Ta-da! My Scrap Quilt for June 2019

Made from my Batik scrape, I call it "Pineapple....NOT". It almost looks like the Pineapple log cabin block but this quilt was made using Deb Tucker's technique sheet -  Geese On The Edge.

This challenge is one of my better ideas. At first I thought I was a bit crazy thinking I would be able to make 12 quilts in one year but as I go along each month it feels like I just might do it.

For July I'm making a Spider Web String Quilt and for August I'm planning another string quilt using Batik strings. That will leave September, October, November and December. I'm going to have to see what else I can make from my scraps.

What are "strings"?

Strings are strips of fabric in varying widths from 3/4" to 2". String can also be selvege edges from your fabric. I started to include the selveges in a few of my blocks for my July quilt. They give the quilt a little pop of fun.

What is a string quilt? 

 String quilts start with a foundation since stitching thin strips together would be difficult. String blocks can be stitched with a paper foundation that is removed after stitching. Or muslin can be used as the foundation for string blocks but the fabric would remain as part of the quilt. Fabric foundation can be used in string blocks where some of the fabric shows as part of the block front. There are so many ways to make a string quilt. I'll put together a quick video showing some of my string quilts and some of the basics of stitching a string block. I'll let you know when it is posted. Until then keep stitching those scrap quilts!

Scrap Quilt Challenge for May 2019

As I'm getting ready to blog to you about my June scrap quilt I realize I didn't reveal the quilt for May. I really thought I did but... Here it is! I created this quilt inspired by Quiltville.com Bonie Hunter's Scrappy Mountain Majesties. I used the Batik fabric samples I mentioned in my last blog post. Those along with my scrap stash of Batiks, I made this month's quilt. Visit Bonnie's site and see how many different layouts you can create for this one block. Another one of my favorites is Weed Wacker.

While I had the Batik scrap buckets out I stared to plan for my next scrap quilt. The quilt for June uses one of Deb Tucker's Technique Sheets along with the Wing Clipper and Tucker Trimmer tools.
I'll post the finished quilt in a few days.

How have you been doing with your scrap quilts? Have you done any quilts using up your scraps or your stash? Last week I was at a retreat with my girls out in Woodstock Connecticut. It was fabulous. My quilt for July uses strings. Lots of fabric string. I'm almost finished with the blocks and the buckets still look as full of strings as they did when I started.
For August I'm going to do a string quilt using my Batik strings. I'm getting ahead of myself....

Stringing along in Woodstock CT

Spider Web String Block

 
 

That's a lotta wool!

Well I'm finally done moving my Grab 'N Go Kits operation to my home.  I had a little help with getting everything moved in. I'm so grateful to my littles for all their help.  The husband is priceless too. My longarm is setup at full size and ready for my first quilt. I'm going to get some of these scrap challenge quilts done and get the binding attached.


My April Scrap Quilt Challenge is ready for viewing. Take a look.

April Scrap Quilt Challenge

Bonus!

Last month my quilt was made using 2-inch strips cut from my many orphan fat quarters.  I got a bit carried away cutting and had (still have) lots of strips left after a couple of quilts. I did this quilt using the Jellyroll Race technique.  I miscalculated the number of strips to use and I had a large section left over. It measured 27" x 40'ish". My friend said make a bag! so I did! I layered some batting and lining fabric and added some simple machine quilting. Then I added straps, sewed up the sides and boxed out the bottom. To cover the seams on the inside I added binding. Done! I was very surprised to learn the my new bag holds 2 plastic project boxes perfectly. Love it!

May's quilt is made using Batik scraps. Here's some of the fabric I started with. These are sample cards fabric companies use to show shop owners what the latest fabric designs for ordering. I didn't order these fabric by the bolt but I did use these samples in my quilt. You'll have to wait until next month to see what I did with them.  After getting all my Batik scraps together for May's scrap quilt starting June's easy.  I'll show you that quilt soon.

Batik Fabric Samples

That's all for now. Keep stitching!

March 2019 Scrap Quilt Challenge Reveal

 

For March I used what I call "Orphaned Fat Quarters". These are fat quarters that where part of a bundle but for one reason or another they didn't make it into the project that all the other bundle mates did. I cut 2 inch strips from the fat quarters then cut them 10-1/2" long. I randomly selected 3 strips to sew together for each block. The I stitched a black strip of fabric along the top of each strip set.

The rows are off-set by the width on the black strip, 2 inch cut. Filler black fabric was added to the top or bottom of the rows to make them even. I finished off the quilt top with a black border. I have seen similar quilts and always like how the quilt uses lots of different fabrics and still looks great.

By using measurements to get the most out of my fat quarters I was able to use up a good amount of orphaned fats.

I got a little carried away with cutting 2 inch strips so my quilt for April is going to use all those strips left over after this quilt.

Project Progress Report

If you've been at any of my sewcations recently you know that I've been working ahead on my 2019 Scrap Quilt Challenge. I knew that my schedule was going to get a bit crazy and I didn't want to fall behind so I have quilts done for April, May and June! I REALLY want to show you all of them but I have to hold off on those reveals. I have to tell you that I am so happy with the 6 quilts I've made to date. My July quilt is going to be a string quilt. I'm using brights, what else! I've made a bunch of string quilts in the past so it was hard to pick what style of string blocks to use but I settled on one I think you'll want to try.

For the 2019 Scrap Challenge I invited you all to participate in the challenge. A few of you have decided to give it a go. I showed you Sherrie's first scrap quilt last time. She finished her top for February. I included a photo for you to see. She made this quilt using leftover fabric from her sister-in-laws quilt she finished a year or so ago. The colors are timeless and the design is perfect don't you think!

Margrit started a string quilt using her leftover Kaffe Fassett strings she collected from her previous projects. This style of string quilt uses the foundation fabric as part of the block design. Strings are fun to work with. Give it try! 

 Margrit's String Quilt

 Sherrie's February Scrap Quilt Challenge

2019 Scrap Challenge

 

Here is a scrap quilt made be Sherrie A. for January.  Sherri made this Batik scrap quilt for the first of her 2019 scrap quilts. I really like how it turned out. For Sherrie this is a big success as she is more of a "planner" for her quilts but she went outside her comfort zone and just grabbed any scrap squares from her Batik scraps and put them together to make each 4-Patch block. It's a little difficult to see but each 4-Patch has a black fabric flange around it to border the blocks. Then she added a second block border of Batik fabric. 

Looks FANTASTIC!

Good for you Sherrie!

Sherrie is nearly finished with her second scrap quilt for her personal challenge to use up her fabrics. Her scraps are larger pieces left from projects she has finished.  She tells me that one of her plans for a scrap quilt or two is to use her Christmas fabric.  Sherrie made Christmas Tree skirts for her family using a number of QuiltWorx patterns.  She has a ton of left over fabric she plans to use.  

At last sewcation Sherrie planned a quilt to use her Oriental Print fabrics. I can't wait to see what she makes next!

Nice work Sherrie!

February Scrap Quilt Challenge Reveal

February Scrap Quilt Challenge

I have a list of quilts that I've been wanting to make so this challenge is the perfect time to start making them. At my January Sewcation I started working on my February Scrap Quilt. I used Victory Findlay Wolfe's 5 Sided Acrylic Templates, the small size, to make the squares and circles in my quilt. Each pieced block starts with fabric cut from the template and I used the same fabric for all the block's centers. The first round of fabric strips was the same pink fabric so the centers would have a more cohesive feel.  In her book, 15 Minutes of Play Improvisational Quilting, I was inspired by a quilt she featured. The circle blocks were just something the "happened" when I was making the square blocks.  After making a pieced shape I cut the 8-1/2" circles using my die cutting machine. The circles were machine appliqued to the background square of white Kona fabric.

To start I cut a pile of strips from my scrap fabrics.  After I made the center starter shapes I continued adding strips to each of the 5 sides of the center shape until my piece was large enough to trim down to an 8-1/2" square or for cutting my circles. Although this technique has been around for a while I like starting with a center shape cut from the template.

 

I have seen blocks in quilts that look like they are strung like beads so I added sashing strips with black fabric. Each row is alternating between squares and circle blocks. I really love this quilt. It makes me "sew happy"!

A note about "scraps" - Quilters define scrapes in different ways. Some say scrapes are small little pieces of fabric left over after making a quilt block. Some define scraps as any size pieces of fabric left over after making a quilt.  While other quilters define scraps as any fabric that is NOT planned for a project but must be used.  Here's how I describe scraps. Fabric I have left over after making a quilt, fabric that I purchased because I just liked it and wanted to add it to my stash and the other category of scraps I have are orphaned fat quarters and pre-cuts.

At the start of my challenge I gathered all my orphan fat quarters and left over yardage and cut a variety of strip widths. I'm working through this stack of strips and making as many quilts as I can out of these wonderful bits of fabric joy. Check back to see all my scrap quilts as I stitch my way through the 2019 Scrap Quilt Challenge.

Scrap Quilt Challenge 2019 ~ January Reveal

 

Here it is...the big reveal! My first of 12 scrap quilts is finished and ready for quilting. It has been so much fun doing this quilt. I started by going through my scrap bin to find strips that were at least half the width of fabric. About 20 inches or so. Then I sewed strip sets of about 5 or 6 different fabrics.

Next, I pressed the seams in one direct then sub cut into 2" side segments. I then joined segments from other strip sets for variety and to get the length I needed.

There are 2 blocks in this quilt. One block starts with a square of background fabric followed by a round of scrap strips then background again ending with scrap strips.

The other block starts with a square made by joining strips sets and trimming to size for the center square. Then I added background strips followed by scrap strips and again background strips.

By using 2 different blocks, when they are joined in rows, I don't have the same fabric next to each block. I like the look I got with this quilt. Setting the blocks on point makes it more interesting than a straight setting.

The setting triangles and corner triangles were added. I trimmed the edge evenly all around the quilt then added the final row of scrap strips. At first I thought I would have to use another fabric for binding since I used almost all the 3 yards of background fabric I had left. But I did find a yard of the grey background for the binding.

I hope you like it and that I have motivated you to be challenged to use your scraps.