I wanted to completely empty my 2.5 inch width scrap box before year end. Mission accomplished! I've had this box full of actual scraps for years even though every year I picked two or three Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC) projects to make that used 2.5 inch scraps.
I made some nine patches with any pieces long enough to cut 5 2.5 inch squares. I ended up with 149 nine patches and if I use 120 of them to make a quilt I will have 29 blocks left for my Parts Department. Moving forward whenever I have 2.5 inch scraps left over instead of throwing them into a box I am going to make nine patches, if possible, for the Parts Department.
For a couple of years I've been sewing anything less than a square into strips. Since I emptied my 3.5, 4.5 and now my 2.5 inch scrap bins and boxes I have quite a few strips - probably enough for a couple of Chinese Coins quilts. Moving forward whenever I have pieces less than a square of any size left over I will sew them into strips with fabrics of all colors instead of keeping the colors separate.
I have 1230 2.5 x 3.5 rectangles that have resulted from cleaning out the 3.5 and 2.5 inch scrap bins. I am going to make a little larger of a quilt at Blue Elephant Stitches that will use approximately 800 rectangles. That will leave me with about half of the rectangles needed for a second quilt so moving forward when I have scraps left over from a project that I can cut into a 2.5 x 3.5 rectangle I will keep cutting rectangles until I have enough for a second quilt.
I cut 852 2.5 inch squares toward my goal of 1008 for a Jack and Jill quilt. After I meet that goal I will continue to cut squares from left over scraps to be used in who knows what in the future.
The empty box.
22 comments:
OMG a paper box? Holy moly that's a lot of 2.5" scraps!
Congrats on emptying it!!!! You rock :-)
Killed the scraps and made gorgeous scraptastic quilts. That is a win-win!!! Happy New Year to you!!!
That is an amazing accomplishment, Cathy! Sounds like a good idea to make those 9 patches whenever you have a few pieces in the right size!
I tried to imagine an empty scrap box - but, I just couldn't. Sounds science fiction to me - great job on a great goal.
An empty box! Amazing! I'll have to send the magic elf that keeps filling mine (or the floor.... cause he doesn't like boxes!) over to your house to help fill that back up again.
An empty box - what a perfect present for a cat!! And in the process of providing that thoughtful feline gift you have several potential quilts to sew!! Win-win!
That is a load of 2.5" squares there!! Holy Moly!!
I am planning a Jack and Jill quilt for 2021 using my mini charms and some solid jelly rolls...so minimum cutting...
thanks for sharing another wonderful tutorial...
hugs Julierose
An empty box - I can’t believe it! I didn’t think it could be done. Great job meeting your year end goal!
Empty?!?! Good for you!! You did an amazing job of working through your fabric scraps this year. Sound plans for future scraps, as well.
My goodness, that's an awful lot of squares, strips and coins! You are amazing! But how will you cope with the box being empty?
It's the end of an era. No more 2.5" scrap box? You're not likely to stop making quilts, so will you start working on the fabric stash yardage? After all, if you're going to make nine patches as the scraps are created, they have to come from somewhere.
Pat
I'm constantly impressed by the advance planning that goes into your quilt projects. You can't go wrong using scraps to make 9-patch blocks; there are so many great ways to use them.
Hehehe!!! My parts department is getting overwhelmed here. Love your system.
Empty boxes are SO exciting! I wonder which bin you can empty next?
Your planning is quite inspiring, Cathy!
Congratulations on the empty box and on the plans to make parts from your scraps going forward. That sounds smart to me. There are so many places to use scrap throws - gifts, donations, family. Better to have them moved along a bit. And even better to have some designs ready to go.
I think that at this point my whole house is just one big parts department...
How long will it take to generate some new scraps? Should we all send you a few bits for a refill?
My guess is that that box held near 20+ pounds of fabric! That is quite a score to empty it! And such great plans for keeping up with your 9-patches in the future! You are an inspiration !
Color Me impressed!!! that is awesome!
Hooray -- you did it! But, quick -- boxes don't like to stay empty for very long -- find a new use for that box!
Hooray for an emptied scrap box!! That's amazing!
Congratulations on the empty box!
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