Hello and happy Friday friends! Today I’m sharing How to Sort Fabric Scraps and my July Scraps Along post. I have some fun Honeybun project ideas to share, and I’m hoping most everyone got the message in June that in July we would focus on Christmas/holiday sewing.
How to Sort Fabric Scraps
Since I’ve been writing about scraps all year, I thought it might be fun to share a few more details about how I actually sort my scraps. So, just a couple of weeks ago with fabric on the way and the necessity of clearing out a scrap bin I decided to film my process!
Fabric Scraps Sorting Video
Watch the video above or watch it here on my YouTube channel to see my exact process for sorting scraps.
First, Separate Light/Low-Volume Fabrics from Medium/Dark Prints.
The first step I take is to quickly separate my light and low-volume fabrics from the darker prints. This is because I like to store the lighter fabrics separately to use for backgrounds. I generally don’t cut up the lighter fabrics into smaller pieces but keep them together in a bin. My only real exception in this process is when I find 2 ½″ strips or squares in 2 ½″ or 5″ sizes that I then add to the appropriate storage container.
Next, Separate the Medium/Dark Prints into Piles.
I next quickly separate the remaining fabrics into a few different piles:
- Large scraps that might have been left over from backings or are large enough to trim to fat eighths or fat quarters
- Medium scraps
- Small scraps
- Strips (2 ½″)
- Strips (Assorted sizes)
- Squares
- Finished units (sewn flying geese or half-square triangles)
Finally, Cut and Store One Pile at a Time
Generally I can just add the strips, squares, and finished units into bins. I’ll look at the larger pieces to see if any are large enough to cut fat eighths or fat quarters for storage. The most time will be spent cutting the medium and small scraps piles into usable pieces. I often split that task into a couple of days to make it easier.
Scrap Storage Posts
Find more information on my storage system (AKA what I do with them after they’ve been trimmed) in the following posts:
Scrap Storage Product Links
- Wire/Wood Handle Bins I use to store fat quarters by color
- Plastic boxes I use for the majority of my scrap storage
- Removable Labels I use for the plastic boxes
Scraps Along Ideas: Honeybuns
This month I received some fun scrappy project ideas using Honeybuns! I’m sharing some here, and you can visit Michele’s blog, Island Life Quilts to see the other ideas. Clockwise from top left are Helen’s gorgeous stars in cabins using a Primitive Gatherings Honeybun and scraps. Next is Hildy’s gorgeous Hearts at Home Mini using some of her favorite Bonnie & Camille scraps. Finally, we have Heather’s pineapple block pouch using scrappy Fig Tree fabrics. She also shared several of the other pouches she made using this tutorial. And congratulations to Hildy who is this month’s winner!
Scraps Along July Challenge
This month’s challenge is to work on scrap projects or organization for your Christmas or other holiday fabrics. Send in your finishes and photos by August first for the August parade. (And if you’re looking for a scrappy Christmas project and haven’t yet joined in on the Jelly Snowflake Mystery Quilt, you can find the details and free block patterns for the first three blocks here.
Thank you so much to everyone who has been participating in our Scraps Sew-Along throughout the year!
Peggy D’Adamo says
Sherri, I really enjoy your blog. I’m wondering if you could answer a question about fat quarter bundle’s. You say on your blog that you sort all your Fat Quarters by color. but If you buy a bundle of fabrics that we’re selected to be together by the designer or fabric shop, you would break up that bundle. What are your thoughts on that? Do you ever keep bundles together? Thanks!
sherri McConnell says
I often keep bundles together until I’ve used them once…then they are “fair game” to be broken up by color! I’ll also keep them together if they are for a specific project.
Hildy says
Love all the projects and thank you for picking me as winner totally made my day:-)
Thanks for hosting the parade and now I’m off to work on my Christmas in July project … bought some fabrics for it today!
Donna says
Thank you so much for the tutorial of sorting the scraps. I have learned alot. I truly get overwhelmed with scaps and seem
to avoid. I like that you work in time increments. Thanks so helping me move forward.
Tawna says
I loved your video. I have been keeping my scraps, and know what I want to do with them. It just seemed so overwhelming to me, though. Your video makes me feel like I can do it!
Tristen Worthen says
I loved your video regarding scraps. I have been looking at my disaster of a room…where to start! I currently store by color in huge bins. Some of these pieces are large, but a lot are just small/medium scraps. My question – if you have yardage or fat quarter size scraps left – due you keep even smaller scraps of the same fabric together? Or do you separate the small scraps and cut them up accordingly?
sherri McConnell says
No, I don’t usually worry about keeping similar scraps together…I just cut the small ones up accordingly. Thank you!
Cathy Winger says
Hi Sherri,
I love watching your videos. I’ve been trying to find the scrap bin that is collapsible that you showed on your scraps video. Do you know where I might find one of those?
Thank you
sherri McConnell says
It’s from Ikea…not sure of the name…it was a gift.