Makeover Extravaganza Part 1 - Sorting out scrap fabrics

Let's begin our Makeover Extravaganza by addressing the scattered small fabric pieces. How can we store them effectively? Why do we even keep them? Many of us dislike wasting anything, so we tend to hold onto these fabric offcuts, thinking we might use them in the future. However, what happens when we accumulate so many that we're unsure how to store them in a way that encourages their reuse, instead of resorting to cutting from a fresh fabric bolt?

Well, there are several ideas to consider. Firstly, I recommend trimming the offcuts to approximate squares or rectangles to eliminate loose ends and facilitate easier folding. Then, using a clothes folder (which can be easily made from cardboard if you don't have one), fold all the fabric pieces into the same size.

You can also trim them to Quilt precut sizes and store them by size, 5"squares, 10" Squares, thin Quarters, fat quarters etc.

To organize and store these folded fabric pieces, I purchased small stack drawers that fit nicely in my cupboard. On the top of each drawer, I marked the nine colors I use most frequently. For instance, I associate purples with pinks and reds, yellows with oranges and creams, and I keep white separate due to its abundance. Blacks and greys are grouped together, and so on. My top shelf houses all my cotton fabrics, while the bottom shelf is dedicated to stretch fabrics. This arrangement makes it effortless to locate a specific color and fabric type for smaller projects.

If I find myself overwhelmed with cotton fabrics, I employ my Accuquilt machine to swiftly cut them into jelly roll strips, which I then store in a dedicated drawer. Jelly rolls are versatile and can be used for binding, borders, and smaller quilts. If you don't have an Accuquilt machine, you can easily use quilt rulers to cut 2.5-inch strips, roll them up by color, and you're good to go.

What is a Accuquilt Machine, its a die cut machine using dies of different shapes to cut a lot of layers of fabric at the same time - Visit the https://www.accuquilt.com/ website for more information

I personally prefer clear, see-through containers as they allow for easy visibility of the contents. However, if you're on a tight budget, cardboard boxes make for an excellent alternative. Shoe boxes, for example, work exceptionally well, and you can cover each box with paper of the corresponding color, such that a red box holds all your red fabrics.

I'll provide you with a few links to boxes and clear containers, but I recommend measuring the space in your cupboard or designated area before purchasing them to ensure a proper fit. Avoid stacking them too high or placing them out of convenient reach, as you ideally want to reach for these containers first before cutting into a new fabric bolt.

This weekend, set aside some time to sort and fold your fabric scraps, and prepare your containers to neatly store them away.

The clothes folding board I use you can purchase HERE

Here is a short video clip on how I fold my fabric using the folder

The drawer sets I used can be purchased HERE

Card board boxes are a excellent choice as well - click on the images to view details and purchase if interested - I particularly like these because they have a clear window and they come in a pack of 12 which makes them very affordable - the drawer style of these also ensures you don't have to unstack to get to the bottom box.

In Part 2 of our Makeover Extravaganza we will discuss how to store your bolts of fabric, types of fabric and give you some ideas for storage.