Building Scrap Quilter Muscle

This topic is not for everyone, but the fact is, scrap quilting requires fabric. Lots of it! And the more variety the better. If you're not in a stash accumulative mood or think the rest of us who hoard are greedy fabric pigs, that's okay. We'll catch up another day. I want to address an alternative method of building up our precious stash. I call this method 'Building Scrap Quilter Muscle' because it's really the most random bits and pieces of fabric that turn out the very best quilts.

The original rejected fabrics

The key to this method of fabric collecting is to get the word out. Plain and simple. Let your friends and family know that hello! You love fabric and will willingly take on their rejects. This is not for the faint of heart because sometimes what you end up with is appallingly ugly and only suitable for the dumpster. That's the gamble. {And the fun!} Gotta gird up your loins and dive in, because sometimes you can end up with absolute gems. Seriously folks, the best fabric is not always the brand new stuff sitting in the stores!

Doesn't look promising....

The best way to start is just to dump all the fabric out--onto the table, floor or couch, it doesn't matter. Just get it all out of the bag or box it came in. Then start making stacks. Go through the fabric quickly and make snap decisions--it's not rocket science. One pile for fabric you want to keep, another for maybe's and then the last pile for trash. Yep, there is almost always fabric that can only be classified as garbage. Don't even hesitate about dumping it!

The keepers

Remember, fabric you want to keep doesn't have to give you a thrilling little tingle to be found worthy. If you've been sewing long enough, you'll recognize certain colors you use on a regular basis or fabric that works great as blenders. These are no-question keepers! And of course, it goes without saying that anything interesting also goes right into this stack. Badda boom, badda boom. You can probably tell that I love getting the chance to do this!

The Maybe fabrics

In the maybe pile, throw anything that makes you wince or make a funny little face of indecision. We'll come back to them later. I don't know about you, but I'll occasionally keep fabric that has uncertain origins or isn't exactly billed as 'quilting' fabric. As long as it's 100% cotton, there is always hope for a place in my stash. Anything that is thin enough to see daylight through, looks cheap or was the sort of thing we made our FFA livestock booth decor out of, well, that goes right into the throw-away pile. Don't even second guess it because you'll never regret getting rid of these types of fabric!

The trash

In this batch of rejected fabrics, I also found a couple pieces of good quality flannel. I like to keep these fabrics because once in a blue moon, I want to make a fast rag quilt to give away. It's an easy-peasy gift and how much better if it's made out of free fabric! The tote below now has my first selection of keeper fabrics, including the four pieces of flannel I found.

First selection of keepers

Now this is where you and I might part ways. The next thing I do is go back to the maybe pile and do a second pass-through. This time I will look for pieces large enough to use in my quilt backings, yet not so hideous as to make me ill. I will also check out those 'uncertain' fabrics a little more thoroughly, try to judge whether or not I want to try my luck using them. Now my tote is getting a little more full! The thing I want you to know is this: All the fabrics from the maybe pile are always on probation. At any time (even after they find a way into my stash), they may still be discarded with zero remorse. I can be ruthless that way!

Adding in the probation fabrics....

Eventually there is a pile of garbage fabric {already disposed of} plus the box of stuff I just don't want in my own stash. {The hated words: It's not you dear, it's me.} And there are several things we can do with this particular fabric. For instance, I have a friend who will generally take what I don't want or I can also take it to the local Senior Citizens Center. They seriously love getting small boxes of discarded fabrics! Every area has different opportunities for donation, it's simple to find out what will work best for you.

My rejects

After I've combed through all the fabrics, then I do one last thing. I reach into the keeper tote and I dig out those pieces of fabric that seem extra special. The ones that make me smile for whatever reason. These are the gems, the reason for the entire exercise! Sometimes I only have a very small piece of an interesting fabric, but you can bet it will be carefully placed into the best possible quilt for that color or print.

The gems

And that's why I call it 'Building Scrap Quilter Muscle'. These are the sorts of fabric that add much needed variety, spice, value, liveliness, and even quirk to our quilts. Is it worth the time and trouble to sort through a little garbage to get to the good stuff? I guess that's up to you. All good fabrics have to go somewhere to die. I'm not too proud to be another stop along the way.*wink  

Linking up to Scraptastic Tuesday and my Courage to Feel Creative Series page.

*Please be advised that the resulting keeper pile is sometimes ominously small compared to the original anticipated return. I do not take any responsibility for a disappointing experience.