I ironed all the scraps (the only ironing I do!), and then started cutting them into useable squares. I prefer 5", 4", 3", 2 1/2". I also cut a lot of 2 3/4" square for making hexagons. I always start with the largest square possible and work down. Anything 1"-2 1/4" becomes a strip.
It took 2 1/2 days of ironing and cutting to clean out the bin. Now, the fun part! I plan to make scrap quilts alternating color and white scraps with the squares. The strips will become either a strip quilt (like I made with my last go-round of scrap cutting) or a crazy quilt.
I decided to try the crazy quilt idea. I sewed strips together until I had a large enough piece to cut out an 8 1/2" square. I plan to put sashing between the squares when I put the quilt top together. Warning - these are highly addictive! I was just going to make one and put the strips away until another day. Ten squares later, I'm still going.
I always think the blocks are ugly to start with, but once they're put together, I like the finished project made out of "free" fabric. (I know, not really free, but it makes me feel frugal to use my scraps to make something useable.)
Another way I use my scraps is in hexagon projects. The scraps I cut this time will become my newest travel project. Hexies are sewn by hand, so they are great for traveling. I have many cut out ready to take with me when I head to AZ and CO. I'll sew them into "flower" sets and then spend time in the car this summer sewing the sets together into a quilt top.
So, do you have scraps? What do you make with them?
