Scrappy Storage & Sanity: Organizing the Chaos
If you’ve been sewing along with this year’s Scrappy Block of the Month, you may already know this truth: scrappy quilts are joyful… and scrappy sewing rooms are not always. Somewhere between pulling fabrics, trimming leftovers, and digging for “just one more piece,” my sewing room crossed the line from creative clutter to full‑on chaos.
Let’s be honest—part of the problem is simple. I have too many scraps. Scrappy fabrics tend to multiply. I’m not sure how that happens, but somehow my storage never seems to empty out—even with all the scrappy quilts I make. And while this year’s Scrappy Block of the Month will absolutely help tame that pile, I don’t want to live in a constant state of mess for the entire year just to get there.
So I’ve been taking a hard look at my current scrap storage system—what works, what doesn’t, and how I can make it more functional without killing the scrappy fun.
My Current Scrappy Storage Setup
Right now, I use two storage containers, each with three drawers, for a total of six drawers. My goal is to keep my scrappy fabrics controlled in these storage containers. The containers fit under the table for my machine quilting.
To keep things simple, visually intuitive, I assigned each drawer a color:
- Red
- Orange
- Yellow
- Green
- Blue
- Purple
All of my neutrals live in a separate tote, since they tend to behave differently in quilts and are pulled more frequently across color families. My quilts are often neutral‑heavy, so that tote is usually under control and doesn’t contribute much to the mess.
On paper, this system makes sense. It’s rainbow‑based, easy to remember, and works beautifully when everything is put away.
But that’s the key phrase: when everything is put away.
Where the Chaos Creeps In
The real trouble starts every time I pull fabric to sew.
I’ll grab a handful of scraps from multiple drawers. There will be some that I use. Some are trimmed. Some are suddenly “too small for now but too good to toss.” Before I know it, I’ve created a colorful explosion across my cutting table—and somehow none of it has found its way back into the drawers.
Multiply that by multiple sewing sessions, and suddenly the system that looked so organized has completely fallen apart.
The issue isn’t the drawers themselves—it’s the lack of a workflow for scraps in motion.
Shifting the Goal: From Perfect to Practical
Instead of aiming for a sewing room that looks perfect all the time, I’m shifting my focus to something more realistic:
Contain the chaos while it’s happening. Don’t get bogged down in trying to “Over-Organize.” Keep it simple, sweetheart.
Scrappy projects need flexibility. They need pieces out, visible, and easy to grab. But they also need a way to be rounded up quickly when it’s time to clean.
That’s where a few small mindset and storage tweaks can make a big difference.
Strategies to Tame Scrappy Messes
Here are a few ways I’m working toward scrappy sanity:
1. One Project, One Temporary Bin
Instead of letting scraps spread everywhere, I’m assigning a small basket or tray just for the current block. When I’m done sewing for the day, everything goes back into that bin—no sorting required. I am choosing specific color families for the blocks. We will see what happens when the challenge wheel stops on a color that isn’t in those color families!
2. Size Later, Not Now
I don’t need to trim and perfect every scrap immediately. Tossing used leftovers back into their color drawer as‑is keeps momentum going and prevents piles from forming. Because I don’t have specific sizes that I always choose, I leave my scraps in the largest piece that I can.
3. Reset Days
Once every week or two, I plan a short “scrap reset.” No sewing—just sorting, folding, and putting things back where they belong. This day usually gets me in trouble as I think that I have to press everything. I also end up thinking about future projects. This is a day that I will be lucky to stay focused on the task.
4. Accepting Limits
When drawers won’t close, it’s a sign. That’s when scraps get promoted into a project, trimmed into usable sizes, or—occasionally—let go.
Progress Over Perfection
Scrappy quilts are meant to feel free, playful, and a little unpredictable. My sewing room doesn’t need to be spotless—but it does need to be functional.
By keeping my rainbow drawers, separating neutrals, and adding a few habits that support the mess as it happens, I’m finding a balance between creativity and calm.
The goal isn’t to eliminate the chaos entirely—it’s to make sure it doesn’t take over the whole year.
If you’re sewing along and feeling buried in scraps, know this: you’re not doing it wrong. You’re just in the middle of the process—and a few thoughtful storage tweaks can make all the difference.
Looking for Something to Do?
If you are a prolific quilter or one who only works on one project at a time, and you don’t have a project to work on, check out these pages: 2026 Block of the Month or Scrappy Quilt Patterns.
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Until next time.
