I’m still working on organizing my fabric supply so let’s take a closer look at how to organize fabric scraps!
Stash Little and Big
The term fabric scraps can cover a lot of ground, from big pieces of fabric you used part of in a project to the tiniest scraps left over from trimming edges or cutting more pieces than you need.
What I consider scraps in my own collection is generally anything smaller than a fat quarter (not that I measure, but you can imagine that size as you sort). Bigger pieces go into a different pile/section. Check out these fabric storage ideas if you’re looking for ways to store larger pieces of fabric.
Getting Started Sorting
The first step in how to organize fabric scraps, like anything else, is to do your best to gather everything that needs organizing together.
I will admit what you see here is not all of my fabric scraps, but it is what was not already stored in the cedar chest the piles are sitting on top of. The ideal situation would be all of the fabric fitting inside the cedar chest, organized generally by size and make (knit, woven, fleece, clothing to upcycle, etc.)
Once all your fabric bits are together, start sorting.
Again, you may have different definitions for what constitutes a scrap, or different ways to sort larger scraps from smaller.
I put bigger pieces of fabric (cut or not) in one pile, then smaller pieces in another pile and I have a bag that is literally scraps.
How do you decide what goes in which pile? It can definitely be tricky, but this is just a first sort so you can always change your mind in how to organize fabric scraps in different ways later.
How to Organize Fabric Scraps
Once you have some general categories going, you may decide to sort again to make your “bigger” pile into larger and smaller pieces.
For example in my “bigger stuff” pile there are pieces big enough to need folding, 2 inch squares and little strips that are probably an inch or so wide.
None of them is big enough to use in a project alone, other than maybe some of these scrap fabric projects, but they could be cut, sewn and combined to make patchwork fabric or use in bigger projects.
And if I start sorting smaller from larger sometimes I’ll have pieces of the same fabric in both categories, as you can see here. But I might want to use all of that fabric in one project, so I don’t necessarily want to separate them and then have to go hunting for the other pieces when I want them.
All of this is really subjective and it depends on how much space you have or what containers you might be organizing fabric scraps into. If your space or bins are small, you’ll need smaller categories.
You might also know that there are particular fabrics you want to use together or for a certain purpose that you can set aside from the normal organizational scheme. Just make sure you actually make that thing soon so it doesn’t turn into unfinished object clutter!
My Plan
It sounds really nice to say that my idea for how to organize fabric scraps is a plan, because I’m not sure it really is, but my idea is to sort all the little squares and strips together and probably sew them into patchwork fabric that I can use for another project.
Larger scraps will all go together and might be treated the same way. Or I could cut the pieces I have into squares and then sew them together (you can see this kind of patchwork in action on my patchwork dress).
And then even bigger pieces just go back in the general fabric stash with like fabrics in the hope they’ll get used for their own small projects or combined with others.
Those tiny bits might get used along with the squares and strips, or I’ll use them for stuffing another project if they’re just too small to sew.
I’m hoping all of this will inspire me to sew more. As much as I want to consider myself a person who sews, and even who makes her own clothing, I don’t really sew that much. But hopefully having things organized and, most importantly, all in one place, will inspire me to make more and have more fun things to share with you.
If you have tips for how to organize fabric scraps I would love to hear them!
