This is a Tshirt that a friend bought me for my birthday...I do like to think I am the "Scrap Queen" but I sure would like to have them more accessible.
First of all, if you want to be totally amazed with fabric organization, go check out Teresa's system posted on Stash Manicure - click here (and then come back here with your jaw hanging open!)
I am also inspired by the scraps sew along on this blog and want to get my scrap system organized into a more useable system (not even in the same ballpark as Teresa's system, but better than it has been) so I can turn my scrap gems into quilts.
One job I did was to cut up the rest of my dotty scraps for this project - into 1 1/2" squares and 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" rectangles. That was a fiddley and boring task but I'm now organized to finish these blocks, which I have been sewing as a leaders/enders project.
Then I dug around in one of the scrap piles and pulled out old chunks and bits, and cut them into 2 1/2" strips.
While doing this, I was pondering why my old 
First I decided to cut them into more interesting shapes...half hexagons appealed to me.Then I decided that I needed to add in some spice...some pretty new fabrics, and I found just the ingredient...a scrap bag from Hancock's that my friend Jake brought back from Paducah in the spring. It was full of strips from Kate Spain's fabric line Fandango. I cut them into 2 1/2" strips and that was when I started to LOVE this project! I have no idea how it will turn out, but it is now more appealing to find out!
I also got into my bright scraps bin and remembered how much I love the primary bright colours.
I ironed some of those, sorted them into a small bits container and the larger pieces were cut into border blocks for the mystery BOM at my guild.
There will be 40 blocks in the border and I have a good start on organizing those blocks.
So now I am feeling more organized and feeling the scrap love again!
I'm so pumped to get to the sewing machine and see how these projects turn out.
I guess your old scraps look like junk to you, because they are yours and old. You have seen the fabrics of those scraps many times when they were still fabrics, not scraps and you made quilts from them, now that they are scraps you have seen them too many times, making them look boring. And you probably bought them some time ago (otherwise they wouldn't be old scraps) in the meantime you taste might have changed (?) making them less appealing to you.
ReplyDeleteAlmost all my scraps are traditional and I just don't use traditional fabrics that much anymore. I felt I had to use my scraps (fabric is really expensive over here) but didn't like doing this at all anymore, it became a chore, not fun. But I have found the solution, I just toss them in a bag and give them to a friend who loves traditional fabrics. The bigger pieces I piece into backings for quilts.
Feeding the scrap tubs is a great way to keep the interest alive. We do tend to get bored of our own scraps just because we have seen them all before. To anyone else they look new and fun. Good luck with your new project. It looks like it will use up lots of your scraps for sure.
ReplyDeleteI've been slowly cutting my less than a fat quarter scraps into strips and squares ala Bonnie Hunter-at first it was scary but now I see the 'method to the madness' I did have to stop for a bit--my arm started to hurt from all the cutting!
ReplyDeleteI think there is nothing like a day/afternoon whatever of re-organizing the fabrics to really get the creative juices going again.
You sound like a woman with a plan! Know what you mean about other people's scraps being much more interesting and appealing.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea. I found that using my GO! cutter and the 2/1/2" die I could save my arm. I should be getting the GO! ahead soon for a giveaway.
ReplyDeleteBut in the meantime I'm having a giveaway for a paperpieced snowman. Drop by if you get a chance.
well done on organising your scraps. I did start, once but now they are all bunched together in a big bin. Mind you I enjoy looking through it when I want something
ReplyDeleteLove and hugs Gina xxx