Hi Reader,

Do you have a scrap project library?

Whether you've been sewing for a while or are just getting started, it doesn't take long before scraps start piling up.

If your plan is to save your scraps for some unknown project in the distant future, you will never make any progress on reducing your scraps.

You need to build a collection of scrap-friendly patterns and projects to choose from -tailored to what and how you like to sew and quilt.

This collection is what I call the scrap project library. It can consist of both print and digital items that you can go to when you want to use up some scraps.

These projects can even guide how you organize and store your fabric scraps.

Fabric buildings

A recent conversation with a quilting friend and another with my sister were the inspiration to adding fabric buildings to my scrap project library.

Christmas on the Canal

Maria Lazane Bihari is a quilting friend and a business accountability partner. She is one of three quilters who make up the North Sea Quilters who have designed some fun patterns featuring fabric buildings.

This year, Maria put a festive spin on their Little Amsterdam Canal Houses pattern and created an on-demand class to guide you through the process of making it.

This 38" x 38" festive wall hanging is a great project for confident beginners.

Don't be surprised to find yourself getting creative by adding details through embellishments like ribbons, lace, and buttons to enhance the cheerful scene.

To learn more about this holiday pattern and on-demand course, click HERE.

You'll find detailed descriptions about the project, the story behind the Christmas on the Canal quilt, get a sneak peek at the first lesson, and be able to purchase all from this page.

Little Houses

My sister and I have started to go through my Mom's house as we prepare for an estate sale.

I came across a small tub filled with clothing scraps cut approximately 6"x 6". These were swatches my mom had saved from clothes she had made my sister when we were little.

On top of that pile was a free pattern my mom had printed off from the Fat Quarter Shop called Village.

Michelle told me she had seen the pattern sitting by Mom's computer and fell in love with it.

The plan was for Michelle to shop Mom's charm pack stash for some fabric and then Mom would use some of Michelle's garment scraps to fill in the rest of the houses.

Michelle had gotten as far as picking out a few charm packs before Mom got sick.

As we dug through the scraps, reminiscing about the clothes Mom had made, I told Michelle I'd love to make the quilt for her when she was ready.

Wonky houses

If you like the idea of houses but want them to be less structured, check out the Wonky House Quilt video from Pin Cut Sew.

These houses are all different shapes and sizes and she walks you through how to create an improv house block.

The video is part of an 8 video playlist that includes wonky tree blocks, sewing curves and half-square triangles, and finishing the quilts.

Free Patterns

Sometimes when you're not looking, inspiration for your scrap pattern library will strike.

The Falling Star Quilt Block popped up in my FB feed. The contrast of the fabric between the star and the sky caught my eye and I thought the design would lend itself to scraps.

When I went to the webpage to bookmark the tutorial, I noticed the first part of the URL - https://allfree.craftsforlove.com/.

Intrigued by the "allfree" part, I went to the home page and discovered links to quilt patterns, crochet patterns, blankets, and amigurumis (a type of crochet creating stuffed toys and dolls).

This website is a great resource if you're looking for new ideas.

Managing garment scraps

Clothing scraps can be hard to manage. They tend to be odd shapes and sizes and storing them can present a challenge.

Mom left me a humongous stash including many large bins of miscellaneous scraps.

In one of the tubs tossed in with random scraps, I noticed many tied fabric bundles each about the size of a cardboard toilet paper roll.

The bundles weren't quilting cotton and some I recognized as leftovers of clothes Mom had made.

When I untied one bundle, I was surprised to see the large scraps of a shirt she had cut out.

By folding each fabric piece in half, laying them on top of each other, folding them in half again, rolling them tightly, and securing them with a skinny scrap tie, she had an effective way of managing those weird shapes of garment scraps.

These bundles can be stored in many different ways and are easy to search through without having to worry about the scraps becoming unfolded and separated.

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

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

P.P.S. One of the Snappy Scissors readers let me know Lea Louise from Inspired Quilting by Lea Lousie on YouTube is still collecting quilts and other warm stuff like mittens, hats, and such for Hurricane Helene survivors. You can see her Nov. 9 video about it HERE. In the description section of the video, there is an address where you can send the donations.