Saturday, October 14, 2017

Using Pink 3.5 Inch Scraps


This week I dug into my 3.5 inch scraps and made some Pink Glitter blocks.  


I've been making a few of these each month and using the Rainbow Scrap Challenge color for the corners and center and other colors in the 3.5 inch scraps for the rest of the nine patch and background.  3.5 inch scrap pickings are now getting thin.  And that's a good thing plus I'm kind of tired of making these.  I chain piece them but they are kind of fiddly to make and take a lot of time to cut. 


I now have a pile of 134 of them and the pattern Glitter in Jen Kingwell's book Quilt Lovely calls for 152 blocks for a 66 x 73 (if I remember right) quilt.    That's a little small for me but I'll go with that since I now only have to make 18 blocks and I think that's doable by the end of the year. 



After I make Glitter blocks I look to see if I have enough 3.5 inch scraps to  make any six inch Bow Tie blocks.


I have over a hundred of them but by my paper I was thinking of making a quilt maybe 14 x 15 blocks which = 210 blocks so I'm probably only half way finished with making these blocks.  This project will continue into next year but instead of using 3.5 inch scraps which are quickly dwindling I'll dig into the scrap "chunks" - odd sized bits and pieces less than a fat quarter. 


And after making the bow ties I check to see if there's enough of any scrap left to make a 3.5 inch Snowball. 


I haven't counted these yet. Right now they are in the Parts Department because I'm not sure what I'm going to do with them.   Right now I'm thinking of combining with some 3 inch 9 patch blocks since I have a box of them. We'll see.  They might also make a nice border or I could see how they look with those little 3.5 inch Rail blocks in the Parts Department. 

19 comments:

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

You have so many great block ideas, Cathy! Which ones do you enjoy making the most?

Goofin' Off Around the Block said...

Those are all such beautiful blocks. It will be fun to see what you do with all of them.

Quilter Kathy said...

Part Department!! LOL
That must be a large division of your sewing palace :)

Cathy said...

I love all your blocks, as always. And it amuses me that I see some of the same fabrics in your scraps that I’ve owned in the past. I’m toying with the idea of a nine-patch and snowball quilt for next year(s) too.

Linda said...

Every time you make those Glitter blocks I love them all over again. However, if you think they're fiddly then I'm sure I'll find them impossible. You are gathering such a lovely collection of sets of delicious blocks!

PaulaB quilts said...

Bow ties and snowballs make a fun combination. Keep up the good work with all your blocks.

Julierose said...

I love the way your pair up the color of the month with another one...great blocks...hugs, Julierose

Elizabeth V Kelbaugh said...

You have been very busy. Your Glitter blocks look very interesting; however, since you say they are fiddly to cut and piece, I'm glad it was not me making them.

Marly said...

I love your glittering pinks. I still have to start on my Glitter blocks. You now have so many blocks waiting to be assembled that you're in for an exciting puzzle time!

Linda @ kokaquilts said...

Lovely pink 'glitter' blocks! They do look a t bit fiddly to make, but the end result will be stunning!

Katie Z. said...

Your blocks are gorgeous.

mangozz said...

Those glitter blocks are beautiful. They look interesting to make but I don't have the book. I usually like blocks that are a little bit of a challenge or it gets boring. I hate all the cutting and pressing and then the stitching is done in no time at all and I am right back where I started.

Louise said...

Sounds like you have a very organized system to use up these scraps: first Glitter, then Bowties, the Snowballs. In the end, you'll have three gorgeous quilts and hopefully fewer scraps (is that even possible? They breed in the dark, don't they?)

Mystic Quilter said...

You have been busy - love all your pink projects!

Angie said...

Glitter must have been designed with the color pink in mind - your pink versions are my favorites so far!

gayle said...

I'm always so happy to see all your blocks - especially the Glitters! You always amaze me with your avalanche of blocks each week. I couldn't get that much done, even if I gave up eating and sleeping!

Magpie Sue said...

I've done a pretty good job this year in reducing my 2.5" scrap squares but have hardly touched my 3.5" squares. Thanks for all the ideas!

TheEclecticAbuela said...

I'm fond of bow ties, and yours are wonderful.

Ellen said...

I love how you go down the food (fabric) chain to use up all of your scraps!