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My Scrap Drawer Overfloweth

My Scrap Drawer Overfloweth

Anyone who sews or quilts knows that fabric scrap storage can be a challenge.

One drawer in my fabric dresser is set aside just for scraps that are smaller than a fat eighth.

I’ve been storing all the really small fabric scraps that I use for applique in plastic zip bags and then when I’m finished the applique project, I put those bags back in the scrap drawer. But as you can see from the photo below… the drawer barely closes with what it’s got in it right now.Fabric Scrap Storage - My Scrap Drawer Overfloweth

There was no way those three bags of scraps were going back into that drawer.

Admittedly, the zip bags aren’t the most elegant way to store them but I like being able to dump them out on the work area next to my ironing station and search through them for just the right bit of fabric. It’s like a treasure hunt for each pattern piece.

But I also like to have things put away in their own place when I’m not using them.

I decided there had to be a better way to store my applique scraps.

Last year, I had made a Fat Quarter Pop-Up for my Santa Sack Swap partner, Pauline as one of the six handmade gifts we were to make for each other.

Fabric Scrap Storage - Fat Quarter Pop Up

Santa Sack Swap 2016 - Pop Up Basket for PaulineNow the one I made for Pauline was the original Fat Quarter Pop-Up with the 5.5″ frame and way too small for what I needed. But the pop-ups also come in 8″, 10.5″ and 14″ wire frames. There’s even a really cute mini 3.5″ frame but that would be wayyyyy too small. 🙂

I picked up a 10.5″ frame at my LSQ. You can buy the pattern for the larger ones but I had the instruction sheet from the 5.5″ one. The measurements for a larger one were easy enough to figure out.

The Home Sweet Home fabric is such fun that I’d bought a yard of it. A couple of hours cutting and sewing and I had this:

Fabric Scrap Storage - 10.5 inch Fat Quarter Pop_Up using Home Sweet Home fabricHere’s what it looks like when it’s collapsed, but I’ll probably never need to collapse it:
Fabric Scrap Storage - 10.5 inch Fat Quarter Pop_Up using Home Sweet Home fabric - collapsed

Fabric Scrap Storage - 10.5 inch Fat Quarter Pop_Up using Home Sweet Home fabric with bags of fabric scraps

Fabric Scrap Storage - 10.5 inch Fat Quarter Pop_Up using Home Sweet Home fabric filled with fabric scraps

Now I can dump out the scraps and treasure hunt for just the right piece.

Fabric Scrap Storage - 10.5 inch Fat Quarter Pop_Up using Home Sweet Home fabric beside pile of fabric scraps

And when I’m done with them, they can be put back in the Home Sweet Home Pop-up, ready for next time.

abric Scrap Storage - 10.5 inch Fat Quarter Pop_Up using Home Sweet Home fabric - fabric scraps neatly stored

This method of fabric scrap storage is much more elegant, don’t you think? 

 

 

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Fabric Scrap Storage - store your fabric scraps in a pretty pop-up basket.

 

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9 Comments

  • Deborah
    May 30, 2017 2:36 pm

    How cute is that? Adorable.

    Thanks for linking up to #wasternotwednesday

  • Gillian
    May 29, 2017 10:28 pm

    I need one of these. I keep scrap for making doll clothes and they take over the place.

  • Lina
    May 29, 2017 12:12 pm

    What a great way to store fabric scraps! Thanks for sharing at Sew It Cook It Craft It. I’m featuring you tomorrow.

  • Nina
    May 26, 2017 9:05 am

    Oh my goodness! I absolutely LOVE this idea. I, too, have a TON of fabric scraps that I use for all kinds of projects, but have never really found a good way to store them. I will definitely be making a few of these storage containers. We are currently in the midst of painting my sewing room / art studio so this will be the perfect addition to our update. Thanks for sharing at the #HomeMattersParty. Would love to have you visit me at Vintage Mama’s Cottage . . . if you don’t mind, I think I will do a blog post and feature this idea and link back here. Lots of my readers also sew and do other crafts, so this will be of great interest to them, too. Hope to catch up with you again soon at the #HomeMattersParty! Nina @ Vintage Mama’s Cottage

    • Super Mom No Cape
      May 26, 2017 12:24 pm

      Hello Nina,

      I’ve sent you an email!

  • Susan Nixon
    May 19, 2017 6:45 pm

    Ha, ha, ha, until your scraps OUTGROW it and you have to make a second one! LOL Yes, I know how this works. That is definitely a cute way to store them.

  • Mary Anne (MA)
    May 16, 2017 5:19 pm

    Now THAT is totally ingenious!!! And ever so much prettier than ziploc bags. I can see a lot of uses for these types of containers!

  • Mara
    May 16, 2017 12:21 pm

    Very interesting! I’ve done a lot of sewing but I’ve never heard of these frames! What are they called specifically? Thanks!

    • Super Mom No Cape
      May 21, 2017 5:10 pm

      Hello Mara,

      They’re called Fat Quarter Pop-ups. And they’re such fun to make.

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