Declutter Challenge 2026 - Day 17 - Fabric Scraps
- Karen
- Jan 17
- 2 min read
We have just FIVE days to go. The finish line is in sight. I know we can do it.
I hope you have your climbing gear because today we are climbing Mt. Scrapmore. Today’s the day we grab all of our scraps from all over the sewing room, basement, garage and any other place that you have been stashing them. Today we get to see just how big Mt. Scrapmore has become.
STEP 1
Set your timer.
STEP 2
Define your capacity. Now scraps happen. There’s no shame in that since every project we have ever made, or will ever make, will produce scraps.
However, every square inch of your sewing space is valuable so first you need to decide how much space you want your scraps to take up. Scraps also need to be accessible so that you can use them. The more steps between you and your scraps, the less likely you are to use them.
I have one drawer that I just dump scraps into as I make them. But once I process my scraps, I have a couple of other spots where I put them.
STEP 3
Declutter. With scraps it’s not just how much capacity that you want your scraps to occupy in your sewing room. It’s also about how fast they are leaving your space through scrap blocks and other projects. I call it the scrap stream.
The second thing you need to do is think about is how many scrap projects do you actually make a year? If you only make 2 or 3 scrap projects a year, why waste your valuable space storing enough for 10?
How much scrap fabric do I want to use?
STEP 4
Remove them from your space. Do you even like to use scraps? If you don’t, you are not alone. And luckily there are plenty of people that do.
You can sell or donate what you don't want. But you do need to find those quilters that want them, so that the scraps don't linger too long in your space.
In addition to quilting fabric scraps, you might have scrap knits, denim, and upholstery fabric, batting, interfacings, fusible webbings and many more. Is your space large enough to store every type? Be sure to follow the steps and remove what does not serve you.
Remember today’s challenge is not about organizing your fabric scraps into a thousand sizes and projects. We are going to do that after the challenge. Today, it’s about setting boundaries for the coming year, so that you have a balance between scraps being produced with the scraps being consumed. Just because you CAN make postcards from scraps, doesn't mean that you will, nor that you’ll need 6 bags of scrap to do it with.
STEP 5
Your turn to share. So how big is your Mount Scrapmore? Share your photos and scrap projects online, in the Facebook Group or on Instagram with the hashtag #declutterchallenge2026.
Here are a couple videos for today.
Take Care. See you tomorrow for day 18 the end is near.
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