How to Quilt with Tiny Fabric Scraps (Crumb Quilting)
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Most people throw away the tiny scraps of fabric that you naturally end up with when sewing. You might think a little scrap of fabric isn’t worth saving, but if you save enough of them, you can use them to make beautiful quilt blocks! Most people call this process crumb quilting.
Crumb quilting is when you piece together tiny scraps of fabric that would otherwise be thrown in the trash. It’s called crumb quilting because the pieces you use are so small, like little crumbs.
Because most scrap fabric is cut to random shapes and sizes, you have to get creative with how you piece things together. Crumb quilt blocks can’t really be planned because you never know which scrap might fit on your block best. You can, however, plan your blocks to be certain colors.
Crumb quilting is a really fun method for people who struggle with precision (me!) and those who enjoy randomness (also me). If you have a hard time not laying out your blocks and carefully planning ahead, crumb quilting can be a good way to break out of your comfort zone!
Fabric to Save for Crumb Quilting
I save just about every scrap of fabric that’s wider than a quarter inch. Strips that small can’t really be used for making a quilt block, so I save them for making rag rugs. Anything over half an inch I save for future crumb quilts.
I’ve been saving my fabric scraps for a few years by stuffing them in a large bag. I’ve dipped into it a few times, but now that I have a huge stash I can start getting creative with color schemes for my future crumb quilt blocks.
If you like, you can organize your scraps by shape, size, or color as you go. However, I’m not that organized so they all get crammed in the same bag!
How to Crumb Quilt
Crumb quilting is perhaps my favorite method of making a quilt block. It doesn’t matter how carefully you cut or plan ahead. And you don’t have to be super careful about seam allowances or sewing perfectly. You kind of just pick some random fabric and see where it takes you.
Some people like making their crumb quilts completely random, while others prefer sticking with a color scheme. The color scheme is usually the only thing I think about before I start sewing.
There’s no right or wrong way to make a crumb quilt, but this is my process. You can also watch my video below!
- Dump the entire bag of scraps out on a table next to my sewing machine. It’s messy, but it gives me the most flexibility to dig through the pile and find the perfect shape/color of fabric. If you’re more organized, you can sort by color first.
- Choose two pieces of fabric that line up along one edge. They can be cut at an angle or straight — it doesn’t matter as long as the edges mostly line up.
- Sew the pieces right-sides-together using the narrowest seam allowance possible. I do this to keep as much of the fabric visible on the finished block (extremely narrow pieces tend to get eaten up if your seam allowance is too wide).
- Take my newly sewn piece and press it flat with my fingernail (see pressing notes below).
- Grab another scrap of fabric and line it up with an edge of my sewn piece.
- Sew the new scrap on right-sides-together, press with my fingernail, and repeat.
When I get a block that’s about 6″ across (give or take) I’ll go press it with my iron. This keeps the block looking nice as I go.
Depending on what I want to make, I will either keep adding fabric to the same block or set it aside when it gets to a certain size. It sometimes works best to create several small to medium sized blocks, then piece these together to create a larger block in your desired size.
Notes on Pinning & Pressing
I don’t press my scraps before sewing, but I do press the quilt block when it gets to a certain size. After sewing each piece together, I will press it with my fingernail and this works well for me. If you want to be extra neat, you can press with an iron after each seam, but I’ve found it doesn’t make a significant difference.
You could also use a quilt seam roller tool to press your seams. I’ve personally never used one but they are very popular for pressing without an iron. These are wooden tools with a small rolling wheel on one end that you use to press your seams at your sewing table.
I don’t pin my pieces together when I do crumb quilting (or most other kinds of quilting actually). Precision doesn’t matter too much when making a crumb quilt block.
This block is ready to be pressed and squared up.
Squaring Up & Keeping Lines Straight
When using scraps, it’s natural for your block to start taking on a weird shape as it gets bigger. If you notice the block is getting too curved and you can’t add anything more to it, you can square it up.
To do this, lay the block on your cutting mat and use a straight edge and rotary cutter to trim the fabric to a straight line. If the piece(s) you cut off are large enough, you can toss them back in the scrap pile to use later!
This is a good rotary cutter, ruler, and cutting mat set.
Tips on Sewing Angled Pieces
You can use any shape or size of scrap fabric to make a crumb quilt. However, one thing you’ll want to avoid is sewing two pieces together when the angle is significantly different.
For example, sewing a scrap cut at a 45 degree angle to a scrap cut at a 90 degree angle will give you a significant indent along the edge. It’s usually quite difficult to attach anything else to that edge because you can’t sew a new piece of fabric into the angled space.
The good thing about this quilting method, though, is that you can always just cut off your mistakes and throw them back in the scrap pile. If you accidentally create angles like this, just trim them off and keep going.
What can you make with crumb quilting?
Crumb quilting is addictive, but what can you do with all your blocks? You can use a crumb quilt block the same way you would use any other quilt block! Here are a few ideas:
- Use 9″ square crumb blocks to make potholders.
- Use a larger block to make a casserole hot pad.
- Make crumb block pillow cases for your throw pillows.
- Use larger blocks to make a tote bag or duffel bag.
- Make a crumb quilted zipper pouch.
- Save up a collection of crumb blocks and use them to make an entire quilt. It often looks best to use neutral sashing between your blocks so they don’t all blend together.
Using Interfacing on Crumb Quilt Blocks
Depending on what you’re using your quilt blocks for, you may wish to use fusible interfacing after sewing. Attaching interfacing to the back of your work will help secure your seams in place while giving your piece more structure. If you had any super narrow seam allowances, interfacing will protect your work from unraveling.
Most people like using lightweight fusible interfacing for their quilt blocks because it keeps the fabric more flexible. There are lots of different options to consider.
Thanks for reading! If you’re making a crumb quilt, I’d love to hear how it’s working for you! Drop a comment below or follow me @craftingwithclementine on social media! You can also use #craftingwithclementine to show me your makes!
