Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Slash That Stash!


That's my motto for the next couple months.  I am taking time each week to organize my fabric stashes into manageable bits and pieces.  In 2019, momma wants to make some quilts and she wants to use what she has on hand.  There is a million free (and bought) patterns for precuts that I'm dying to make.  So the idea is to chop up my existing fabrics into pre cut bits so that I can make these patterns more usable for me.  You are more than welcome to join me in a Stash Slashing party for encouragement if you'd like.  So here are the rules I've made for myself as I tackled my first bin...green fabrics.

Any fabrics 1/2 yard or bigger where pressed, neatly folded and placed back into the container.  All fat quarters were also placed back into the container.




Any scraps that were salvage to salvage wide where placed into a pile to be cut into 2.5"xWOF strips.



Things that were not salvage to salvage wide but was larger than 5" was placed into a pile to become 5" squares.  The stack on the left became 2.5" strips and on the right 5" squares.



After I had my piles, I could use my Go! Cutter to super quick cut up my precuts.


I've had this Go! Cutter for several years now, but found myself not using it.  Let me tell you, it is worth it's weight in gold for cutting up scraps into precuts.  There is a bit of waste, but it was totally worth the time savor.




For bits of fabric smaller than 5", I chopped them into 2.5" squares and placed the misshapen parts into a bag to use as crumbs.

Full disclosure, it took about a week to work my way through the tote of fabric.  I would grab a pile and work on ironing and cutting when I could steal small chunks of time from other things.  




I placed like cuts of fabric in bags together so that I could easily grab them later.


Here is a little before and after photo from my cutting secessions.  Once I have tackled all of my totes of fabrics, my goal will be to store all like precuts together in one container.  I will separate them into bags by color to make grabbing and going much easier.  I have a shelf that will be prefect for sorting fat quarters by color...I get chills just thinking about it.   

I'm going to ride this scrap busting high as long as it is here.  It is a project I've wanted to tackle for some time now...now is the time.  If you decided to join me in cutting up those piles of fabrics just laying around, feel free to tag me on Instagram or use #slashthatstash   







15 comments:

Bernie Kringel said...

This sounds like a really good system Tish. Basic size pieces that can be used in endless patterns. The Go-Cutter would be great - I have a little trouble with my wrist and a long cutting session makes it quite sore so I have to break it up into many short sessions. Someday..... :-)

Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl said...

The organization of this really appeals to me. I think most people would consider my print stash to be more like scraps. I might need to figure out a method for organizing it for myself. Great food for thought and now I have the urge to go do it!

Nancy J said...

A great way to have those pre-cuts on hand, and colour co-ordinated. I save all tiny pieces for the appliques, but having strips and squares is wonderful. Maybe next year when we are settled in.

Stitchin At Home said...

Your baggies are a good idea. I have mine in plastic shoe boxes from the dollar store. They stack neatly on my shelves.

Dione Gardner-Stephen said...

Good for you. This is a lot of work, but the results speak for themselves. Totally jealous I don't have tome to rush off to the sewing room and do this! hahaha, The urge will pass.

piecefulwendy said...

Good for you, Tish! It would be good for me to do this too, and break it down like you are doing. I've tried tackling one whole scrap drawer at a time, and I find I can't stick with it that long. A bit each day would be so much better. Good things to think about, so thanks for sharing!

Janice Holton said...

What a great system! And those 6 inch squares can be cut down into smaller squares should a pattern call for them. Seeing all your piles of beautifully cut strips and squares is inspiring and makes me want to start sorting! I have the 2 1/2" strip cut dye but don't have the 5" square. Maybe I should order one!

Anja @ Anja Quilts said...

Well done!! I need to deal with my stash and scraps.

Kathleen said...

I’m in! I have a Sizzix and have been planning on doing this. I’ll let you know when I start.

Beth @ Cooking Up Quilts said...

I need to tackle my stash and scraps too. I am so impressed with your progress Tish! Keep up the great work! It's inspiring to me to see posts like this one. I've been doing a lot of cutting/prepping for the quilt retreat coming up so I guess technically I am "Slashing My Stash"! LOL

KaHolly said...

Well done, Tish. Keep up the good work. Wish I could make myself buckle down and do the same.

Vicki in MN said...

I think you will nail all those scraps down and have gorgeous quilts next year! I need to use strings and more strings-maybe during the winter I can whip up a couple quilts:0

Home Sewn By Us said...

Hi Tish! I commend you for tackling this ambitious project, and thank you for writing about it so it encourages and inspires us as well. My biggest question(s) is what is on your list to make in the new year? Inquiring minds really, really want to know! I need some inspiration in that area as well. ~smile~ Roseanne

Sandy Panagos said...

I've been working on slashing my stash, too, but I think I'm cutting too many sizes. I'm going to switch to the standard pre-cut sizes you're making so there are more patterns to use them in. Thanks for the motivation!

Paige said...

Well done, Tish! I need to do the same with my stash!

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