Quilting is not just about stitching together pieces of fabric; it’s a craft that embraces creativity, resourcefulness, and for many, a deep appreciation for every scrap of material that crosses their path. Ask any quilter, and they’ll likely tell you that one of the most debated topics in the quilting community is, What’s the smallest fabric scrap size worth keeping?. We put the question to our community of quilters from around the world and their responses were very interesting … From Australia to the United States, each quilter’s approach to scraps reflects their unique quilting style, local fabric costs, and personal preferences.
Some quilters, like @sewquiltquiltquilt and @julie.mirdoch, swear by 1-inch squares, finding endless possibilities in postage stamp size pieces of fabric. Others, like @cathlmaker, @spottystitcher and @so_n_sew, opt for slightly larger sizes, such as 1.5 inches or 2.5 inches, ensuring versatility in their scrap quilting projects. There was even one recount of a quilter who doesn’t keep anything smaller than half a yard! Not surprisingly, fabric cost and availability play a significant role in determining scrap thresholds, with quilters from regions with higher fabric prices like Australia, keeping smaller sized scraps out of necessity, while those in areas with more affordable options might be more inclined to discard smaller pieces.
However, regardless of geographic location or fabric costs, one sentiment remains consistent, quilters hate to see any fabric go to waste with the majority of our quilting friends finding it hard to throw out even the tiniest scrap of fabric (me included!). Some creative “no scrap left behind” suggestions for those teeny tiny scraps (sometimes called fabric crumbs) are: stitch them onto greeting cards, give them to their children for arts and crafts, use them for stuffing or tiny applique, top stitch them onto background fabric to make a scarf or wall hanging … and I’m sure you can think of more!
- “No piece is too small. I used to go through my quilting group’s trash until everyone volunteered to give me their scraps.” – @makatrin
- “Is there a size too small? I do have some rough plans for my scraps. But sometimes I just love going through them. I might see a piece from a quilt I made for someone special long ago. Love that!” – @rainy_day_quilter
- “All scraps are hard to part with! Love making string quilts and tiny log cabins! Scrappy is my favorite.” – @sparrowand.co
- “Scraps are like weeds, only get rid of them if you didn’t like the fabric, well, not then either…….!!! I play with them. Make paper doll clothes, take to daycare for their projects, there is always a use for scraps.” – @moolissa56
- “I sew the HST trimmings together as I go. I keep a bin for less than 2”. They go into cards or will used in the future. Sometimes they become stuffing. Weird small trimmings go into compost.” – @weft_side_story
For some, the decision to keep scraps is driven by the desire to preserve memories, cherished scraps from past projects and the people who those projects were made for, or their maker. In fact, back in Make Modern Issue 1, we featured a special quilt made Jo King, which had one block made from the fabric scraps from each and every quilt she had ever made … a memory quilt for her quilts!
Ultimately, the great scrap debate showcases that every scrap tells a story, and every piece of fabric has the potential to become something beautiful. So, next time you find yourself trimming fabric for a quilt project, consider the fate of those tiny scraps. Who knows? They might just inspire your next masterpiece!
What’s your threshold for keeping fabric scraps? Click here to see the original post and share your thoughts!
Want more reading on Modern Scrap Quilts, or help sorting out your scraps? Not only are Make Modern magazines full of beautiful patterns to make, each magazine has loads of tips and tricks to help you improve your quilting.
- My top 21 scrap quilt pattern blog post
- Effortless Modern Scrap Quilting in Make Modern Issue 57
- Smash That Stash: SOS – Sorting Our Scraps in Make Modern Issue 42
- One Block Scrap Quilts in Make Modern Issue 42
- Scraps and How to Actually Use Them in Make Modern Issue 27
- Maths + Methods: No Scraps Left Behind in Make Modern Issue 20
- Scrap Quilting Made Modern in Make Modern Issue 19
- A guide to dealing with your fabric scraps in Make Modern Issue 2
Want more reading? You can purchase back issues of Make Modern magazine separately from our shop, or dive right in and get instant access to our entire collection of 57 issues and counting with an All-Access Subscription all ready for you to read via one simple link.
