Burp cloths, approximately 15 x 9 1/2-10 inches
Unless you always make quilts the exact size of the batting you purchase, you are eventually going to end up with a bag (or more) of pieces you have trimmed off the pre-cut packaged batting.
I usually buy the same type of batting, so if I end up with a couple good sized left over bits I can piece them together using a fusible quilt batting tape. That is an easy way to create another batting large enough for quilt. I try not to use fuse than 2 pieces of batting a quilt. “Frank-in-batting” isn’t my thing. I worry that too many pieces fused together aren’t going to hold up in a quilt over time. I have tried piecing batting together using the zig-zag stitch on my sewing machine but find that using fusible batting tape is faster and gives a flatter seam.
So, what else to do with the smaller pieces?
Small mats for dogs and cats to donate to your local animal shelter is a great up to use up batting and fabrics. If you are making mats for dogs*, use sturdier/heavier fabrics like pre-washed flannel or home decorating fabric. You can use regular quilting fabrics for cats as they don’t tend to chew on their bedding!
But a new idea, suggested by one of the places our guild donates quilts, is to make burp clothes for babies. This is a great idea, because it can use batting scraps which are smaller than ones that work in other projects. I used washed flannel as top and bottom of the burp cloths I made, with a cotton batting between the layers. Gauze fabrics would be great as well. You do need to use a fabric which is absorbent. I chose to just sew around the edges of my burp cloths, but this would be a great way to try out new free motion quilting designs or to experiment with the programmed stitches in your sewing machine.
I've also used a couple 4 inch square bits of batting as my first underlayer when I make little square pincushions.
These are just some ways I’ve used my left over batting. I’m sure there are lots of other ways to recycle your leftover pieces!
*If you click on the link about the fabrics in the dog mat post, it will take you to Spoonflower.com My shop there is closed so the fabrics I used are not longer available for sale.