Shall I Keep My Scraps?

Have you ever considered disposing of your quilting scraps but been unsure which ones to keep, which to use to make new quilts, and which ones to donate for charity projects?
If you have made a quilt for a loved one that gets used and washed regularly, it is a great idea to keep the quilt scraps so that if accidents occur you can fix that special comfy quilt. This is especially a good idea if the quilt was made for a baby or small child that may ultimately hold onto their quilt for many years using it as a “lovey” and dragging it with them wherever they may go. These quilts get lots of time in the washer and dryer and are subject to developing “character” over the years.
If your scrap assortment contains lots of “odd” color fabrics or ones that don’t coordinate well with your other fabrics, these may be perfect for donation to charity quilts, dog bed fillers, cat mats, etc. Small scraps are great for use in dog beds and since they will not be seen, it makes no difference what colors or sizes they are.
The most important thing to remember is that your scraps can be used, so there is no reason to throw them away, keep them for potential repair of lovies, make a new quilt that is a great collection of memories from past projects, or bless others by using your scraps for donations.

Loose Ends – Finishing Projects Loved Ones Left Behind

How many of you have had someone ask about the quilt, on the wall behind you, on a Zoom call? A Zoom call, last month, with a social work professor who works in end-of-life care (who did inquire about my quilt), led me to an organization called Loose Ends, a small LLC out of Seattle, WA and Portland, ME, which finishes craft projects loved ones have left behind. I was immediately hooked, and I registered online to be a “finisher.”
A call to Jen Simonic, one of the founders of Loose Ends, revealed that I was one of 2,000 finishers worldwide. Loose Ends serves as the matchmaker between the “finisher” and the individual whose deceased loved one has left an unfinished knitting, crochet, or quilt project. “People are amazing – the amount of expertise is extraordinary” she beamed, “and, despite the fact that they underestimate their skill level, finishers go way beyond.” (The quilt above was 75% when the finisher received it.) One particularly touching experience sparks Jen’s memory. A finisher received a sweater missing the last sleeve. The “customer’s” deceased grandma had intended the item for her great grandson. The finisher expertly completed the sleeve and knit in a small heart where the grandma had stopped knitting.
When asked what was the biggest challenge in getting projects completed, Jen replied, “We sometimes have a hard time matching customer to finisher – shipping plays a big part. Right now, we only have one finisher in HI. We try to match customer and finisher based on proximity, skill level, and druthers (what the finisher puts on their registration form). And we get people from all walks of life.”
Loose Ends
Feb. 8 Washington Post article.
Martha Robertson