FIVE.
Five scrap quilts have been made in the year, five. How do I still have scraps hanging around? Where are the scraps coming from?
I have been wracking my brain around multiple conspiracy theories these last weeks.
On one of my many rants about scraps {sorry} lately, one commenter had suggested using one fabric and pulling all the scrap fabric to match to create a cohesive quilt. In lieu of dumping all the scraps on the floor, yet again, I tried this approach. It works and requires less thought. Thank you to whomever gave this sound advice. Please comment and I will give you credit for this amazing idea.
Choosing Granny Squares wasn't the best approach to tackling lots of scraps. Actually, it made virtually no impact. Either way I have been itching to make another.
Details:
Finished Size: 55 inches x 55 inches, Pattern: Granny Squares, Fabric: Scraps, Batting: 80/20 blend, Thread: Connecting Threads - Parchment, Quilting: Stipple + Paisley
QUESTION: Does anyone know what size these are supposed to get squared to? Mine all came out at 8.75 inches using 2.5 inch squares. Someone please confirm I am not going crazy, or confirm I am crazy. Either way is fine, but I need answers!
Quilt Net: - 6.75 yards
Year to Date: - 91.25 yards
Quilt Net: - 6.75 yards
Year to Date: - 91.25 yards
Sorry I do not know what the block size should be but I do have a comment on scraps. I have a lot of them. They just seem to grow unnoticed. I have made 3 string quilts, 3 rows of bar quilts, 5 kiddo strip quilts and I am now working on three St. Louis 16 patch quilts. All of these quilts used scraps and scrap strips.
ReplyDeleteOnce I cut for the quilt, I cut the remains into 2.5" squares and 1.5" strips. So the scraps keep growing. I have bought packages of rope to make fabric baskets to help cull the scrap hoard and I dropped some off at the local Goodwill. I wanted to surprise some other quilter with a great find. Have a creative time working your way through your scraps.
tushay3 (at) yahoo (dot) com
i would take your scraps, LOL. I use 1.5" squares for mini trips around the world. these are my favorite size finished, just beautiful.
DeleteThat is lovely, Chelsea.
ReplyDeleteThe block size seems about right. If they were consistent, it is right.
I like the advice you received. It wasn't me who suggested it, but I have done that before and, like you, found it worked.
I think you are doing everything you can to use up scraps. All I can suggest is to sew queen-sized quilts to use more. Bwa ha haaa!
Using 2.5" squares to start, these granny squares do NOT come out to an even 9" block. You were right on the money at 8.75" - I found this out the hard way when I participated in a granny block swap, and received blocks at all sorts of sizes, depending on the sewist's definition of 'quarter inch seam'.
ReplyDeleteEven if it didn't make much of a dint in the scraps it's such a pretty quilt I doubt it would be a hardship to make another, and that's an awesome suggestion to have one non scrap fabric in there to tie it all together, getting things to be a cohesive whole is the hardest thing about scrap quilts for me!
ReplyDeleteI've been trying my best to "use up my scraps" also. And I think it can't be done. This is my idea. I get all these scraps and pack them into a large bucket. When I'm using them I know I'm using a lot of them but when you start digging in the scrap bin all your doing is fluffing up the other scraps so it doesn't look like you've made a dent. Sometimes to make myself feel better I push them all back down. Hahaha! Happy Scrapping!
ReplyDeleteLove your scrappy quilt. It looks great! I have the same scrap problem. But it's fun to keep making these scrap quilts and using bits and pieces of fabric from so many past quilts. Your doing great. Keep it up. You inspire me to keep scrap busting!!
ReplyDelete8.75 inches seems about right with all those squares on point -- I do know that I have seen a tutorial that uses rectangles for the outer ring of background fabric so that you can trim it to a larger or more "even" size at the end. I am really struggling with my scraps right now too - I have done the "inspiration fabric" method before and it does really work and I might have to do it again soon.
ReplyDeleteLove the suggestion of using one constant fabric to pull a scrap quilt together. My theory on scraps is that when you turn out the lights in your sewing room, the scraps start mating and producing baby scraps to replace what you've used. I know that despite using up scraps, I never seem to lower the level.
ReplyDeleteI am starting to feel dry worried for my own mount scrapmore. Five quilts and not a visual dent?!? They are truly lovely quilts, at least!
ReplyDeleteI know the feeling about the scrap bins. My favorite quilts for the 1 1/2" scraps is the log cabin/courthouse blocks and for the 2 1/2" strips the rail fence blocks. Love your granny square quilt. You did a beautiful job!
ReplyDeleteI think those scraps multiply in the night. I really like the look of this quilt. The white pulls all of the very different colors together. Very lovely!
ReplyDeleteScrappy quilts are the BEST!!! :) Yours is just lovely. That was a wonderful suggestion you got to use another fabric to help pull colors, and I hear you crying from the scraps. There are just sooooo many. A lot of times I bring the ones I don't care for much anymore in a grocery bag or two to a retreat some friends and I do. Helps me feel better that other people will use them and cuts down on what is at my house. lol
ReplyDeletei love this quilt. i made one a while back using the left overs from a kit purchased and used for something else first. i tend to use black as a back drop instead of white.
ReplyDeleteHaha, your post made me laugh! :D
ReplyDeleteI love the way your quilt turned out - and I feel like I need to read more of your blog. ;)
I use to cut my scraps to hexagons, but that's because I mostly make hexagon quilts.
Have a great rest of the week-end!
Sabrina
Beautiful and colorful quilt.
ReplyDeleteThat was some good advice and produced a pretty quilt. Once you get all the answers to the conundrum of scraps and scrap quilts, let me know - I'm being overtaken by my scrap bins and need to start making some scrap quilts.
ReplyDeleteYour scrap quilts are beautiful! That's a great idea to use one fabric and then coordinate.
ReplyDeleteFabulous quilt and fabric combo.
ReplyDeleteI call it the Loaves and Fishes phenomenon! The more gifts you give, the more you get😆
ReplyDeleteIf you made your quilts bigger, they'd use more scraps up... :D Another pretty quilt! <3
ReplyDeleteThis quilt screams come cuddle with me! Love it! I like your idea of attacking the scraps...I am trying to do so with pineapple blocks. And yes...the scraps seem to reproduce as I sew, what's up with that????
ReplyDelete