It's a Finish!

A Depression Block Quilt

64 x 80

It's a finish!

 Back in 2014 I started making these eight inch Depression Blocks from 2.5 inch scraps as a Rainbow Scrap Challenge project. It took me until last year to accumulate 80 totally scrappy blocks. 

I've previously made two other Depression Block quilts. The first was made of 3.5 inch HSTs using the layout at Quilter's Cache but I don't make my HSTs like the instructions.  I think my youngest son has that quilt. Then I made one from 4.5 inch scraps (16 inch block) and gave that as a wedding gift to my nephew.  

 I quilted it on my DSM with some loose spirals in white thread. 

 I used a wide backing with big polka dots...

 ...and for the binding I used several different low volume scraps. 

I think this will go into the donation quilt pile.  Lately I've been trying to make twin sized quilts for local donation.  I'm thinking when I get a pile of 12 I will invite the three grandkids (ages 14, 14 and 10) over and have them choose six for donation.  The emphasis will be on which six to give and not which six to keep. That will leave six in a reserve pile. Then when that reserve pile again gets up to 12 we will do the same thing over again and again...  I'm hoping the grandkids will get into the spirit of giving and also go with me when I drop the quilts off.  When the grandkids get old enough to set up their own apartments, houses, dorms they can pick from the pile for themselves if they wish; although I do have some items including quilts already in hope chests for each of them. 

This was my goal #8

for

Q2 Finish-Along

It's a Flimsy!

It's a flimsy! 

64 x 80

Eight inch Depression Blocks

I've been making these blocks out of my 2.5 inch scraps since 2014 so it's about time I put them together into a flimsy.  It has been a Rainbow Scrap Challenge project and I would make a few blocks each month from the month's chosen color.  Sometimes years I had no scraps in those colors so no blocks got made.  I sewed blocks together randomly. 

 I love this block because it forms a secondary pattern plus all scraps play nicely together in the finished top.   From far away the blocks look a single color but up close you never know what you will find. 

I've previously made a quilt as a wedding gift made of sixteen inch blocks in autumn colors. The four inch HSTs I used were from a swap.  Then I made one out of twelve inch blocks in patriotic themed fabrics and sent it as a Quilt of Valor to my husband's friend.  This one, when finished, I will probably donate locally or save for gift giving. 

Depression Blocks make me happy!

Oh Scrap! at Quilting is More Fun than Housework

From Orange 2.5 Inch Scraps

 In past years I haven't really had that many scraps to play with when the Rainbow Scrap Challenge color rolled around to ORANGE.   This year I do have a lot of 2.5 inch orange scraps since I made a quilt that used a lot of it. 

So this month I dug into those 2.5 inch orange scraps and made a couple of ten inch Crazy Lady of the Lake blocks. 

 And I made a couple of orange eight inch Depression Blocks and three brown ones. I've been making these from scraps for a couple of years and I think I only need 5 or 6 more for a twin sized quilt. 

 I made a few sprouts.  I've also been making these for a few years and probably should take a count of them.  

And then I made a couple of these Whatchamacallit blocks.  The pieces are 1.5 x 2.5 so I usually use 1.5 inch scraps to make them but I looked ahead into my 1.5 inch scraps and found I only had two orange pieces in there so this month instead of using the 1.5 inch scraps to make these I used the 2.5. 

And while working with 2.5 inch scraps if any scrap gets smaller than a 2.5 inch square I sew them into a strip like on the right side.  

Then I saw that this month's Block Lotto block, a sixteen patch in California Poppy colors including orange, could be made of 2.5 inch scraps I whipped up four of those. 

And on break times I enjoyed watching all the butterflies that visited the orange Tithonia (Mexican Sunflower) in the flower garden. 

Rainbow Scrap Challenge ScrapHappy Saturday

Red 2.5 Inch Scraps

 This month's Rainbow Scrap Challenge color is red so this week I dug into the 2.5 inch red scraps to make  four 10 inch Crazy Lady of the Lake blocks.  After making these for a couple of years I'm getting close to enough blocks for a large quilt. 

I've also been making eight inch Depression Blocks and those Sprouts for a couple of years. Not sure if I'm close to enough blocks for big quilts now or not.  Maybe I have enough sprouts since I'm not sure how I'm going to use them!   And that little strip at the bottom? I've been sewing all the little 2.5 inch scrap ends less than a 2 inch square into strips. Not sure how I'm going to use those either but I will. 

Rainbow Scrap Challenge ScrapHappy Saturday

One Thing Leads to Another

I made these three Depression Blocks from pieces in my 3.5 inch scrap bin. 

Twelve inch Depression Blocks were requested for a group quilt to honor someone's accomplishment. Shhhhh, it's going to be a surprise!

(Good thing I took photos before I sent them off...the middle one has one misplaced HST I need to fix). 

Before I dug into my 3.5 inch scrap bin I made one from the already made 3.5 inch HST bin.  I did not deem it group quilt worthy (who wants cat butt on their quilt? and I think those center flowers smell polyesterish) so into the orphan block box (aka orphanage) it went. 

 Then I decided I don't need a 3.5 inch HST bin.  So I made Broken Dishes blocks. 

And after that I decided I might as well make Broken Dishes a new Rainbow Scrap Challenge project to replace the Bow Ties I was making from 3.5 inch scraps.  

Or maybe I'll just go ahead and sew these together as the center medallion for a donation quilt.  Or maybe I'll just use these as a border for a different medallion donation quilt that needs some borders. Or...

Digging Into the 2.5 Inch Scraps

 This month's Rainbow Scrap Challenge color of the month is anything in between blue and green like aqua or teal or turquoise. 

I dug into the 2.5 inch scraps this week and made two 8 inch Depression Blocks.

 I used 2.5 inch scraps for the centers and 1.5 inch scraps for the sides and ended up with some cute little four inch Happy Blocks. 

And combined with some other colors and some six inch HST centers I made three 10 inch Crazy Lady of the Lake blocks.   That makes 65 blocks and my target is 81. 

Rainbow Scrap Challenge ScrapHappy Saturday. 

Pink 2.5 Inch Scraps and Then Some

This week I dug into the 2.5 inch pink scraps.   

I made two 10 inch Lady of the Lake blocks.  The centers are six inch so I used some larger scraps for those. 

I also sewed together pink 2.5 inch bits and pieces usually less than a 2.5 inch square. The strips will probably be used later in the year in a Chinese Coin quilt or as a border. 

 Two 8 inch Depression Blocks. 

I've been making these for years. 

And I made some mini Happy Blocks.  They have 2.5 inch centers and I raided the 1.5 inch scraps for the sides.  I've been making these for years too. 

Rainbow Scrap Challenge ScrapHappy Saturday

Yellow 2.5 Inch Scrap Edition

I dug into my yellow 2.5 inch scraps this week.  Combined with a few other colors I ended up with five 10 inch Crazy Lady of the Lake blocks.  This is a Rainbow Scrap Challenge carry over project from previous years. I'm hoping to have a total of 81 blocks at year end. 

Another carry over project - Sprouts. 

And yet another carry over project- eight inch Depression blocks. 

I also have been sewing together the end pieces of the 2.5 inch scraps if they are less than a 2.5 inch square. Someday I'll probably use them in a Chinese Coins quilt or a border. 

And I made a couple of little four inch Happy Blocks.   I have a giant pile of a variety of different four inch blocks. Maybe I should find something to do with them. 

Rainbow Scrap Challenge ScrapHappy Saturday

Purple 2.5 Inch Scraps

This week I used my purple 2.5 inch scraps. 

With the addition of a few six inch HSTs  - some cut from scrap chunks but most left overs from the Parts Department - I used my 2.5 inch purple scraps (and  few yellow and red 2.5 inch scraps) to make lots of little HSTS that ended up in six 10 inch Crazy Lady of the Lake blocks.  This is a RSC project carried over from last year. 

And speaking of (very old) RSC carry over projects...I made a couple of Sprout blocks, a couple of Depression Blocks and had a few HSTs left over for a little Broken Dishes block for the Parts Department. 

Rainbow Scrap Challenge ScrapHappy Saturday

Blue 2.5 Inch Scrap Edition

 I dug into my blue 2.5 inch scraps this week and I sure had to make a lot of HSTs. 

Last year I made these ten inch (Crazy) Lady of the Lake blocks.  I have about half of what I need for a BIG quilt so they are on my to-do list again this year as an Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC) project.    I found a baggie of six inch  half HST pieces leftover from making basket blocks several years ago so used some of them for the centers as well as some chunk pieces. 

 I don't know how many years I've been making these eight inch Depression Blocks but I have about 66 of them if I can believe my note in the bag with them.  Ok...so these get carried over again this year too.   I limit myself to actual scraps so how many I make depends on my scraps.  But I like BIG quilts so it still make take several years to have enough blocks.  And I'm okay with that. 

And finally I made some Sprouts. Somehow I forgot I had these in the works and skipped over them last year but what was lost has now been found and they are back in the scrap rotation. However many I end up with after this year is how many will be in the quilt, I think. I'm not going to count but just surprise myself at the end of the year.  I'm just going to go where the scraps take me.

And where are the scraps taking everyone else? 

Rainbow Scrap Challenge ScrapHappy Saturday 

Using 2.5 Inch Scraps and Then Some

I used up some 2.5 inch scraps this week and made three 10 inch Crazy Ladies of the Lake blocks. 

I use scrap chunks to make the centers. 

I'm aiming for a large quilt  with no sashing so this Rainbow Scrap Challenge project will continue into next year. 

I also made a brown 8 inch Depression Block from 2.5 inch scraps.  And I finally finished the yellow one I found in pieces in with the finished blocks.  I've been making these for years but still don't have enough for a BIG quilt so this, too, will continue into next year as a RSC project. 

Speaking of Rainbow Scrap Challenge...you can find an array of Rainbows each ScrapHappy Saturday.  And who doesn't need a rainbow each week? 

Pink Fluff

Streak of Lightning 

After I made the Wandering Geese quilt top from bright 4.5 inch scraps in primary and secondary colors I still had scraps left in colors not used in the quilt top.  I dug into the pink and turquoise scraps to see how many Streak of Lightning blocks I could come up with.  So far I have six and I probably have enough scraps for 4 more blocks in pink and turquoise.   Then I'll decide what to do with them - add blocks in different colors?, cut fabrics from chunks of pink and turquoise to make enough blocks for a small quilt?, add borders in different blocks from pink/turquoise scraps in different sizes?  It's not a priority right now so time will tell.  I'm just trying to use up my box of 4.5 inch scraps.  Scraps in blocks are better than scraps in box. 

After I made the Streak of Lightning blocks if there was a 4.5 inch square left of the fabric I cut that and put it into a bag for later use. If there wasn't a square I put it into another bag.  I used to sew like colors together into a strip every once in awhile but I think from now on I'll just put them all together into a bag for later use. If I'm looking for pieces for a 4.5 inch border I'll go to that bag and have my pieces ready cut. 

Last week I made Lady of the Lake blocks and mentioned I didn't think the orange/pink block fit in with the others.  I was thinking it was because I used light pink scraps. 

I don't use the seam ripper very often but I just wanted to see if I liked that pink/orange Lady a little better with bright pink scraps in the HSTs.  I do. 

Those little HSTs weren't wasted, though. I made an 8 inch Depression block (middle) with them.  And then I made a block with bright pink scraps and one with light pink scraps.  I really do need to count how many Depression blocks I have now. I've been making them for years from my 2.5 inch scraps. 

Rainbow Scrap Challenge ScrapHappy Saturday

Purple 2.5 Edition

Lady of the Lake

10 inch block

This week I worked with the purple 2.5 inch scraps.  I have a box of all different colors of strips of scraps 2.5 inches long.  They get in there various ways - I use other than scraps in a project that requires a 2.5 cut of fabric or I get to the end of a piece of fabric and all that's left is 2.5 inches and maybe a little string.  Anyway...I used up most of the purple in the 2.5 inch box because I actually have very little purple in my stash. 

I'm making Lady of the Lake blocks this year. Two of them will be made in light/dark RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge) color of the month and two of them will be color of the month plus a color analogous on the  color wheel- this time blue.  6.5 inch centers will be cut from chunk pieces (yes, I have a scrap chunk crate). 

I tried out this block last year when the color of the month was orange. I used yellow for analogous color.  Here's how some of the blocks look together so far. Yes, I like them. So, I will continue this year making Lady of the Lake blocks. 

Also last year when color of the month was orange I made a 12 inch ship block.  I belonged to a "birthday club" where members make a requested birthday girl's block of choice and sent it to birthday girl in her birthday month.    This ship block was birthday girl's choice. I found it easy to make and cute AND I have a piece of ship fabric perfect for backing what will be this baby sized quilt. I'm using a variety of blue backgrounds...may even add gray...don't know yet. 

Each month I'm going to see if I can move toward finishing any UFOs with scraps from the color of the month.  I won some six inch Split Nine Patch blocks last year from Block Lotto.  They were made in purple, gray and white tone on tones.   So I made a couple of blocks from scraps but actually had to cut some purple 2.5 inch pieces because these are made with tone on tones and most of my remaining purple scraps after making the above were NOT tone on tone. 

So now I think that brings me to 54 blocks and that will make a baby sized quilt.  I have a piece of purple to use as a border. 

Another Block Lotto win last year was six inch Birds in the Air blocks.  These blocks are made in tone on tone purples and blues with white.   So, since I made some new 2.5 inch scraps from making the above blocks I immediately used them to make six birds in the air blocks. I'm going to make a big quilt from these and will probably use blue tone on tones to make more blocks for this quilt. So watch for same blocks in RSC blue month. Otherwise you won't see these blocks again for ScrapHappy Saturday. Merely trying to move a UFO forward this month. 

Sprouts 

6 x 13

I made the three sprouts on the left. The two on the right were made last year from my purple scraps. It's kind of fun to compare scraps from year to year.  I actually don't know where I'm going with these blocks so maybe I should figure that out now since these are rolling over from last year and I have different numbers of blocks in each scrappy color. 

Now I'm down to some miscellaneous blocks and parts. 

I made two eight inch Depression blocks. I've been making these for several years. I guess I should count the stack. I like big quilts so sometimes it takes awhile to get there when you make a few blocks each month from scraps.  But what's the hurry? 

The second row of blocks goes into the four inch parts department. Gosh, I have a big bag of 4 inch parts. I've been throwing things into there for years.   And the bottom row is a strip of wonky HSTs leftover from Lady of the Lake.  Usually I throw wonkies into the crumb pile but I decided to make a strip from them. I have "made strips" in various colors and sizes so will now add to them with hst strips.  Use to be determined later. 

Speaking of strips...I made one with the ends of some purple scraps. 

I also have been making triangles following the tutorial on Molly Flanders. I have a LOT of these. I guess I need to figure out the diagonal measurement of the quilt I want to make and then figure out how many of these things it takes sewn together to make that measurement. 

And that's the Purple 2.5 Scrap Edition. 

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