Hi Reader,

Do your scraps seem to multiply when you're not looking?

Mine do. And that doesn't include the four tubs of scraps of my mom's that I couldn't let go of.

Sometimes, the amount of scraps seems overwhelming, and I wonder what in the world I'm going to do with all of them.

These feelings are not new, and they are why I created and hosted the Conquer Your Fabric Scraps Summit in 2023 and in 2024.

I needed help and knew others did too.

Thousands of attendees, including myself, were inspired by scrap projects, exposed to many organizational ideas, and gained confidence in putting colors together.

Both online events brought together teachers and students from around the world, and the feedback was extremely positive.

I've started planning for the next Scrap Summit. It will be in November 2026.

I need your input on when to hold this online event because I can't settle on the dates.

I have a list of pros and cons for each time frame below and am going in circles on which one would be best.

What do you think?

Thank you for taking the time to provide your opinion. I appreciate it.

👉 Do you want to be in the first group of people to be notified when registration opens?

​Make sure you get on the waitlist for the 2026 Scrap Summit.

Click HERE to add your name.

Creative muscles

I used to think sewing and quilting projects could be divided into one of three categories:

• Easy projects - one that is well within your skill level, and you can do without too much thought.
• Stretch projects - one that is just outside of your skill level and requires you to learn a new technique or two.
• Learning projects - one that requires you to try something you haven't tried before or to deepen your understanding of a specific technique.

Recently, the concept of creative muscles has been floating around in my brain, and I can't make it fit into any of the three project categories.

With easy, stretch, and learning projects, it's assumed there is a definite pattern, directions, or known technique involved. (This is the type of sewing I like to do.)

While creativity is involved in these types of projects, I don't think creative muscles are developed when doing them.

Creative muscles are grown by taking what you know about concepts like color, lines, shape, and proportion, and creating something out of your fabric that is unique and one of a kind.

Do you know Jennifer Houlden of Quilts By Jen?

She taught classes in both Scrap Summits, and feedback from attendees on her classes was very positive.

She is the one who got me thinking about creative muscles.

If you've been wanting to do more with fabric than follow someone else's pattern or tutorial, read what Jen has to say about this exciting new learning opportunity.

Jen's Mastrius Mentorship group launches on April 22nd.

If you’re new to Mastrius Mentorship, enjoy 50% off your first two months — plenty of time to meet your mentor (Jen), settle into your group, and start feeling real momentum.

Use coupon code 2for50 at checkout.

Click this link to learn more and register:https://mentors.mastrius.com/product/825/JenniferHouldenMentorshipMG962/profile​

If you have questions, you can email Jen at jennifer@quiltsbyjen.ca

Wrong measurements

Have you ever had a measuring tool where the unit lines were not accurate?

I've heard about situations where the lines on a ruler didn't match up with the lines on a cutting mat, and as a result, the fabric was not cut to the correct measurement.

For many projects, being off an 1/8-inch or more isn't a big deal, but for some projects, being exact is critical for the pieces to come together correctly.

Until recently, I've never had the experience of inaccurate lines on a measuring tool.

Then I noticed my measurements were a little more than 1/2-inch off when measuring a piece of fabric that was more than 55 inches long.

The lines on the tape measure I was using are between 1/8 and 1/4-inch shorter than they should be at the 24-inch mark!

I checked this tape measure against multiple rulers, cutting mats, and other tape measures. It didn't measure correctly against any of them, and the farther I went on the tape measure, the larger the gap grew.

This inaccuracy didn't ruin my project, but it was very irritating when the fabric pieces didn't line up after I had been so careful when measuring.

If you find yourself working on a project where things aren't lining up correctly, you may want to check the unit marks on your measuring tool(s).

Magic numbers

If you like learning on YouTube and you love a scrappy look, you need to know about Malgorzata Banjo, the quilter behind Pola Quilting on YouTube.

She, like Jen, taught classes in the 2023 and 2024 Scrap Summits, and her Magic Numbers system resonated with many students.

Pola has over 359 videos on her channel, and most of them are related to scraps.

I'm a big fan of her work and love the analytical approach she takes to scrap quilting.

In a recent newsletter I received from her, she asked her readers for help.

I checked today, and she is at 9.85K subscribers. So close!

Would you help her meet her goal?

Please check out Pola's YouTube channel. If you like what you see, subscribe and help her meet that 10,000 subscriber milestone.

That's all for now. Until next time...

P.S. Are you new to the Snappy Scissors newsletter? Check out past issues HERE.