10 inch Monkey Wrench Blocks.
I have a couple of men's size 13 shoeboxes full of HST pieces of all sizes. Some have been given to me over the years, some are flippy corner cut offs and some are the ends of a strip cut with an Easy Angle ruler when I have cut Flying Geese parts with the Easy Angle Companion ruler. Some are matched up with a second half and some are not. Some that were given to me look like they were cut with a cutter of some type. So anyway, I think the shoeboxes are bottomless because I've been working to empty the box for quite some time. Usually I use them as leader/enders if I need one. When I make the HSTs I trim the dog ears and keep them separated by size in different gallon baggies within a box.
This week I was working with some 4.5 inch HST parts in brown. I found a lot of sets of four for my ongoing Monkey Wrench project so found some neutrals for the other halves of the HSTs, made the HSTs then found some brown 2 inch scraps and made the Monkey Wrench blocks.
Since I'm also trying to empty a scrap bag of browns I think I will keep this collection of brown Monkey Wrench blocks separate from the other colors of 10 inch Monkey Wrenches and make just a brown twin sized (approx. 60 x 80) quilt.
10 inch Monkey Wrench blocks.
This time the HST parts were green.
And they will be added to my pile of other Monkey Wrench blocks in all colors of the rainbow.
7.5 inch Monkey Wrench blocks with yellow background (except for one).
I previously made a lot of 7.5 inch Monkey Wrench blocks when I found I had four identical 3.5 inch HSTs with yellow. I decided I would keep the ones with yellow as a separate collection and when I have 48 blocks I will make a kiddo sized quilt. Yellow is a nice bright happy color for kid's quilts.
I also have a pile of neutral background 7.5 inch Monkey Wrenches and as I come across four identical 3.5 inch HSTs I'll make Monkey Wrenches.
8 inch Broken Dishes blocks
If I have two identical HSTs then I pair them up with others and have been making Broken Dishes blocks in all sizes.
4 inch Broken Dishes blocks
4 inch Broken Dishes and on the bottom a weird sized 5 inch Broken Dishes blocks.
I have a bunch of 1 inch ( finished) HSTs that came out of those shoeboxes. Last month I made the HSTs and then threw them into a baggie for ironing and then to trim the dog ears. I finally ironed and trimmed some and now I've been sewing them together into strips of five for my collection of strips to make a vintage inspired quilt. I'll probably use all different sizes of HSTs. The blue 2 inch HST parts came from someone and I just had to sew them together. Since there were lots of the same they went into strips of five.
I try to make, iron and fill a little cigar box with HSTs to trim at night while I watch TV with hubby. I don't actually square them up because I don't care if a few are Wonky - I'm saving these from the compost pile and not making a show quilt. I do trim off dog ears. And then I pair them up for strips, Broken Dishes or Monkey Wrench blocks. If no pairings they go into baggies separated by size. Then later as HSTs are added I periodically go through to see if there are any new pairings for blocks.
I also try to iron and trim the dog ears off of some QSTs.
Over the years I have emptied a couple of boxes of waste triangles making these but now I have a box of ones I made that need ironing and trimming. I've almost emptied that box and may be ready to actually assemble a quilt top one of these days because...
...I now have a large USPS flat rate box full of colorful QSTs and...
...I have the center of my vintage inspired quilt made.
And sew on...
13 comments:
Your large box of colourful QST blocks look very tempting! Like a huge bag of Dolly Mixtures! ( If you have those sweets in America) I always enjoy reading about how you set about processing all those scraps.
This post is a feast for my eyes. So many lovely fabrics to enjoy, and so many blocks done. Wow! Great job at using up what you got. ;^)
That background fabric for your lone star is wonderful! I loved the half square triangle strips that you are making inspired by that vintage quilt. What a great way to use HSTs!
Isn't it great to find spare parts? I recently found a small tin of little triangles --
["Madame Zolanga" sees a "snowball" quilt in my future;)0 hahaha]
Lovely Monkey Wrench blocks nice works hugs, Julierose
After seeing the Monkey Wrench block, I think that will be some of my mindless sewing for the winter. I'll just start cutting pieces from the scraps as I make other quilts and then move it up to the sewing cabinet in the fall when the TV shows come back on. I might even use that pattern for an intentional quilt from a fabric line that I have a fat quarter bundle.
"I don't care if a few are Wonky - I'm saving these from the compost pile and not making a show quilt." I love this. I wish I was better at tolerating wonky, but I'm not there yet. This is why you get so much done and I don't. Well, it's one of the reasons. My excuse this week is that I'm waiting for it to cool off later in the week. Of course when (if?) that happens outdoor projects will also be calling my name. Wonder who will win that competition?
Pat
Oooh that box of colorful QSTs is delicious!!! You are so right about the "little along" method. It seems to take for-ever to reach the nearly-end point but it feels SO good when you can dive in with enough parts to put together an entire quilt top.
Your scrap processing impresses me to no end, Cathy!
I love watching you play with scraps! And I also love that line about "saving these from the compost pile and not making a show quilt."!!
I love watching you process your scraps. A good reminder to us all that we can use more and toss less. They look great. I especially like the columns of HSTs. Must remember that idea for later. ;-)
You are doing good work with the scraps as usual! Loving seeing the hsts come together especially.:)
What a collection of QST blocks!! As I scrolled down the beautiful photo of the HST quilt in softer colours had me really interested, I love bright and bold but these softer colours do appeal. One quilt I have to make is Monkey Wrench after looking at your collection, something perhaps on my New Year luist.
Are you only on Bloglovin?
used to see your post on computer but not anymore.
How can i get you back on computer and not have to hunt for your posts.
Miss seeing your creations.
Jance.
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