Spring is a time for cleaning and renewal. We clean out our closets, we gut our pantries, and shake the dust from our rugs! And as much as we love them, Quilters, we have to apply our clean-freak mentalities to our fabric stashes as well. This means, using up scraps before we buy more. I know, I know. It’s a controversial opinion, but it’s one I think will help us in the long run. Plus, there are tons of really cute and useful smaller projects out there. You can make bags, hot pads, or a cover for your sewing machine!
Scrappy Bags
There’s nothing more popular in the summer than slouchy, scrappy bags. They show up at festivals, picnics, and spring parties. The good news is, you can make your own out of whatever pretty fabric you want.
Finish it Your Way Patchwork Bag
Household Items
Everyone needs an extra hot pad or a spare set of placemats, and I KNOW you’ve got enough scraps hoarded up there in your craft room to make a hot pad for every member of your extended family.
Jammin Jelly Roll Quilt Floor Cushion
Pillows and Scrap Quilts
Is there anything that makes a three-season room more inviting than a couple of pillows and a snuggly blanket thrown on the wicker furniture? Nope. There isn’t. You’re gonna have so much fun this spring making pillows and blankets to match the color scheme or your porch or sun room. I don’t have a sun room. I am so jealous of you.
Sunny Side Up Appliqued Pillow
Stacked Jelly Roll Quilt Pattern
How do you use your scrap stash?
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I use scraps for all sorts of little projects…pincushions, bookmarks, pillows, applique pieces, yo-yo’s…yet, somehow, I still have a huge plastic container filled with scraps. I think I should spend less time on the computer and more time in the sewing room, LOL.
I have been making strip blocks into quilts for my 9 grandchildren each time one reaches their 10th milestone. I put lattice around the blocks in their chosen favorite color and also add some appliques of something they like too. Like my grandson just got his quilt. He had bright red sash and black cats in silhouette, sitting here and there on the lattice. He absolutely loves cats! I am loving using up scraps that I have saved since 1981.