This little charmer just hit the pile by my chair, for binding.
And this happy little fellow wandered out from the closet to preside over the center of the table, and protect the milkglass dish that resides there. And then.... back to the pieces....it's always about the pieces, isn't it? *VBS*
Everyone finds their own "best" way to contain the "pieces". Back when my stash was only the size of breadbox..well, maybe a bit bigger, I began using these hospital wash basins to hold scraps. Free,or cheap at yard sales, they were an early recycling effort on my part. At first I sorted scraps by color. It wasn't long before I needed something bigger(on the shelf) to hold all the blue or green or yellow scraps. So the wash pans sat idle. At least they stack! I retrieved them to begin holding the "stages" of MAM(mile a minute)blocks and assorted parts in progress.
That's whats in this picture. One packed down, heaped up, not quite overflowing pan of "beguns" for MAM quilt blocks. It's difficult to tell from the picture, but if I were to guess, I'd say there are 100 to 200 "small beginnings" squashed in this pan. I can pull them out, finger press them and add another scrap, or I can pull them out and press each one before adding another scrap. What I do depends on my mood. I only resort to having to press each one "every time" when I know I am at(or nearly at) the desired size.I pressed about half a wash pan of those "nearly"s today. And believe it or not, there is another wash pan just as full as this one, waiting in the wings. I do believe I could sew all summer(or at least until the Autumn Equinox)and never have to reach into my stash!! How do you handle your scraps? Do you "cut to size and stack or fill a drawer"? Or are you always in the process of whipping those scraps into shape? Do you ever see the bottom of the scrap bag or basket? I wonder *VBS*
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15 comments:
I've been trying to keep my scraps under control lately. I cut the leftovers & trimmings into strips, squares or triangles & add them to appropriate containers. Crumbs go into a bin by my machine to be sewn together as leader/enders. Strings are being added to my rug balls. I don't sort by color. My containers are those plastic tubs that organic lettuce comes in. They are the perfect size for projects, too and they stack nicely on my shelves and are clear so I can see what's in them.
You look very much organized! Tell me please what you mean by MAM quilt blocks...
I've never seen the bottom of my scrap box. I often cut to size or sew a few up and have them ready. Like my HSTs. I took one day and sewed up most of what I had. I never pressed them, just left them in their container. Then last weekend I squared them up and made the charity quilt. I'm like you, I do what the mood calls for. It's more fun that way. Hugs
I used to have all the odd sizes in bags. Last fall I started cutting into squares and bricks and threw leftover bits into the strings bin. Its work initially, but a time saver in the end. I used Bonnie Hunter's scrap saver system and I'm a convert.
One of these days, I'm really gonna take care of my scraps. The grand-daughters have such a great time playing in the scrap basket, and how could I deprive them of such a pleasure? My 6 year old DGD is making a scrappy quilt with strips, so maybe after her "tah dah" is done, I will start taming that wild beast...or maybe another DGD will need some scrappy strippy pleasure??
A tub full of "quilt seeds"!
Happy sewing!
I use containers that are thrown away from the hospital. We have sterile supplies that come in lovely bins and containers, and are just tossed out. I rescue them from the trash and organize my projects into them. I found one similar at Walmart for $10.00, so I think I am doing well!
What a good use for those tubs! I almost wish I had some now ;- )
I've been stashing my scraps into baggies according to color. The day will come when I get into them and turn them into blocks. I especially like your idea to keep the various stages of MAM blocks in bins... May have to look to see what I've got that could be used that way!
Scraps rule....I have bought storage containers...which are full of scraps...but the funny thing is....some times i find a unique piece of material....and I have fold memories of where that quilt went.....
Oh my Finn! You do have your share of scraps there! 8-)
I haven't a clue how many scraps I have! Not at all! I fill shoe boxes with any scraps from projects I am working. When the box is full I set it aside... I am scared to really look at all my scraps, but I know I will have to get on that bandwagon eventually... lol! 8-)
Oh those little quilts are just adorable! The top one is the same pattern of the one I have hanging up in my entry way right now - only mine is red/tan/blue with a touch of pink! Hope your doing ok. I"ve been more than busy with changes at work and my oldest moving to OK in June and the wedding coming up in Oct! Life is flying by!
Hospital washpans! I still use two that came home with each baby -- and the babies are now 22 and 25!
I haven't tried the MAMs on any grand scale yet, but will have to one of these days...
Awww, look what I missed. Such sweetness. Well, better late than never. Just another cool thing about Blogging. Sometimes catch-up time is nice.
Love the Broken Dishes mini with the red border! Broken Dishes is the best. I can't count how many times I've made it, *all* sizes. Thanks for sharing.
I've only been sewing couple years so I don't have an overwhelming amount of scraps yet. I recently sorted my small collection by color into a set of clear plastic bins. I hope that if I start an organized fabric system now it will be easy to keep everything organized as my stash grows and the scraps multiply.
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