Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Oh Scrap & I May have a Scrap Problem

So... when I started quilting I was NOT going to have a stash and I was NOT going to have scraps... I was firm in my believe that I would make a project, then throw away the scraps. I would not buy more than I needed and I was NOT  going to become my mother. She had two sewing rooms, floor to ceiling full of fabric drawers. It took totes upon totes to get rid of it.
Then I started working at a quilt shop and then another and I started teaching classes and I started accumulating a stash and scraps. I'm still not a big fan of scraps, but I have found a few patterns that make them easier to deal with. I cut my scraps (smaller than a fat quarter) into these sizes - 2.5" x WOF strips, 5" squares, 2.5"x 5" bricks, 2.5" squares and 2" strips if that's all that is left. If I have 2.5"x 1/2 WOF I use those for Trip Around the World, so those are not cut up either.
So here's the pile I have been working from this month. I have a bunch of 2.5"x 18.5" strips that I am using to make a scrappy trip around the world. This one does not have a control fabric, which makes it very scrappy. I'm loving it so far and it's a great use of scraps. It's also super accurate to piece. The seams are nested so they take no pinning and are fast and easy. I sew a bunch of sets of 2 together, then I sew them into sets of 4 and then sets of six, then press and sew into a circle. I take them to work and cut them into 2.5" circles at lunch and then start taking them apart in the order they will go. They are then clipped together with mini binder clips and are brought home to sew together. I usually do about 15 blocks at a time (that's about all the patience I have for strata sets).
I'm playing with my scraps,  making trip around the world blocks.  Letting go of control is a challenge,  bug putting ugly together with pretty helps.
My first two blocks
My first two blocks of the scrappy trip around the world are done. I also sewed up 8 more strata sets, worked on pink/brown cowgirl blocks,  and made two bindings.  It was a productive night!
Then i added 3 more. The little one is for a different scrap project.
Extremely productive night at club sew. Three Trip Around the World blocks,  the start of Farm Girl Vintage block, 80 or so starts to X blocks, and 6 strips of cowgirl coin.
Then another 4
More Trip around the world blocks.  Seven more in the last week.
and another 4... plus I have 15 more setting ready to sew together. It's a slow process, but they go quickly when I work on them. I've made all of these this month.
Four more trip around the world blocks done last night, bring my total to 19 so far.
I started working on mini granny square blocks using up my Frolic strips, but have been side tracked by the TATW blocks. I've made six quilts from this line and this is the last little bit of scraps from it.

Last night's accomplishments included two more mini granny square blocks for a total of 6,  6 trip around the world strip sets, & 6 pink/brown cowgirl blocks. Working on three projects at once helps me feel like I'm not missing out on any of my current pr
I also worked on this pink cowgirl coin quilt that I am using up the last of those scraps. I usually like to keep my fabric lines together until there isn't enough for another quilt. In this case I've made 4 quilts from this line and this is the last one.

Pink and brown cowgirl coin rows done.
I'm also working on another quilt from MO Quilt Company using X & O blocks. It's using up my 2.5" squares and I sew them together at home or at my sewing night with friends and then I take them to work to trim off the corners and press. Then they are ready for me to sew when I get home. This is my leader/ender project, so it's taking quite a while to complete.
Trimmed up blocks before work today.  Love that I have all my small rulers and mat and small rotary cutters together to quickly take with me. Using my time wisely.

I'm linking up with I May have a Scrap Problem and Oh Scrap!

Confessions Of A Fabric Addict

Quilting is more fun than Housework

7 comments:

Cynthia Brunz Designs said...

Love your scrap projects! Your trip quilt is going to be colorful and happy. Thanks for sharing with Oh Scrap!

Tired Teacher said...

I swear scraps multiply overnight in the bins. I've been working hard to get mine undercontrol, too. Your TAW blocks are a wonderful way to use scraps. Well done

Sara said...

Nancy (Tired Teacher) is so right - those scraps multiply in the dark overnight. I'm convinced! I've promised myself that I WILL tame the scraps this summer. Hope I can keep that promise.

Panto Pam said...

Love your scrap projects! Sounds like you are able to keep them moving right along.

Linda @ kokaquilts said...

Lots of lovely scrappy goodness over at yours then! I love them all!

Sarah Craig said...

You are doing an awesome job dealing with your scraps! I agree with you, it's hard to make a lot of the TAW blocks at one time - but they do eat up a lot of scraps! Thanks for linking up for the I May Have a Scrap Problem show-and-tell!

Darling Jill Quilts said...

Happy to recognize the purple tool caddy! Glad to see that you are using your scraps and enjoying the process. :)