Cut!

I really want to be outside working but it's been a little too warm outside the last couple of days and will continue for a few more. I've been clearing an area overrun with brambles and weeds because I want to prepare that area for planting wildflowers. 

So since it's even hot inside without air conditioning I've been standing in front of a fan at my cutting table and I've been cutting, cutting, cutting. 

One of the things I've been working on is a throw I've been calling Rose Petals. It started out as a project to use some 4.5 inch rose themed scraps as well as a variety of different pink #10 crochet cottons. I've been cutting a few squares at a time to work on and after those are finished with crochet trim I cut more. I wasn't sure how many squares I would actually get out of the scraps that were already cut at 4.5 inches.  When I last counted finished squares I had 87 "blocks".  So I cut more squares enough for 120 "blocks" total. I figured that would give a nice throw 10 x 12. Finished blocks are about five inches with the trim and I planned to add a crocheted border all around.  When I finished cutting all of those squares for 120 "blocks" I still had a lot of 4.5 inch scraps left. So, I cut enough for a layout 11 x 13 which equals 142 "blocks".   I now have everything cut and two squares sewn right sides together with a space left for turning right side out. 

Next step is to turn them right side out and sew the turning hole shut. Then I blanket stitch around the edges 16 stitches to a side and three in each corner. Then I crochet shell stitch trim all the way around. 

Now the problem is that I don't think I'll have enough crochet cotton.  I have to decide if I want to buy more or maybe use some white I have on hand. But I'm not even sure there's enough of that. 

I work on this project a little each evening. I think we will be at a family reunion camp out the week of September 7 so this will be a nice take along project.  

That little stack there is what is left of the 4.5 inch rose themed scraps. I was going to cut what was left into squares and add to my squares box but decided instead to throw them in with all of the rest of the rose themed scraps. I was thinking I'll make some simple nine patches. 

I've slowly been making Indian Hatchet blocks from 5 inch scraps left over from my 30s Churn Dash quilt top I finished in May. My goal is 252 blocks. I cut a few squares from the 5 inch scraps and corners to go with each block from 2.5 inch scraps. I keep a little basket of the parts near the sewing machine and use them as "enders" (I don't usually do "leaders") if I need one. I now have 210 blocks. 

I cut enough parts to reach my goal of 252 blocks. I fold diagonally and iron the 2.5 inch flippy corner squares and use the ironed line as my sewing line.  I have not trimmed any corners yet. That's a job for the evening when I watch TV with hubby. 

When I have enough blocks I'll assemble like a top inspired by Ann's (Fret Not Yourself). 

It has been my goal this year to empty my 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3.5 and 4.5 inch width scrap bins. So far I have emptied the 3.5 bin and almost have emptied the 4.5 and 1.5 bins.   I cut 2.5 x 3.5 inch pieces and squares from what was left in the 3.5 inch bin. After I make all my blocks that use 2.5 inch scraps in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge color of the month I have also been cutting those scraps into the 2.5 x 3.5 pieces. I was inspired by a scrap quilt at Blue Elephant Stitches but I'll make mine a little bigger so figured I need 800 -2.5 x 3.5 pieces. Look! I'm over half way to my goal.   I do spend about 20 minutes each day going through odd sized unsorted scraps and if I can get a 2.5 x 3.5 pieces out of the scrap then that's what I cut. 

A new Jack and Jill quilt that uses 2.5 inch squares inspired by Lynn (Klein Meisje Quilts) is now in the works. So far I've counted out 100 squares (in the baggie) and I had a few strips of squares already on hand too. Since 1008 squares are needed I have a little cutting to do. 

Oh, look at what is on my cutting mat - 2.5 inch width scraps left over from Indian Hatchet blocks, 2.5 inch scraps from the Animal Crackers H blocks I started yesterday and 2.5 inch scraps left from the Ice Cream quilt (no clever name yet) started yesterday.  They will NOT go into the 2.5 inch scrap bin that I'm trying to empty. And now you know why.