage led light that we got on Amazon. It’s a standard Deformable led light with 3 blades and is brighter than daylight.
I may go back to by color again