Red 3.5 Plus 2

Dove in the Window

This month the Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC) color is red. And this year I am working with scrap chunks. If there is a chunk large enough I cut a 3.5 inch width piece and a matching 2 inch width piece. Then I make several different blocks that use both 3.5 inch and 2 inch pieces.

I started these Dove in the Window blocks late last year so hope, scraps permitting, that I have enough blocks by year end for a big quilt top. 

These Dove in the Window blocks finish at 7.5 inches. 

The next thing I do if I have enough left of the 3.5 and 2 inch piece I cut is make Buckeye Beauty blocks. I've been making these with the RSC color of the month plus plaids, shirts or dark multicolors. These finish at 6 inches and I'm aiming for a quilt about 60 x 78 so I guess that means I need 130 blocks. 

Antique Tiles

Then if I still have enough left of the 3.5 inch piece I cut the center 3.5 square and four side pieces 2x3.5. Sometimes there is enough of the 3.5 inch piece left to cut all that or sometimes part of the 2x3.5 side pieces come from the 2 inch leftovers.  For the remaining two contrasting sets of pieces I look to my 2 inch scrap bin which has not yet been emptied or I cut other 2 inch scraps from my scrap chunks. These Antique Tile blocks finish at 9 inches. 

Then I make some X+ blocks that finish at 7 inches. They are the three blocks at the top of the picture. I also look through my bin of 3.5 inch squares to see if I have any to add to the mix. The remaining 2 inch pieces come from the scrap chunks. Then if any 3.5 inch pieces are left I make Four Patches for the Parts Department. I've also been using light neutral scraps to make the Four Patches. Anything less than a 3.5 inch square gets sewn into a strip and added to the Chinese Coins box which is getting pretty full after all these years.  Sometimes I also make Four Patches if there are any 2 inch width pieces left over but this time I added them to my 2 inch width scrap bin which has not been emptied like almost all the others were last year. 

Oh, and I did cut a few 3.5 x 2.5 inch rectangle to add to my bag of them I'm collecting to make a quilt or two. I think for two quilts I need 1600 rectangles and I have about 1300 now. 

And I haven't trimmed them yet but I made little Hourglass (or QSTs) out of the trimmings from the X+ blocks. I've previously posted what I have in mind for those QSTs. Someday...

Rainbow Scrap Challenge ScrapHappy Saturday