December 2023 Strips Cutting Report

I really focused this month on making those cosmetic bags for our local charity and boy, did I see the difference in scraps produced as a result of making those compared to making quilts. I sure created a LOT of little odd shaped pieces! Part of that was because I was fussy cutting a lot of the fabrics but also because some of them were curved cosmetic bags.

Because of that, I just threw all the scraps into a plastic tub and figured I’d just chop them up into the scraps at the end of the month.

Well, the month has about ended by now and I finally got to cutting up scraps again. Thankfully I do not have tons of anything to cut up as I was completely caught up at the end of November, but as I did get several of my “big ones” (quilts) quilted during December, I was creating those cut offs from the edges of the backings as well. Those cuttings tend to create scraps the fastest.

Oh - I was able to get my scrap plastic laundry basket emptied again before weighing these strips. That felt good. :)

Anyway, here are the results -

2.5” - 3.63 lbs.

 

2” - 0.99 lb.

 

1.5” - 0 88 lb.







 

This makes my total for the year to date as shown below in the table.

And then, also, since I started cutting in an organized way.

I know that some of you wonder what about those years that nothing is written down - and I will admit that those years, I just collected scraps - didn’t cut anything regularly. It had gotten to the place where I had a closet full of bags and scraps and even had to resort to taking some of them to the storage room in the church where I keep my quilts. I then told myself, “This is ridiculous - either deal with them or get rid of them.” So I dealt with them. I had a lot in 2020 as you can see by the table below.

I’ve discovered since then that forcing myself to try to keep up is definitely the way to go - even if I don’t do it “the best” or “perfectly”, at least by trying to keep up monthly or every other month actually catching up again, it is a much better feeling and is keeping those huge bags of scraps to cut up down.

My biggest problem now is that I need to get serious and just start doing some major top making again - I especially want to work down those 2.5” bags. I’ve been doing some quilting - but not a lot of top making. I’ve been working with my sis, however, on some things for next year’s All Florida Shop Hop. I really do like making the tops the best. However, I’ve been making good progress on my own personal quilt tops and that is always exciting to me.

So…back to this month’s cutting. I really didn’t cut a whole lot - just the few days I’ve been able to focus on it and cut for several hours (all together). I was glad to get the scraps cleared out again.

I do still have several boxes of scrubs fabrics to cut into the 4.5” and 3.5” squares - that isn’t done. I’ll show a picture of what I’m talking about. This photo is the size of boxes I have ready to go - I think I have about 8 more of these boxes. :)

I have a fresh new blade in my rotary cutter - so I’m ready to go!

I’ve got all the boxes of fabrics ready to go - but just haven’t tackled it yet. Maybe I’ll make it a January goal. :) It’s a really exciting thought, actually.







 

Thanks again for coming along with me on this journey! Have a great day wherever you are reading!

Becky Petersen2 Comments