I May Have A Scrap Problem - But Here's a Neat Technique that Helps!

 

Hi, all!

I have been playing in scraps this week, and I like it!  I was looking for ideas for quilt tutorials for this year's series (coming up in a few weeks) and I saw a great pic of a totally scrappy quilt...

I went to the creator's website and verified that she didn't have her own pattern written for the quilt, then opened up EQ8 and did a mock-up of the quilt.  Lots and lots of 2.5" squares, which I definitely have, but oh my!  The time it would take to sew them all together.

And then I remembered a technique I posted about once for sewing true postage stamp blocks (made with 1.5" squares) in a fun and easy manner.  Why wouldn't it work for larger squares?  And so I gave it a try - and it works so much faster and easier than traditional piecing!  

What is it, you ask?  Well, here's a short and quick picture tutorial to show you...

The first thing I did was grab some sheerweight fusible interfacing out of my stash.  I took my squares for one block and laid them out, edge to edge but not overlapping, on the fuse side of the fusible interfacing.

After laying the squares out, I cut the excess interfacing away.

Then it's time to press - and I mean press, not iron.  Just set your iron on the squares, then pick it up and move it to an unpressed section.  I used a very hot iron with lots of steam.

When you've finished pressing, your block will look like this - thin lines between the squares.

Now take it to your sewing machine and fold it between two sets of squares.  It should fold easily.

Now sew that folded edge, a scant 1/4" from the edge.  Repeat for the second strips.

This is what your block will look like once you have stitched both lines.

Now grab a pair of small-bladed scissors (these are my Kai embroidery scissors, which I love!) and inserting the blade between the two pieces of fabric at one end ABOVE the line of stitching, cut the seam open.  Repeat for the second seam.

Press the seams open.  Go back to your sewing machine and repeat for the seams that run the other direction.  Cut those seams open as before.

Press the seams open.

And look at that!  A perfect block, with perfectly matched intersections, no pins required and no matching skills needed!  I made two of these blocks in about ten minutes, so it's much quicker than traditional piecing, too.  It makes sewing with 2.5" squares mindless and relaxing!

Have you been playing with your scraps?  Just think of all that "free" fabric waiting to be turned into quilts!

Hugs!

Sarah

I May Have A Scrap Problem... But I'm In Therapy!

 

Hi, all!

Well, I didn't make "scrappy sewing" one of my New Year's Resolutions, but maybe I should have - because I have FINALLY been doing some fun scrappy sewing!

I'm working on the quilts for this year's tutorial series, String Therapy, so I grabbed my blue drawer of strings and a stack of white 5" squares that have been in my scrap drawer F.O.R.E.V.E.R.

This is the block I chose to make.  It's from a tutorial by Christina Cameli and wow is it a quick and easy scrap buster!  This first block went up on the wall Monday afternoon.....

...and by 4:00 on Tuesday afternoon, I had completed all the blocks for this quilt!  There's only one problem, though.....

There's still a LOT of strings left to go back into the blue drawer!  As someone else suggested, I think they replicate when you aren't looking!

This tutorial series will begin on either January 24th or January 31st - I haven't quite nailed the date down yet - and run through February and end right before the start of Hands2Help 2021.  If you want to start getting ready, I suggest organizing your strings so that they are ready to go.  Mine were all jumbled up in one tub, so I pressed my strings, folded them and sorted them by color. That worked for me, but may not work for you.  But however you organize them, it goes much faster if they are neat and ready to be used!

Now that you know what I've been working on, let me know - have you been plowing into your scraps?  Did you make any New Year's Resolutions about your scraps? Or are they just sitting there replicating themselves, unsupervised?

Hugs!

Sarah

I May Have A Scrap Problem... No Sewing, But Lots of Inspiration!

 

Hi, all!

It's been a busy week of sewing, but not much on the scrappy front.  However, I did find some fabulous things hidden away on Instagram that I think are share-worthy (and drool-worthy!) so I'll let you see what you think.  And away we go!!!

First up is a beautiful 100-days project by Wendy of Pieceful Thoughts of My Quilting Life...

And here's another gorgeous plus quilt, this time by Joy (@TheMakingsofJoy).  Just a note, I think this is a nine-patch block rather than a true plus block.

This is a beautiful way to use up strips, isn't it!  Mary really knocked this one out of the park!

And if your scraps are more random and multi-sized and -shaped, how about a large block crumb quilt?  I love her rainbow of blocks!

Of course, if your scraps are really tiny, you could make a true postage stamp quilt - 1" finished squares!  This beauty isn't finished yet, but has over 3000 squares so far...

This bright and cheerful quilt really makes my heart happy!

And now for a series of heart healthy quilts...

This quilt is just in the planning stages, but it still has a vibrancy that makes me want to see the finished version!

This quilt is a bit more planned but I love the layout of the staggered hearts!

And I really love this quilt - the unexpected heart tucked away between the chevron rows!

And now for my favorite quilt of the week - Tracy did a knockout job on her Scrap Vortex quilt!  So many bits and pieces, I am sure this quilt is like a time capsule of her quilting history.  It must be so much fun for her to look at and remember!

And now that I've done my bit to enable you and your fabric addiction, I'll leave you with one last thought...

Hugs!

Sarah

I May Have A Scrap Problem - Inspiration!

Hi, all!

It's been a while since I had the time to post on Scrappy Wednesday, because I've been trying to get my quilt studio organized and set up.  But I've been seeing such a lot of fabulous inspiration on Instagram under the hashtag #scrapquilt that I think it's time to share some of them with you!  

Isn't this a beauty?  I think that it's a Jacob's Ladder variation, and I love the contrast of the darks and lights!

This is such a great way to use up solid scraps, and the small center diamonds really makes this a stand-out!

This one is actually a memory quilt, made from shirts and ties.  It's one of the prettiest Snail Trail quilts I've ever seen - there's so much movement in it!

You really can't go wrong with color blocking, can you?

One day I really want to make one of these!  I love this totally scrappy version.

Look at all that Kaffe!  And the red background really makes this quilt, I think!

This is such a beautiful version of this quilt, and I think what sets it apart is the scrappy narrow inner border and HST outer border.

Isn't it amazing how much depth the sashing gives this quilt?  It's an optical illusion, but it really works.

This is a fun scrappy block - a very nice Bow Tie variation.  I've never seen one with 4-patch blocks for the large parts of the tie before!

I don't know the name of this block, but it is stunning!  I think this would make a beautiful one-block quilt, sized up to make it lap size.  Now if I could just find enough time to give it a try...

I hope you've found as much inspiration in these pictures as I did!  As I find new ways and places to store my scrap stash, I'm looking at those bits and bobs with a new eye, and I can't wait to play with them!

Hugs!

Sarah

I May Have A Scrap Problem... Bringing In The Season, Scrappy!

Hi, all!

Well, the holiday season has arrived, and with it more things to do than there are hours in the day!  So I haven't had time to do any scrappy sewing this week, but I did find some wonderful scrappy inspiration on Instagram, all of it designed to ring in the holiday season.....

A beautiful triple Irish chain in Christmas colors...

One of my favorite versions of the snowflake quilt that is floating around the internet these days!  I love the scrappy red background!

This quilt and the next are made by the same pattern, and both are scrappy, but what a difference color choices and borders make!  I'd be hard-pressed to choose my favorite between them...

Isn't it amazing what you can create just using simple patchwork and half-square triangles?  This wreath is so fresh looking, and I love that it appears to be all scrappy!

And last, but certainly not least, some really cute holly blocks!  

And now I want to go play in my scraps again... but it will have to wait until I get past some Christmas obligations!  If you have time, play some for me, ok?

Hugs!

Sarah