I think i might be going crazy. Or perhaps I inherited some really funny genes. I never throw out pieces of Aida, for example when I make a card and have to cut off an inch or so from the edges, I put it away: "it might come handy for something".



I actually have used one or two in my experiments with crazy quilting but that was all. SO FAR. Lookie, what I made:





I just took some tiny stripes and zig-zagged them together, with about 2 rows overlapping. Of course, you can't cross stitch on them because of the seams but they might be good for something. See an example in the mini projects section. And I am trying to figure out more uses... aplique mixed with cross stitch? Couching stitch?

Please, tell me, am I losing my marbles?

no. I don't think you are losing anything. You are finding things. Great use of scraps. I save everything and don't do anything with it. I love your creativity.

Carole

I save mine too. If they're long enough, I'll make a bookmark, or a small design for a card. If they're too small for anything, I cut them into small pieces that I can write thread numbers on, so that I can prethread my needles when I start a project. Then I just poke the needles in the material, and I'm ready to go when I come to that color in the pattern. Also, if I "park" my needles, I'll run them through a piece of scrap aida with the thread number on it too.

You guys have great ideas!!!!!

socialsue

I save really tiny pieces and back stitch my initials on and stick on the back of my cards

I save every last scrap, too. And you just gave me an idea with the quilting!

I save them and use them for all sorts but mostly testing coverage and different stitches with different threads - just to get an idea how it will look on my projects.

I also save all of mine, infact i have a shoe box full of small pieces. Also i have a load of pieces that come from the free kits in magazines. One day i will get round to using them to make cards.

i save all mine also you never know when you just need it lol plus i have loads of little square aida used for holding needles
i am what you call an hoarded lol

Yes I do keep the small pieces of Aida left over. You never know when you can use a small bookmark or sometimes I don't even make a full bookmark, it's just a face or something that I use in place of a bookmark. That way I don't chance getting a bookmark dirty. Or, like last year, when my fiance was cross stitching designs onto an apron, she used my small scraps left over, and they were perfect for it.

I always keep little scraps for cards, tags, bookmarks and tests for coverage and stitches. Anything that's an inch square or more is popped in the scraps bag...

I have seventeen years worth of aida scraps which might come in handy one day I have used a few in that time.

OMG! I've never saved anything!!!

you guys are amazing w/ so many ideas. i'm sure gonna START saving now!!! LOLz

i keep them too! small scraps for small motifs for cards...etc!

Of course, we ALL might be nuts...

A couple of years ago, New Stitches did a series of cards which joined together pieces of fabric to make cards. They were in a Japanese style, but the idea was a good one. Shall try to find out which issue it was.

Yes, I remember that one -- it played with different coloured aida fabrics if I recall and it looked very effective, like a combination of cross stitch and patchwork!

I do! You never know when they'll come in handy.. and if your really super crafty they eventually will.. I never thought of sewing them together though.. that looks really cool!
Faith

And I thought I was the only silly stitcher saving all thos bits LOL Most of the ways I use them up are already mentioned here.

I understand as well- I just stitched up an angel for a card and sent it out. I used one of my scraps as it was c 1 1/2 by 2 inches, but I have also used smaller pieces for other mini projects.

I find that these scraps are also helpful or trying out new stitching techniques...

William David