Spawn: the seed, germ or source of something - Merriam-Webster.
Yesterday I talked about how I work on quilting projects in short time periods. I also mentioned I may work on several different projects all in one day.
Now I'll tell you how one project here may be the spawn of several others.
I don't like cutting. So I intersperse it with sewing. I also may cut for several projects at one time because that is what makes sense to me.
Let me give you an example. I need hourglass pieces for the project I was working on yesterday (I call Vintage Thingamajigs). So I use the Easy Angle Companion ruler to cut those. BUT I don't want to waste that little piece in the front of the hourglass piece. That's a perfectly good HST!!! There's a perfectly good 1.5 inch HST at the beginning and end of the hourglass (or hourglasses) that I can use in a UFO (Gallimaufry)! And I don't need to cut up the whole 1.5 inch strip because I have another UFO (30s strings) that can use some.
So one 1.5 inch strip of fabric can be cut and used in 3 projects.
The hourglass pieces go into the Vintage Thingamajigs.
The little HST pieces go into a basket and then when I feel like it I pair them up with some neutral scraps to make HSTs...
...that eventually get paired up with some 2.5 inch scraps and other 1.5 inch squares from the 1.5 inch scrap bin that is NOT 30s fabrics to make these little four patch units I started last December - another quilt based on a vintage one. I'm calling my quilt Gallimaufry.
And what happened to the rest of the 1.5 inch strip?? They were thrown into the 1.5 inch 30s scraps I already had on hand.
I've been making these little 5 inch string blocks for years.
Maybe this will be the year I finish this UFO.
Time will tell!
10 comments:
Waste not, want not. That old saying came to mind as I read your post. Great way to work through your quilting days!
Wow--you are really using your fabrics up--no waste at all practically..I have to begin saving my little triangle clippings...thanks for the view of your methodology...hugs, Julierose
Fascinating - you really have a clear logical cutting plan with so many projects in mind. Do you play chess too?
Great organizing, Cathy!
That does clear the way for progress, doesn't it?
It cuts out a lot of distraction.
Great way of organizing your scraps. This all makes perfect sense and explains why you have so many projects continually building!
I love a good process post, especially when they lead to results like yours!
This is the way I like to work, too. I figure as long as I have a strip of fabric already out on the table, I might as well get the most out of it.
And now it looks like I'll be cutting hourglass pieces for Vintage Thingamajigs, because who could resist? Not me...
Oh, how I hope you finish that String quilt this year!! I have that pattern on my To Make list.
I like cutting more than one project at a time too but I used to make less mistakes than I do now- great projects
Such an interesting post. I already have too many projects so prefer to stick things in the scrap bag. I’m still digging partially completed projects out of the boxes - even though I’ve thought they were all pulled. But your method makes me salivate. If only I didn’t need sleep.
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