My Simple 5-step System to Organize Denim Fabric Scraps

How to keep your upcycled jeans in order, and why you might want to keep the awkward bits! But first my #1 tip: Don’t over organize!!

Keeping denim fabric scraps organized is a constant struggle, and organizing scraps from upcycled denim has its own unique challenges (or really any scraps that are a mix of different fibers and parts). But I have a system that works for me and might work for you also. And as I mentioned above, it starts with a bit of a mindset shift: to stay organized you can’t be too organized.

The more little categories and tiny containers you create, the easier it is to get overwhelmed and put stuff wherever. But if you create 5 or 6 categories, that are easy to find, it's more likely you will use them.

Step 1: Gather your scraps together

Ok this might seem obvious, but denim fabric scraps are really good at hiding and it's worth taking some time to gather all of them together. Don't start organizing until you have it all together!

Step 2: Take out the Awkward Bits

Depending on how you upcycle your jeans (I teach 2 different methods in my Quilt Your Jeans class) you are going to have a different amount and type of awkward bits - all the seams, the zipper, pockets, belt loops etc... But either way I always separate out anything that has a sewn seam or hardware.

But I definitely don't throw them out!! I reuse jeans zippers and pockets when I make bags, I even harvest the thread sometimes and hand-sew with it. I keep all these scraps together and pull them out when I'm starting a new project to see where they might fit in.

Step 3: Sort by Weight

Once the awkward bits are pulled out, the next thing I sort by is weight. This matters way more than people think.

I keep things pretty simple here:

• Lightweight denim

• Mid to heavyweight denim

The reason is practical. A lot of the time, you’re choosing denim based on what you’re making, not how it looks. If you’re piecing a quilt top with lots of seams coming together, or stacking multiple layers, super heavy denim can get bulky fast. Lighter weights are way easier to manage in those situations.

On the flip side, if you’re making a bag strap, adding patches, or want something with structure and durability, heavier denim is exactly what you want. Sorting by weight first makes it much easier to grab the right stuff without overthinking it.

Step 4: Sort by Size

Next, I sort by size. I don’t measure anything precisely — I just use two broad categories:

• Little scraps: anything under about 2 inches in any direction

• Bigger pieces: anything larger than that

That’s it. No tiny subcategories, no exact dimensions. Small scraps are great for improv piecing, crumb work, or detail areas, while larger pieces give you more flexibility for blocks, patches, or cutting shapes. Keeping these separate makes it easier to actually use the small stuff instead of letting it disappear.

Step 5: Sort by Color

Last, I sort by color.

Yes, it’s all blue, but it’s also not all the same. I really rely on light and dark contrast when I work with denim, especially in quilts where the pattern comes from value shifts more than color changes like in my Denim Duo pattern above. So, I separate lights, mediums, and darks (again, loosely).

This step might look different depending on how you use denim. If color doesn’t matter much in your projects, you could skip this or keep it very basic. For me, it’s worth it because it helps me design visually without digging through everything.

Below is another example of how I used color to create a flower applique out of a pair of old jeans.

A Quick Reminder

This is just my system. It works for me because I work with a lot of denim and I use it in specific ways. Your system might look different and that’s totally fine.

The most important thing to remember is this: The more you over sort, the harder it is to stay organized.

If your system feels annoying to maintain, it won’t last. Fewer categories, bigger containers, and flexible rules will take you much further than a “perfect” setup you can’t keep up with.

Organize your scraps in a way that supports how you actually sew, not how you think you’re supposed to.