Red 1.5 Inch Scraps

This week I dug into my red 1.5 inch scraps. In case you don't know...I sort a lot of my scraps by size. All colors go into the various "size" bins and I sort through there for the color I need. I do not precut fabric to fill those bins but it seems they are always more than half full.  They kind of remind me of those doll baby bottles that you tip up to feed the doll  and the "milk" disappears and then when you turn it right side up the bottle is magically full again. 

Anyway...back to the red 1.5 inch scraps...I made three strawberries.  I just googled "strawberry quilt block" saw a picture of one, committed it to memory and went and made three blocks.  I have an old UFO - Tea Towel Challenge- kind of fruit themed - that I've decided to take apart and start over. I think I work better if I have all the quilt parts assembled before I attempt to make a quilt top.  More on that later after all the parts are assembled. 

Speaking of assembly...I've been making little three inch rail fence blocks for a couple of years from my 1.5 inch scraps.  Maybe it's time to count and decide what to do with them. There's so many options.   And the block on the left - a 21 patch - kind of a Chinese Coin variation block that measures 6 x 14 - I should probably count those too and decide what to do with them.  I've been calling the block "Whatchamacallit".  

Rainbow Scrap Challenge ScrapHappy Saturday

Sunflowers #5 and #6

A couple more Sunflowers. 

These are machine pieced.

The pattern is found in 19th Century Patchwork Divas' Treasury of Quilts and is very easy to follow. 

There's a variety of reasons I make a quilt. This one?

1. I saw a vintage Sunflower quilt long ago and always wanted to make one for myself. 

2. I love Sunflowers. When the kids were little I grew them a Sunflower house to play in - Sunflowers planted in a square  (playhouse sized) with a "door" opening.   Then vining flowers like Morning Glories were planted in between to fill in spaces and make a "roof".   Ah, the memories...wish I had a picture.  Later in the year we would harvest and roast sunflower seeds but leave some heads out for the birds. 

3.  The challenge.  There's nothing like the feeling of satisfaction that comes from making a block you weren't quite sure you could. 

It's a Finish! Pansy Patch

Pansy Patch

84 x 84

machine quilted

I was inspired by a picture of a Tula Pink quilt called Chipper.  It's a basic 12 inch Birds in the Air block set on point.  Although she has a free pattern you can use if you are so inclined I made the blocks my own way plus made my quilt a bit larger. 

I found it a great way to use some of the larger print pansy fabrics I've had in my stash for quite some time. 

I quilted it on my DSM with horizontal and diagonal lines basically stitching a quarter inch inside the triangles that are the color of the outside triangles (if that makes sense?)  I had some variegated Coat's and Clark's machine quilting threads on hand but wasn't sure if I had enough of either so I used a purple variegated on the front and...

...an aqua, pink, yellow, purple variegated thread in the bobbin. 

I found just enough fabric for the backing stashed in my butterfly fabric box.  In fact the quilt width just fit inside those dotted lines on each selvage. And I had just enough of a purple solid for the binding. 

The quilt looks like it could be reversible. 

This one is for my bed now.  I'll bet it feels great in the morning to wake up surrounded by pansies.  (Or to see it at the foot of the bed since I don't have a/c so don't really use quilts in the summer). 

This was my goal #4

for

Q3 Finish-Along

Playing in The Woods

The Block Lotto block of the month is a tree. 

I made three for the lotto drawing. 

Then I made a few for myself out of Christmas fabrics since I challenged myself to use my holiday fabrics this year and these blocks are easy-peasy to make.  Three of them are a little different since I evidently had a bout of dyslexia when I cut them starting at the wrong end. I'll probably make more trees. Not sure what I'm going to do with them.  I don't really need another Christmas quilt.  And I have no wall space for wall hangings.  Place mats ? with napkins? and/or buffet runner? Christmas tree skirt of Christmas trees for a gift? Hmmmm....

While I was making the trees I had memories of playing in the woods when we stayed the summer at my grandparents' house.  Oh that was fun! Now I have my own woods and rarely play there. 

Weekly Update - Vintage Thingamajigs

Vintage Thingamajigs

Since July 1 I've been working on these blocks for 20 minutes each day.  It was a challenge issued by Stashbusters Yahoo Group - pick a project and work on it for 20 minutes each day.  I'm making these Ohio Star variation six inch blocks inspired by vintage blocks.   This week I added six blocks which brings my total to 14. My target goal is 244 blocks. 

Until next Monday...

It's a Finish! Postage Stamp Sue

Postage Stamp Sue

40 x 56

hand quilted

I started making blocks back in 2013 after seeing it on Q is for Quilter.  Martha had seen a vintage quilt and then graciously broke down the block into a postage stamp grid.  I made a block each month as a Rainbow Scrap Challenge project.  The top was finally put together in 2015.

I used all scraps to make the quilt.  I hand quilted stitching a crosshatch pattern.  I didn't stitch through the flower or leaves, the shoes, the legs, the arms or the balloons. So they all kind of stand out a little.  I used Coats and Clarks white hand quilting thread for the background and 2 strands of variegated embroidery thread for the dress, sock, bonnet and borders. 

 At first I was going to bind it with solids in colors of the rainbow but at the last minute I decided it needed a white binding instead. I found enough of a white with Vs that look a little like hearts in my stash to use. 

And the backing?  You're my end of the rainbow! 

All this work on a baby quilt?  It's for someone special. It's going into the hope chest for a great grandchild I may or may not ever meet.  (It will probably be awhile...the oldest grandchild is 13 years old). 

This was my goal #10 

for

Q3 Finish-Along

It was also my July OMG (One Monthly Goal)

at

Elm Street Quilts

I spent a whole month of Sundays stitching away on this so:

Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts

and

A whole bunch of scraps were used in these blocks so:

Oh Scrap! at Quilting is More Fun than Housework

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