Saturday, September 26, 2020

3.5 Plus 2


For years my scraps have been stored mostly by width size (1.5, 2, 2.5, 3.5 and 3.5 and 4.5) and I have had a 16 quart bin for each size that has almost always been full of scraps. Each year as part of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge I have picked a block or two to work on for each bin using scraps in the color of the month. I have been working diligently to use up the scraps from each bin for years. Now I have emptied the 3.5 and 4.5 bins so I am not making any blocks using only that size of scrap. I almost have the 1.5 inch bin emptied. That leaves the 2 and 2.5 inch bins. 

Now I am mostly left with scrap chunks - pieces that are greater than 4.5 in width and less than a Fat Quarter (FQ).  (I do have boxes of strings and selvages and crumbs but that is a different story for a different time).

So that brings me to the title of this post --- 3.5 plus 2 and that equals the blocks you see in this post which are all made mostly from 3.5 inch and 2 inch pieces cut from my scrap chunks.  I figured if I'm going to cut a chunk I might as well spread it out between a lot of blocks. 

Flower Baskets

A few months ago I started making the Basket blocks you see above. I have been using all the 2 inch floral fabrics from my scrap bin and 3.5 inch and 2 inch fabrics cut from chunks. The basket is in the color of the month, the background is scrappy neutrals. Goal is to make a queen sized quilt with blocks set on point.
 


For the last several months I've been making Buckeye Beauty blocks from scrap chunks in the color of the month then paired up with men's shirts scraps or dark multi-color scraps. Again the pieces are 3.5 and 2 inches. The blocks finish at 6 inches. Goal is to make a twin sized quilt that will probably be donated or gifted. 


Last month I started making X+ blocks using 3.5 and 2 inch pieces. Here's this month's batch. Goal is to make a twin sized quilt. 

Last month I also started making Uneven Nine Patches. The centers are 3.5 inches and the sides are 2 inch pieces. The four corners don't have to match the center and the sides are neutral scraps. I've been trying to use up the last of my 2 inch scrap bin making these.  I'll see how many blocks I have at the end of next year before I decide size of quilt or quilts.  These will be made into donation quilts. 



After last month's RSC linky party for the color purple I made a couple of Antique Tile blocks to use up a few scraps I had left over from making other blocks just to see if I liked how they looked and to see if I liked to make them. I did so I added this now to the list of blocks I'm making from 3.5 plus 2 inch pieces. They finish at nine inches. I'll wait until the end of next year to decide the size of quilt. Again, these will probably be made into a donation quilt or quilts. I get to have the fun of making them. 


Another block I made after last month's purple linky party is the classic Propeller block. You guessed it...they are made from 3.5 plus 2 inch scraps. I have a lot of small gray tone on tone (TOT) pieces I'm going to use for the backgrounds. I decided the center square will be black scraps and the outer squares of the cross will be in reds. I see I need to fix the bottom center one. 


And finally I made a couple of Dove in the Window blocks from 3.5 plus 2 inch scraps. 

3.5 plus 2 = lots of blocks




23 comments:

Deb A said...

So many great blocks you are working on. I even spy some fabrics I have in my stash!

Nann said...

The flower baskets are my favorite -- but the others are all appealing, too!
What will you do (seriously) when the bins are empty?

cityquilter grace said...

oooh i love those X+ blocks....wowza!

Linda said...

What a fabulous collection of blocks! The flower baskets are delicious. You have so many projects in the go, I don’t know how you keep track of them all.

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

You have so many block ideas, Cathy! I like your 3.5 plus 2 idea - I am making the BH Easy Breezy blocks with that formula. Making different kinds of blocks is definitely fun - and eventually there will be enough for a quilt (or lots of them)!

LA Paylor said...

I just love your basket blocks in scraps!!! Now you're making me want to make some... especially love the light pink background mixed in.
These so remind me of my granny's quilts made from all scraps... shoot! Another project to do! thanks! LeeAnna

Sylvia@Treadlestitches said...

That explosive sound is my mind being blown! These are GREAT ideas for using these scraps. I really think you need to write a book about this approach. Thanks for all the ideas!

The Joyful Quilter said...

SEW many RED scrappy blocks, Cathy!!! I am particularly fond of your X+ blocks and may need to try those soon.

Jenny said...

Yes, you are so right, SUCH a lot of blocks! And all made from scraps, so very impressive. I love how you keep trying new blocks!

Pamela Arbour said...

What an inspiration!

MissPat said...

Hmmm. Propeller blocks. I may have to audition a couple of those. Like Nann says, what will you do when all the bins are empty?
Pat

Cathy said...

So many great blocks! I should just give up searching the internet for ideas and come to your blog instead, LOL! So, remind me again, do you have a spreadsheet to keep track of these?

Nancy said...

I feel dizzy reading through your post and looking at the photos. You seem to be a whirlwind of activity, Cathy! Such fun blocks you've made, especially the baskets.
Thanks for sharing your scrap-storing methods.

---"Love" said...

Your basket blocks are so very pretty! ---"Love"

Velda at the Freckled Fox Quiltery said...

Holy Heck you are organized. I love your scrappy quilts. Sadly my scraps usually get sent to a Guild Member who only makes quilts from scraps (I don't have much storage space at all). Happy Quilting.

Laura said...

Whew! Talk about productive, Cathy! I hope to be like you when I grow up! It is so fun and inspiring to be following your blog! It is also educational...you have interesting ways to deal with scraps!

Love the basket and X+ blocks! :)

Louise said...

So many blocks! I love the variety, and the Propellers especially.

Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson said...

I really like the basket blocks and even like them tipped on their side instead of on point. I made one basket quilt and don't know if I have another one in me.

You're making me feel like I should send you some scraps to fill those boxes up again.......

grammajudyb said...

I’m kind of speechless! Your blocks are just wonderful, I can’t chose a favorite!

Ann said...

It’s always great to see the blocks you’ve chosen. The Flower Basket is adorable. It would make a good quilt for a girl. And Buckeye Beauty is a favorite of mine. Plaids work so well there, don’t they. Perhaps I should have sorted my scraps by size but they are in a single undifferentiated bag. I empty it regularly but it magically refills overnight.

audrey said...

What great Buckeye Beauty blocks in these particular colors. Love the use of mens shirts for them too! And your basket blocks are super sweet. Never enough of those for me!

gayle said...

Uh oh. I think I'm going to be starting another quilt...

Katie Z. said...

Your blocks are beautiful!