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Wednesday, June 28, 2017

I May Have a Scrap Problem...The Eternal Question!

Hi, all!

I'm sure you all know this - there is one eternal question for those of us who are trying to work through our scraps...  why (and how) do they keep multiplying?

Today I needed to make a back for a Christmas quilt, so I dragged out my tub of Christmas scraps and dumped it out on the worktable.


I dug through this and pulled some bits and bobs left over from other quilts, cut some blocks and larger pieces, and started sewing them together.


This sure isn't a fast process!  But I was heartened by the thought that I was using up my scraps, and that box would be a lot emptier when I finished!


Almost there!  I just needed a little more width, so I cut some long strips from some smaller yardage pieces I had in the stash for the sides.


And here's the finished back!  Quite a mishmash of fabrics and scraps, but I love this kind of back - so much to look at!

But you know what happened when I started cleaning up, and neatly folded all the leftover scraps and put them back in the tub?



They filled it right back up again!!!

Seriously - - - how does that happen???

There's only one solution - keep plugging away!  Because I'm not going to let this guy....


...get the best of me!!!

Hugs!

Sarah

24 comments:

  1. Love this post !
    Amazing, isn't it, how that happens??
    I really don't need to worry about running out of fabric !
    Smiles

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  2. How I know this story!!! Looking forward to your Christmas in July quilt tutorial because I have a tote that needs taming (they never empty).

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  3. what a great back well not a back you now have a reversible quilt

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  4. I know that feeling :) - but then I'm sad too when the last piece is gone. You did a great job on this backing!

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  5. I really love that you took the time to construct backing from scraps. It says a lot about who we are as quilters that we use scraps, that we don't waste, that we care about quality work and that we give our best to others.

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  6. Love the scrappy back; however, I know know how much work it was. It will make your quilt reversible.

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  7. that has happened to me too - I think over time our fabric compresses down a little bit in the box so we think we have less then when do - then we dump it out, press it refold use up some and try to get it back into the box only to find it barely fits once again - opening to the air seems to generate more of it!!

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  8. I've been doing the same thing. My scraps are different widths and lengths so I took the time to sort them according to width. Then sewed each group into several long (6-foot) strips and sewed the strips to each other until they were about 5-feet wide. And it's true .... there seems to be MORE scraps than when I started !!!

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  9. The back came out great! I get lots of donations of fabric (lucky me) but I have been trying to organize them for the last six months and if I think to hard I get stressed. Luckily our seniors love to sort fabric.

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  10. LOL!! Such is the way of scrap quilting. But, oh what a WONDERFUL quiltl back you created!!

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  11. Ah,perhaps now you can get the lid on? LOL, I know I still have multiplying scrap bins, even when I do scrappy quilts too!

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  12. My machines do the same thing. They multiply when I'm not looking.

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  13. Too true--lol..I think they multiply secretly...no matter how many I use, there seem to be many more left over than when I began..."the secret life of scraps" hahaha hugs, Julierose

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  14. My question is where do y'all get these scraps. I keep all my scraps and I have very few. I started making quilts from kits and kits do not leave much in the way of scraps. So, I don't have many scraps.

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  15. I've made at least 4 quilts out of my neutrals scrap bin and it's still full. I think gremlins bring in more scraps when I'm asleep.

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  16. I love your scrappy backing! Absolutely love it! Those scraps are sneaky little buggers, aren't they? :)

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  17. I am having the same problem! Even though I have a lot of fabric on bolts, the scraps are my problem. You did a fantastic job on your backing even though you didn't get rid of your scraps. You have enough to back another Christmas quilt or make placemats!

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  18. An all too often experience at this end too.....aren't we fortunate to have this problem!!

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  19. I love this story; And yes, it seems my scraps keep growing too !!!

    LOVE THE BACKING !!!

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  20. I've started a pile of scraps that will be turned into a dog bed...I don't know...just something different I guess....as that monster is always lurking isn't he!

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  21. Ah...the monster is so cute!! :) I know how you feel, I think fluffing them up makes them fill up the tub! I've been cutting my scraps into usable pieces: mainly 2 1/2 inch strips. I've been casing the internet looking for 'jelly roll' quilts. There are lots of fun ones out there for 2 1/2 inch strips! So far I have 3 quilts cut out and am working on another. Now to sew them together!

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  22. That's one awesome quilt back! I think your Christmas scrap tub will settle in a bit. Maybe you need to shake it. You must have left some air pockets in there or something :o)

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  23. You're right! It's impossible! That's a lot of work to make a back! I hardly ever have the energy to put that much work into a back. I do LOVE that kind of back, but I tend to use shortcuts and use bigger pieces because I just want to get the quilt finished!

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