In the beginning, there was yardage

Nothing beats running your fingers over a fresh batch of fabric, freshly cut to size for your next project. It’s all neatly folded and it looks so lovely and while the urge and excitement to get started is strong, there’s a tiny piece of your conscience that knows what will be left over once the final stitch is done. Fabric scraps.

Unless you are one of those magical quilters who can calculate within a few inches the exact amount of required fabric needed for a project with little to no leftovers, there will always be strips and bits of fabric too small for anything substantial but also too big to justify throwing away. So what do you do? You save them up with the heroic thought of, ‘one day I’ll do something with this.’

2”x 7” pieces are great for string piecing - this will be used for a postage stamp quilt

So. Many. Little Pieces!

And so your scrap bin/box/drawer begins to fill up with months, or years, of little scraps, all waiting patiently to be put to use. Every so often you take a peek at the ever-growing pile and depending on your frame of mind you may feel a sense of excitement or you may feel dread. Personally, it’s a mix of both because the big question is always this: What am I going to do with all these pieces?!

Online websites can be a real eye-opener when it comes to scrap-busting projects however there are so many of them it can get a little overwhelming. This quilter has learned that if you keep on top of these little pieces of scariness, a potential quilt top can magically happen without too much effort. Picking a favourite pattern or particular method from the start has helped keep scraps under control (to a degree!)

Pick your pattern

After combing through multiple websites and pinned boards I have gathered some failsafe systems of controlling scraps and they all incorporate different methods of sewing and quilting, from English Paper piecing to machine chain piecing. Another fun aspect of these methods is the ability to change the size of a project - for example, if you have taken on the idea of hand sewing 1” mini hexies for a quilt but begin to question your sanity halfway through, you can change the project to be something more manageable - a table runner rather than a quilt.

Collecting small fabric scraps to make the Mini Dresden Rainbow Hanging - a link can be found at the bottom for designer information and pattern.

Making scraps out of scraps

Don’t be fooled into thinking a scrap box can be completely cleared out, because you may find that you make scraps from your scraps! There will come a point when the fabric cuttings become too small so the willpower to admit defeat and throw it out must be gathered and used, unless you have the superhuman ability to finely stitch 1/8” pieces together - in which case, I salute you!

HAVE FUN!

Creating something out of nothing can be a wonderful surprise, especially if the creation has come from other projects as you effectively create a memory piece from all the different fabrics used. A table runner may contain fabric from several other quilts you dedicated your time and love to make before giving or donating to a worthy cause. While the main project may no longer be with you, that table runner will contain little pieces of the memory of making that particular project.

Here is a list of options to consider when tackling that elusive scrap collection:

For scraps up to a size of 5” square you can use the English Paper Piecing method to make wonderful patterns using hexagons, diamonds or clamshell templates.
Strip piecing - this method can be used in a variety of ways from creating a postage stamp quilt to a scrappy Lonestar design
Foundation paper piecing - if you have a pile of light fabrics and a pile of dark fabrics, foundation paper pieced log cabin blocks are a cinch to make in a nip of time.
Crazy Quilts - when you don’t want to cut fabric anymore! No matter the size of the piece of fabric, you can stitch it to another piece, making an eye-catching, crazy design.

If you are looking for a really lovely project that uses small pieces of fabric I would highly recommend visiting Berry Birdy’s shop on Etsy. There you will find The Mini Dresden Rainbow Hanging along with lots of other lovely little patterns and kits. The Rainbow Dresden is very easy to follow and also happens to be one of my favourite patterns to make. You can find out more here: https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/BerryBirdy