Talkin’ Scrap
Posted on February 5, 2025 by prairiemoonquilts in Stash TalesIt’s no secret that scrap quilts are my favorites!
It’s also no secret that I save every little teeny tiny scrap imaginable, because I’m certain I’ll be able to use them!
Altho I haven’t posted about scraps for awhile, I’m planning to continue adding to my Stash Tales series this year. You can catch up on all those posts HERE.
In those posts, I talk about how I store my stash, how I store my scraps, how and why I process my scraps, what I do with my scraps (of all sizes), and show some of the scrap quilts I’ve worked on, and some I’m still working on.
My plan going forward is to offer up some new tutorials and patterns, suggestions for using up any pre-cut sizes of scraps you may have, and show you more scrap quilts I’m working on.
When I moved into my new studio, my fabric storage evolved yet again. I was lucky enough to get to design my space exactly how I wanted it, and I can tell you right now, I still have way too much fabric! So expect the fabric storage to evolve still more as I keep trying to use up what I have and whittle it down to more respectable levels. But I’ll show you the basics of my storage as it is right now.
I had my new cutting table built especially for holding most of my stash, and my rule while moving was: If it won’t fit in these drawers, then it has to go! I don’t know how many boxes of fabric I gave away in order to make the main stash fit here, but I still have a LOT of fabric.
Here’s my purple drawer:
This is so much better than stacking tubs because it’s so much easier to get to whatever color I need when I need it. There are 16 drawers in the table, and a built-in trash bin. The table measures 3 feet wide by 8 feet long. It’s probably the best piece of furniture I got for the new house. I absolutely love it, and I use it every single day.
Thirteen of the drawers hold my stash, sorted by color. Two drawers hold projects, and one drawer is for all my notions that I use while standing at my table.
I still keep my pre-cut scraps in the rolling cart, but I cleaned out and rearranged the drawers when I moved in:
I use out of these all the time, and this cart makes it really easy to do that!
All my large yardage and my stash of solids is stored in the closet. I’ve already used a lot out of here! My goal in the next year is to get it to all fit on three shelves instead of four. That top shelf is all backing.
And now that it’s basically organized, it’s time to start whittling it down! So look forward to lots of projects — projects I’m working on that might inspire you, and project ideas FOR YOU so that you can use up your scraps, too! And maybe some give-aways. And other things I dream up as we go along. Stick around — there’s a lot going on!
At one point I could have told you exactly how many boxes you blessed me with; good boxes got reused and given away so I can’t now. I am so thankful for all of the fabric and I am consistently pulling out of it for my charity quilts. What amazes me is how often you sent a piece that ends up being just the right amount for binding. I am hoping to get my own rolling carts and start cutting my own scrap piles into precuts as well. I can’t wait to see what you share with us blog readers!
Your fabric table is awesome. My studio doesn’t even have a closet so I use cube storage. The studio needs cleaning/organizing desperately. Thanks for sharing. I look forward to reviewing the other Stash Tales posts.
warning: you have 100s of quilts in those “scrap drawers”. Why do I know? I have a 4drawer unit 2x8x10. I got 10 twin size quilts (adding sash/border from stash) before all 4 were empty!!!!
ooo I have furniture envy
Wow! I’m so happy you shared pictures of your quilting table and all the fabric organizing you’ve done. I’m going through my quilt storage boxes, finding things I’d forgotten about, and trying to get some kind of order (alphabetical?). They are stacked and invariably the one I’m looking for is on the bottom. Too much – it’s everywhere, living room, garage, spare bedroom, hall. Half my cutting table is cleared! Mine doesn’t have storage underneath, and since it’s wide and long, way too much resides on top.
Congrats on your lovely new space & table. I do mine in boxes that are small & narrow (think fat quarter width) by color with big pieces (backings) in boxes under my sewing table. Wish I had more room but it is what it is.
I love everything you have for fabric storage – it’s the ultimate dream and so inspiring to see it all. I am in awe. It is definitely a goal to have such scrap/yardage organization.
Ikea cubbies here too. Small measurements are wrapped around comic cards so that the comic card is at the base so it makes it easier to stack horizontally and lift up to get the fabric I need and also to replace without it all getting messy. Yardage is folded in the cubbies too. Larger bolts go on top whilst scraps, squares and strips go into separate labelled boxes according to size.
I have cutting table envy, big time! Did you buy that or have it built for you?
Oh man, I thought all your fabric in 13 drawers? I feel much better about my collection of tubs, after seeing your closet and rolling cart. Looking forward to your ideas for use. I will catch up on your stash tale blogs so I am ready to MOVE this stash!
Be still my heart, I love your “if it doesn’t fit, it has to go”rule. So looking forward to seeing what you do to whittle down your scraps because they multiply when I used them, how is that even possible?!?!?
I love your cutting table. I can’t admit to envy because I have a pretty awesome one also that my husband had built for me. I went back and read a lot of your previous Stash Tales. It is comforting to know that I am not the only one that sorts all my fabric and scraps by color and also keeps even the tiniest pieces. The next time my husband says I have a ‘disease’ when referring to my stash I will refer him to your Tales. 😉 I have recently started working on English Paper Piecing which can use some pretty small bits. However, it is not going to be a quick reduction method. Looking forward to seeing some of your ideas for using your bits and pieces.
Love your cutting table. Would not fit in my house. I keep scraps in shoe boxes by sizes, pick out box and start sewing. Some baggies with scraps that are not cut to useable sizes by color. Need to become better with those. Drawers for bigger pieces of fabric. Year to finish projects and whittle down, not buying new.
Isn’t it great to pull out a drawer and be able to see all your fabric? I have drawers for my FQs, and my half yards and yards are folded on comic boards and sit open on a shelf. I use much more of my stash because I can see what I have.
Wow you put so much thought into your cabinet/ cutting table- it is awesome!! I am so very happy for you. I can’t wait to see how you will challenge us to organize & use our scraps. Scrap quilts are my favorite.
Scraps have a very, very short life in my house! Any fabric left from cutting out the pattern, if fat quarter size or greater, if folded and goes back to where the yardage was store. Lengths longer than 18″ and can conveniently cut into 2″ widths (my favorite binding size) are cut, rolled, and go into my binding baskets (I like using various fabrics in bindings), everything else is set aside during construction. Add to that pile the bonus HST’s generated by Snowballing corners (sew them as they are created) and orphan blocks. At the end of the project they go into the backing for the quilt, a dolly quilt basket under my sewing machine table that always has a quilt under construction, and/or into the scrap bins. I have two of those, one for QOV colors and one for everything else. Fortunately, the president of our local guild also leads the local QOV group and when those bins get full I email her and she sends a member who lives close to me to pick them up. I guess I don’t have to point out that I DO NOT make scrap quilts! I have tried, many times; but, my head just can’t wrap around them. I am very happy knowing that what scraps I do generate are happily and gratefully snapped up by quilters who do make them. Just to add, the dolly quilts either go along with baby/child quilts I sell/gift or with sock monkeys I make for my bff who gives them to “littles” who are living through traumatic situations. Sorry to be so lengthy; but, wanted to point out even us non-scrappers can be organized AND really appreciate how “real” scrap quilters can use them effectively.
Gosh, I have so much fabric and I gift it all the time. Pieces that are small and I have used the fabric in several quilts get gifted to two friends who only do scrap quilts. Finally got my machine back 24 days after I dropped it off. One way to get projects cut out and items identified to give away to my quilt guilds free table.
I’d love some ideas for using up scraps!
Love your cutting table! I bought a 46″ long metal rolling tool box w/a wooden top to use as my cutting table in the house I just moved into. And I’m working on downsizing my fabric (10 xerox boxes worth being donated, approx 800-900 yards at this point). Lots more to go through so that I can actually move around in the fabric stash. Also working on downsizing everything my parents left behind because I don’t need it all.