This summer was too good to be true when it came to summer sales, plus a trip to Marden's for $4.99 per yard designer fabric has really put me in a surplus situation. Ok, my stash is busting at the seams. I am not one to keep a big stash and since I have outgrown my cart it's time to give myself a good ole reality check. What I have determined, it's time to sew my stash! The goal for the remainder of the year is not quite a fabric fast (that doesn't work for me) but a NET ZERO policy. At the end of each month the goal is to sew more than I purchase, or at least come out net zero. For me, this means I sew as much as I buy. Who's with me?
Need an idea for a stash or scrap buster? How about this cute triangle quilt? This one finished just shy of a twin sized and I'll tell you how I made it. My grandmother gets me different rulers when she gets coupons from Joann's, and happened to get me these Quilt Sense Wonder Triangles. I highly recommend getting a ruler to make this quilt, but it's not necessary. Sorry there are no progress shots of this quilt being made. One over caffeinated afternoon this quilt happened.
For materials, I pulled a variety of fabrics, both half yards and fat quarters from my stash, about 22 different prints totaling 5 yards. I cut the fabric into 5.5 inch strips, usually two strips of each color. Then used the 5 inch mark on the ruler to cut triangles. The end pieces from the strips became the end triangles to the quilt. You could also use full triangles then trim them down.
For a quilt this size you will need 368 triangles, and 32 end pieces. Just a heads up one fat quarter will yield 15 triangles, and one 5.5 strip x WOF (width of fabric at 42 inches) will yield 12 triangles. I made piles of 20 triangles until I had the amount needed. Since I was using my stash I kept incorporating more fabrics until I had enough, then cut a few extra "just in case."
Next, sew rows of 24 triangles. Speed Tip: This quilt included such a variety of prints, I just sewed together chunks of 8 triangles. Keep going until you have 16 rows in total. Lay out the triangles so that different values and prints are nicely mixed throughout the quilt and sew the rows together.
The quilt top should be about 62.5 inches by 80 inches at this point. If you want a twin sized quilt a 5 inch border on all sides to give this quilt ample drape. The backing will require 4.5 yards of fabric (this number is without borders). I used a Michael Miller flannel to make this quilt super snuggly and the binding is about a half yard of fabric or 8 - 2.5 inch strips.
The top quilting is done using simple straight line stitches one inch apart in pink thread. I also like triangles with just an echo on both sides of all the seams as another quilting idea.
So, how am I doing on my net zero policy after this quilt? This will put me at a -10 yards; 5 yards for the front, 4.5 yards for the backing, and a half yard for binding. My stash is still overflowing but at least I am headed in the right direction! Plus I have a super snuggly quilt to snuggle under during this nice crisp weather. Happy fall sewing!
- Patch & Chels
What a fantastic quilt; I love the bright pops of color across the top. Sewing your stash and working to maintain a net zero sounds like a perfect idea... but I keep finding all these distractions and new ideas!
ReplyDeleteLove this! I spy fabrics from our Marden's trip and our Keepsake trip.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen your stash. How big is big? I may have to sneak a peek if you, say, want me to drive you to retreat. Ha! ; )
I think fabric buying always comes in ebbs and flows... never rains but it pours. This is a GREAT way to use up some of the stash! Did you do the whole quilt in an afternoon? Or just the piecing? Either way that must have been a LOT of caffeine! :D Hopefully the weather cooperates with quilt snuggling!
ReplyDeleteI like your concept of net zero. Clever way to not necessarily put you on a fabric diet and still make progress. Ever since making my first triangle quilt, I've wanted to make another, but learned the hard way that I'm not a fan of scrappy. How you balanced out the colors and values perfectly in this quilt is just amazing to me. For my next one, I want to use just 3 different colors/fabrics so I can control the chaos. Great finish!
ReplyDeleteRepeated single shapes - such as triangles, squares, tumblers - always make great stash-busting quilts.
ReplyDeleteI have some progress shots of my triangle quilt here (https://grannymaudsgirl.wordpress.com/2013/01/04/evolution-of-a-scrap-quilt/) if it helps anyone.
I confess that if it were me I would be in Ikea buying another cart. :)
I like that net zero policy and will do my best to do the same between now and the sale in my local quilt shop in January! My ikea cart is overflowing and doesn't include the Halloween or Christmas stuff that keeps finding its way into my house!
ReplyDeleteI so like this quilt and the net zero policy. I just purchased too much fabric so net zero will be hard for me this month. For me, with my limited storage space, net negative is more like what I need. My list is longer than the time I have. I'm going to start keeping track. Thank you for all the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteIf you went to Mardens, you must be in Maine? I enjoyed this post and think I might like to give this a try. Yours came out darling! Thanks for the tute!
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