Saturday, November 11, 2017

Whatchamacallits

 This is day 10 of my sewing machine in the shop.  I have been cutting, cutting, cutting and doing hand work instead.  I finally got out my old Kenny Kenmore (nice plain guy who has been around since the 70s) and did some sewing to ease those sewing withdrawal pains I've been experiencing.  I used to make all of our clothes with Kenny. I'm not sure why I quit using him and thought I needed anything else. 

Anyway...I made 3 brown Whatchamacallit (21 patch) blocks from my 1.5 inch scraps.  Scraps are cut 1.5 x 2.5 and then sewn together with a neutral 1.5 x 2.5 scrap for a little block that measures 2.5 square.  Twenty one of those little squares are sewn into blocks of 3 x 7.  Finished size of the block is 6 x 14.    


And here's how they will look together with other colors someday in a big quilt. 

This will continue into 2018.  Instead of using 1.5 scraps next year I think I'll cut a 1.5 piece off the end of  2.5 inch scraps for variety. 

19 comments:

Marly said...

It's very colourful. I'd think this is a perfect leader and ender project.

Ann said...

I agree with Marly: the perfect leader/ender. And such a cheerful quilt.

Cathy said...

What a fabulous way to use tiny (or not so tiny) scraps! Here’s to our Kens; mine gets a regular workout whenever my cousin Kim is over (and she doesn’t want to haul her Ken out). Or when my Bernadette is at the spa. Like yours, both of our Kens are of 1970’s vintage. Great guys, those Kens!

---"Love" said...

In addition to all your pretty colors, you must have an unending supply of neutrals, or background fabrics! You also must have an abundance of time to get as much sewing done as you do every day. It is looking good; I like it! ---"Love"

Connie said...

I love, love, love quilts with this much color, fun and interest . . . they are the best to be cuddled up in on a cold winter's night :)
Happy quilting!
Connie :)

Linda said...

Like your previous comment from Love : I am amazed by the variety of your neutrals. These blocks are fun and colourful. Waste not, want not!

Janie said...

Here's to the old faithful sewing machines!
Your Whatchamacallit blocks are attractive with color and
contrast. You do get a lot accomplished!

gayle said...

So glad you finally got to sew!
I've got a 1971 Singer that is my fallback machine. She's old but reliable. (I try to emulate her!)

The Joyful Quilter said...

I'm glad to hear that YOU were able to get some BROWN sewing done this week! I wasn't as lucky, but did manage to dig out the scraps. Have fun with the remaining DARK scraps in your stash!!

Sally Trude said...

It's amazing how a rainbow palette can spiff up a simple pattern. That's going to make a wonderful quilt.

mangozz said...

Your Whatchamacallit quilt blocks are looking good. After seeing similar quilts on Pinterest awhile ago I've been wanting to make one myself. Most of the quilts I saw used a "constant" throughout but I don't seem to have that much of any one color fabric. Yours looks pretty good with various neutrals so I may go that route too. And my current machine is an old Kenmore that seems to work pretty good. As long as I can keep sewing, I'm good.

Katie Z. said...

They’re so cute!

Monica said...

Well, I got out my old machine a couple weeks ago, and even though I spent close to an hour cleaning and oiling it, it didn't take long to remember why I got the new one! I'm glad you had a reasonable fall back. The quilt is looking amazing!

Julie in GA said...

Your "whatchamacallits" look fabulous together!
I don't think I could last that long without a sewing machine either. Fortunately, I have a couple of extras sitting around.

Sheila said...

Love those colorful blocks!

Kaja said...

I'm glad you still have Kenny to fall back on, wouldn't want you to get too twitchy! Whatchamacallits are looking so good already, and would make good leaders and enders. Mind you I often think that but 99 times out of 100 can't be bothered to think far enough in advance to work that way.

Louise said...

Seems like a lot of us have old Kenmores tucked away in closets! I keep mine to do zigzag stiching for Frankenbatting, since my Juki is straight stitch only.

These rectangular blocks are very nice, a little more interesting that regular four, nine, or 16 patches. I've got a metric boatload of 1.5" scraps, too, hmm....

Cathy Tomm said...

Glad you had a second machine around to keep sewing. I have some extra machines too. Even a hand crank in case. Love your blocks. That would be a great Leaders and enders project.

Nann said...

Your little blocks will soon be a super quilt. (That's not a hard prediction to come up with.) My 21st birthday present from my parents was a Kenmore. That machine sewed miles and miles. It made wonderful buttonholes. I've seen the same model at thrift shops and estate sales but I just don't have room for another machine. (My backup is a Singer 301, an antiques mall purchase.)