Hi, all!
It's been a busy week, and my scraps have been languishing to some extent - many of them are still sitting in that blue bin waiting to be pressed and folded! But I've also prepped some orange peel segments that I'm hoping to appliqué next week... so maybe I'll have more progress to show on that front next week!
This week seems like it will be like that song - "a little bit of this, a little bit of that"! I've got some pics to share, some ideas for storage, and one scrappy quilt top to share. So let's get started!
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It seems like the scrap quilt craze has hit our group at church, too! Lisa has been making scrap quilts since the beginning of the year, but here are two that she's been working on recently - a pretty string quilt...
...and this orphan block quilt, made using the same technique as the one I made last week! All of a sudden, our orphan block boxes are looking a lot more attractive as we find new and interesting ways to use them. Hooray!!
And take a look at Lisa E's cool orphan block quilt - similar but not exactly the same as last week's quilt. I like this for a more structured, planned look, and will add it to my idea vault for future use!
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Now - how do you store your scraps once you've cut them into usable sizes? I've seen lots of interesting methods, like this one for strip storage...
...or how about this idea - using plastic take-out food containers to store your bits and pieces! What a great way renew/reuse/recycle, and it gives you free storage!
And here's what I've found that works best for me - plastic shoeboxes! I've found them as inexpensive as 75 cents each, but usually about $1 apiece. I use them to store my pre-cut pieces...
...and also as project boxes, to keep all the pieces for a quilt together in one place.
At a buck apiece, I can have as many as I need, and their relatively small size means I can get a lot of them on a bookshelf, double stacked. The see-through sides makes it easy to see at a glance what is inside, although I also label the ends.
I also use these scrapbooking storage boxes for orphan blocks. Their large size allows most blocks to lay flat and it's easy to keep similarly sized blocks together!
I also have this storage system from IKEA - a great bargain at only $20 for the frame and four wire drawers - that I use to hold all my precuts, sorted by type - fat quarters in one drawer, jelly rolls in another, charms and mini-charms in a third, and kits in a fourth.
Oh wait - who am I kidding? I have several of these drawer sets because they are so versatile! You can see two sets stacked here, and I have another three or four underneath my quilt frame. No, they're not all full of pre-cuts - that would be ridiculous! Well, ok, it would be awesome, but I promise, they're used for things like mailing supplies and interfacing.
What do you use to store your bits and bobs? Are you happy with it, or are you looking for something better?
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And now for my scrappy quilt top for the week. I was cleaning off my studio worktable after binding five quilts last week, and when I went to put away the binding scraps, I found that my binding box was running over!
(Maybe I should mention my binding storage system. I take my binding scraps, measure them, then wind them up around my hand, pinning the bundle closed with a post-it with the measurement on it. Then I arrange them neatly in the binding box.
This way, when I need to make a scrappy binding, all I have to do is figure out how much I need, then go in and pull scrap bundles until the numbers add up to at least as much as I need! I always cut my binding 2 1/4" wide, so it's easy to mix and match. I also have a small ziplock bag in there containing bias binding, which I don't use often but still have scraps of.)
Because the box was running over, I decided to pull out all my solid binding scraps and use them to make a jelly-roll race style quilt. When I started sorting through them I found a lot of longer pieces and a whole lot of navy and black, so I cut the longer pieces down to between 30 and 40 inches, and alternated brighter colors with the navy and black pieces. I really wasn't sure how it would work - jelly roll race quilts don't give you much warning about how the colors are going to spread out across the quilt - but I absolutely love the way this turned out!
The black and navy strips make it so bold - now I'm trying to figure out how to quilt it. I'm thinking I may just quilt straight lines up and down, using the crease that still shows where the binding was pressed in half as a guideline. If you've got another suggestion, please speak up!
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So that's been my scrappy week! Next week will be the last Wednesday of the month, so start thinking about what you will have to share as far as progress on your scrappy goals for April. I know I need to get to work on my original goal - I see a few busy days ahead of me!
Hugs!
Sarah
Brilliant idea to label the binding strips! Mine are stored the same way, but never thought of measuring. You are Miss Organized, really. Now about that binding strip quilt. I think it's one of the coolest things I've seen since sliced GF bread in a long time. I never would have thought to do that either. I really think it's stand out, and reminds me of looking through slatted fence in bright sunshine of a late afternoon. A little graphic wording, but I do see that!
ReplyDeleteYour organization system looks terrific! Thanks for the binding idea. I LOVE your jelly roll race quilt - so bold and modern. Brilliant!
ReplyDeleteGreat storage ideas! Like that cutlery drawer for strips--and I think your jelly roll race quilt is fabulous--last year I un-binned my fabrics so I could thumb through and see what I had--now I don't know if I like this or not--it gets so MESSY--but then I am a messy quilter...hahaha...hugs, Julierose
ReplyDeleteThe jelly roll race binding quilt is genius! I store my precut pieces (squares) in clear bins like you do. Those scrapbook storage bins are fabulous also. I store my leftover binding pieces but never thought to measure them. Great tip!
ReplyDeleteSuper storage ideas. Love the solid bindings quilt!
ReplyDeleteI definitely need to gather up my binding leftovers and measure them and get them organized for easy finding. We're using those small clear storage boxes for our ministry scrap squares and triangles and larger clear totes for the larger fabric pieces. We still need to work on a storage system especially with more donations beginning to come in. Keep those tips coming!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great ideas. I will add measurements to my left over binding. Love your modern jelly roll quilt and Lisa E's orphan quilt.
ReplyDeleteBinding quilt is awesome! I use the scrapbook containers also, usually for my current projects. I wait til they're on sale and get 3.
ReplyDeleteA lot of great ideas all in one post! Sarah, I like your scrap storage system. I fold my fat quarters and store like little library books. I have no organization system for smaller bit though and need to start thinking about it.
ReplyDeleteDid I see that you prepped your orange peel fabrics? :)
Love the scrappy quilts you showed! And great way to use up your extra bindings!
You are doing great! Organizing strips are the hardest for me. I want to just throw them in a bucket until I need them but you've given me ideas!!
ReplyDeleteLove the binding idea. I cut mine at 2 inches and whatever's left goes into the 2" bin. I start anew with each quilt. Love the quilt made with the bindings. Very graphic. Something my teens would like, I'm sure. I would quit it on the diagonal though, following the angle the joined binds make. Just to give it more movement. Anyway, that's my two pence. ;^)
ReplyDeleteGreat minds truly think a like. I use plastic shoe boxes and project boxes the same way you do. I need to hit Ikea for the wire drawers. I think they would be great to cure soap in.
ReplyDeleteThat binding quilt is so full of energy. I think it would be equally at home hanging on a wall as being snuggled under.
ReplyDeleteSo many fun scrappy ideas! Love that solids one.
ReplyDeleteI think quilting that "binding race" quilt in straight lines would be too much linear energy. What about one of Christina Cameli's raindrop on a string patterns? Or follow Christina's lead and use it to practice different string patterns in each strip. If FMQ isn't in the cards, the top kind of reminds me of a city - does that suggest any all-over designs for you? OR! If quick and easy is the order of the day, what about straight lines but on the diagonal created by the strip joins?
ReplyDeleteeven better: on the opposite diagonal to the strip joins, so you get an X where the quilting crosses the piecing. I think that would balance the movement well and get you done in one sitting.
DeleteI am very impressed with your system. I have no system. think it is time to start thinking about one.
ReplyDeleteKathleen Mary
https://kathysnest32.wordpress.com/
I like the crisp look of your solids jelly roll quilt. Quilting a concentric circle off centre would give it a flow.. Skinny straight lines in a diagonal would also look appealing, even echoing a triangle ...
ReplyDeleteI just finished cutting, sorting, giving away and even throwing out. I limit my cutting to 2 1/2", 5",10", FQ, and strips of the 2 1/2"-10" strips. It is amazing how often, I have to use a certain colour and I find it in this batch... Feels so good to do this and then start a new quilt...
I have several scrapbooker's 12" boxes that I use for projects I'm taking with me to retreat, etc. I also keep the plastic boxes from salad greens and use them to store all sorts of fabric bits and pieces. A large one will even hold all the fabrics needed for a quilt, too. Best of all, they're free!
ReplyDeleteYour are so organized with your scraps! Your jelly roll race/binding quilt is fabulous! What a way to use those up! I will not allow myself to buy anymore plastic bins. For me, if I need another bin then I have too much stuff. I force myself to empty a bin and then I can reuse it.
ReplyDeleteDang! I'm going to use that leftover binding tip!!
ReplyDeleteI've started a new system for scraps this last year. When I've finished a project I either use the scraps for a pieced backing, a baby quilt if I have enough scraps, or I cut the scraps into strips and squares of varying sizes. It's made me feel a bit more organized scrap wise. I love your jelly roll quilt. It's wonderfully modern - a great use of scraps.
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