Organizing Your Fabrics for Scrap Quilts
Organizing your fabrics for scrap quilts is a personal preference. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach, but we can discuss options that may work for you! Be prepared to make a mess first. It always seems to look worse before it looks better. The next part of the equation is that it isn’t a one-and-done project, unless you never pull scrap fabrics again.
The method that works for you could create a multi-day organizing project or one that is just a few hours. It will depend on how many scraps you have and how detailed you are in organizing them.
How to Get Started
First, decide what you consider a scrap. Is it anything under a fat quarter? Is it anything less than a yard? Are they only the fabrics that are left over from other projects? So many questions to ask yourself. Once you have decided what you will consider a scrap, you can start planning how you will organize them.
When I first started, I organized them one way. Once I started using my scraps regularly, I changed to the system I use now, and it suits my personality better. I can become ultra-focused on the way I organize, but I am not always the best at putting things back the same way.
Scrap Quilts – Organizing your Fabrics
Because the majority of my fabrics are fat quarters, I decided that anything smaller than that would be considered scrap fabric. My Fat quarters are organized in a hutch that my dad gave me years ago. The opening on it faces away from the window. It provides a separation between my office and the creative chaos area.
My larger pieces of fabric are organized in the cupboard part of the hutch below the fat quarters. I can’t have all my fabric out on display; it is too overwhelming. I enjoy looking at quilters’ creative spaces, and it is pretty to see the fabrics, but it would be hard for me to stay focused.
Organize by Shape, Size, Color, or All the Above?
This a question for you to decide what would be less frustrating if you were looking for fabrics for scrap quilts. I tried a couple of methods, but I’ll share mine at the end of the post.
If you enjoy creating scrap quilts, organizing your fabrics will make the process easier. Can you picture your scrap quilt before you start it? Do you have an idea of what colors or fabrics you want to use? Having the fabrics organized will help you save time.
Shapes and Sizes
It is all about options and what makes your life easier as a quilter. So, let’s take a look at shape and size first. What I mean by this is the typical pieces used in quilting: squares, rectangles, triangles, etc.
Do you find yourself cutting out the same-size squares for the quilts you create, for example? If you tend to use the same sizes, you could cut your leftover fabrics into those sizes. That could mean 2 1/2″ squares, 2 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ rectangles, or 5″ squares. You could also cut them into strips instead of cutting them down into shapes. Store them in a labeled box so they are easy to find.
By cutting up fabrics after finishing a project, you are turning your fabrics into precuts. Think about 2 1/2″ strips, 2″ strips, 1 1/2″ strips, 10″ squares, 5″ squares, 3 1/2″ squares, 2 1/2″ squares. If you are unsure what sizes to cut the leftovers into, look at the precut sizes quilt shops sell.
Size
Now, this may seem like a duplicate from above, but it speaks more to the rough size of the leftover pieces. Separate fabrics by size related to the style of quilting: paper-piecing, crumb piecing, applique, postage stamp, miniatures, etc.
You could organize smaller scraps for more intricate designs in a labeled box or tote. You often need smaller pieces for the above styles of quilting. Then, you won’t have to dig through all of your fabrics, trying to find the smaller pieces in the perfect colors.
Now that you have a plan for the smaller scraps, what about the chunks of fabric? How do you want to store the larger sizes? As you can see, this could become complicated. It is important to look at your style of quilting. What works for one person will not work for others. Organizing your fabrics truly depends on your personality.
Color Families
Sorting by color families is another option. You can use this method in conjunction with the above methods. It could make things easier if you are doing a scrap quilt in a limited colorway. It would still have texture from utilizing different values and shades of a color family, but you don’t have to pick through all the scraps.
Manufacturer or Style
Do you have favorite manufacturers? This is the perfect way to organize some of your fabric scraps. Then, the next time you are looking for specific scrap fabrics that you KNOW a certain manufacturer makes, they will be within reach.
The same can be said for the style of fabric: reproduction, plaid, batik, calico, hand-dyed, etc. When I look at my stash, I see the majority of batiks and hand-dyed fabrics. I do have a couple of Civil War prints and some novelty ones. I could sort my leftovers according to these guidelines.
Planning to make scrap quilts according to manufacturer and style will be simpler when you can grab the fabric styles you want quickly. You will also spend less time digging through the scrap tote to find what you are looking for.
So Many Options for Organizing Your Fabrics
Now that we’ve discussed sorting the scrap fabrics, we need to discuss how to store them. Again, you need to decide what works for you and your personality. I started out with my scraps in a pretty basket – which I quickly outgrew. With this method of organizing my fabrics, I found I had to press everything before I could use it. At times, I enjoyed this process. If I was in a hurry, not so much.
Do you like to look at the container and see the fabrics? If so, clear boxes with lids may work for you. There are also organizers with pull-out drawers. You can pick up photo storage boxes with an easily changeable label area. These boxes are meant for archival use for photos, so your fabrics will be safe.
Think about how you like to organize. Are you inspired by the colors and prints of fabrics, or are you overwhelmed when there are too many fabrics out there? Answering this question will help you choose a direction that works for you.
The other part of organizing them is choosing a storage system that has a place. If you go out and buy a bunch of totes with lids, do you have a place to put them so you don’t tripping over them? Think about how you want to live in your creativity.
Finding the best way to organize your fabrics will make the process of creating scrap quilts much easier and more enjoyable. I love organizing, but I need to pull myself back at times when I get too focused on the minute details.
What Works for You: Organizing Your Fabrics?
How do you organize your scraps? Please share your ideas. You may be helping a fellow quilter who has been struggling with this. It can especially be overwhelming to a new quilter.
How I Organize My Scraps for Scrap Quilts
I have tried several of the methods above. I quickly became bogged down in all the details and still found myself digging through fabrics and ignoring the ones sorted out. So, this is what I do now:
- Strips—Any size strip goes into the box labeled strips. Some will work for bindings and borders, and the rest will be cut into specific shapes and sizes.
- Squares – these are leftover squares from projects where I cut too many
- Leftover Units and Blocks
- Anything larger than a 9″ x 11″ and smaller than a Fat Quarter – I have the majority of scraps organized by color family in a single tote (I have been focused on creating scrap quilts). Anything smaller than that is cut into the largest square and added to the box above.
Once I am finished with these two paper-piecing projects, I will have more scraps to go through. It will be nice to have those out of the way.
Finding What Works for You
As you can see, there is no right or wrong way for organizing your fabrics. It all comes down to what works best for you. I started out cutting all the leftover fabrics into the sizes that I used most. This was time-consuming, and I found that I often wanted a larger size of specific fabrics. So, I tend to leave the fabric in the largest usable chunk that I can.
Because I often cut out too many units for a project or make too many blocks, it helps to have a place to store those units.
If you need help or ideas for using up your scrap fabrics, check out this page for patterns. I will be adding more patterns throughout the year. If you would like to stay updated, you can subscribe to the website below or join my Facebook page: Quilting with Tamara
Until next time.
