Today we are dealing with your batting and batting scraps.
Out of all the scraps, batting can take up a fair chunk of square footage in your sewing space. Not only are we dealing with scraps in all sorts of sizes, but we are also dealing with different types of batting.
And one of the top items you can make is often called Frankenbatting. It’s splicing the pieces together to make a bigger piece that you can use in your quilting. I explained how to do it in the video but the major point to make is that you should not mix up your batting types as they shrink at different rates.
So from your list of UFO’s and WIP figure out their finished size and splice your batting pieces together to match up. This is a WIN WIN WIN activity. You have the batting to finish a UFO. It saves you a ton of money. And you’ll get to recover a ton of space.
From the remainder, how much and how many types do you want to store? Your answer should be a combination of the capacity you have to store batting scraps with the number projects that you actually intend to make. Remember, you get batting scraps with every quilt. So if you are not consuming them, they will quickly overflow and take over.
I store my batting rolls at my studio. I decided several years ago to keep my life simple by only using only one brand and type of 100% cotton batting. I purchased my batting on a roll and I now store it under my longarm. I just realized I have some on a leftover bolt here in the corner that I should measure so I know how much I have. And I have a laundry hamper for dumping my scraps after I trim my quilts.
As needs be, I process them here then the smaller pieces go home to my studio. Currently I store 10” squares and 7x13” pieces for my QAYG blocks. I keep a couple of 20 “ x 20” on hand for pillows and mini-quilts, and some postcard size pieces too. Then from the remains I make bits and pieces. Which I store in bags at home. Now, I see things are getting a bit out of hand for the bits and pieces. But you need a ton to make a pillow. I have a large bench pillow project in my UFO pile which I think I will make up the pillow part now, to use up all these bits and get them out of my space.
Now you may have other kinds of stuffing. There is thermal batting, Upholstery foam and wadding. You may have polyfill or silicone beads for stuffed animals, wool rovings or crushed walnuts for pincushions and more. When was the last time you used any of it? And do you see yourself making projects that use them any time soon.
I am donating some of my supplies this year because I am just not using them. And I can easily replace them if I suddenly change my mind.
So how many bags of batting scraps do you have? How are you going to use them up in the coming year. Don’t forget to post a photo online with the hashtags #declutterchallenge2024
Take care See you tomorrow for day 19