Monday, February 21, 2011

{Scrappy Storage} On a Budget


If your like me, scraps usually pile up quickly and get thrown in a bucket like this. This bucket fills mostly from shop stuff but there are always those few that I would just love to be able to find on a whim while making a quilt. I think that if I just organize myself even with something as small as scraps, then my quilting productivity as well as my stash will go further.


This is what I have done...... I bought these small shoebox like plastic containers for .97 cents each at our local Target. Each one is designated a color for easy accessibility later on when looking for a certain piece. I keep everything in them that I think I will actually use, no matter how small. Every usuable peiece under a FQ goes in these and are considered scraps or remnants to me.


It may not seem like much, but making this small change has made my scraps more functionable. Plus I am saving money by using what I have..

Another idea from Target as well are these cute metal bowls found in a few different colors for 2.50 each add a nice pop of style to your fabric cubby if you don't want a large space dedicated just to scraps.


I have decided to put all of these posts under a new tab on top of the blog for everyone to reference later. There will be a few posts just this week on organization, as well as some pretty sweet ways to use up those scraps .

KEEP CALM AND ORGANIZE!!



How do you store your scraps?

22 comments:

  1. Not very well....my sewing room is my office is my guest bedroom with NO CLOSET!! I have to figure something out! Yours looks great Terri!

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  2. I recently sorted my 3 laundry baskets of scraps by color into boxes.

    I'm about to make a spider web quilt, so I took my green, blue and purple boxes out and cut everything into strips. Also used some black and gray... Will be using the scraps for the webs and some new Essex aqua fabric for the kites in the blocks. Can hardly wait to get started sewing!

    Whatever I don't use for this spider web quilt will be already cut into strips. Going to make a quake quilt next. Maybe a stripped pieced scrappy quilt after that. Just focusing on one color family or group at a time & pairing it with one solid fabric to contrast and unify the quilt.

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  3. I LOVE scraps and organizing ROCKs! I'm going to keep telling myself, "Keep calm and organize!"

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  4. Oh my gosh! I was thinking of doing JUST THIS THING with my scraps! Such a great idea! Currently mine are all in an overflowing bag on my studio floor!

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  5. Well......I am piling fabric up by collection in a shelf at the moment and scraps go into shoe boxes (the normal variety that one gets when buying shoes). Solids go into a separate shelf. This will not work for many months longer though as I am running out of space left right and centre. I love your way of storage as it will give you instant access to the right fabric.

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  6. I put them in a basket, just like you. When I have time or if the basket becomes full, I start to cut them into strips (from 1" - 3"), squares (2"-6"), etc. and then put them in plastic bags or clear shoe boxes (like you). I make a lot of scrappy quilts so when the baggies and boxes are full, I pick a project and start sewing.

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  7. you're a girl after my own heart Terri ;) I have my scraps in colour coded big zip lock bags but was just thinking the other day it's time to upgrade to boxes :)

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  8. wherever I can! LOL in totes, extra Ramen boxes that are emptied...

    I know where you could start storing yours! at my house! LOL

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  9. Oh my gosh...that is totally amazing...I am just drooling over how you have organized your scraps...

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  10. Keep those organizational tips coming!! I sorted my scraps into clear drawers over the Christmas holidays and it's such a relief to know all of the colours are together where they belong. Now, to use 'em!

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  11. I wish I had the room to organize all of my scraps like that! There are many times I wish I could look just by color. But sometimes the big bin in nice, too. One day I might be lucky enough to have some more room for it all!

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  12. Lovely, I just did the same thing over the weekend and should have a blog post up about my "newly" organized scraps and fabric in the next couple of days.

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  13. My scraps are all in a big plastic bin. I've had the itch to start spring cleaning, so maybe I'll start with my scraps. Mind if I copy you? :)

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  14. I store my scraps in stackable plastic drawers by color. They are slightly see through so I can tell what color they are from the outside but it all still looks uniform. I do look that metal bucket though! It would look super cute with a special pile of fat quarters or scraps...hmmm...a target run may be in my future.

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  15. Super organized! I have a thing for baskets at the moment so all my extras and current projects are in cute baskets.

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  16. great ideas!
    ...and i love that little metal bucket... too cute!

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  17. Yours looks great. I do nearly the same just with open bins.

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  18. I'm still storing all my scraps in a diaper box sadly but I have big plans to pawn off all my scrapbooking paper to my mom (sewing has taken over scrapbooking :P) and once all that's gone I'll be color coordinating my old paper drawers into fabric scrap drawers! Can't wait!

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  19. I love your storage box idea!

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  20. Ursula M. (Sewing Addict)Saturday, May 05, 2012

    My sewing room is my bedroom, office, storage, and library. I am having a time getting things organized. Your ideas are good but I just don't have the money to buy any bins,etc. I am currently unemployed and want to start my own sewing business but this disorganization is holding me back. any helpful ideas for a broke seamstress in desparate need of organization.

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