Ready to get a head start on holiday sewing? This Ready to get a head start on holiday sewing? This #holidaytrimmingsquilt is a fast and easy project. The pattern releases TODAY! Head over to Shereece's site @sewhookedontreasures to grab your copy.
It's time to get excited! The #holidaytrimmingsqui It's time to get excited! The #holidaytrimmingsquilt pattern release is coming June 9th. I was happy to test this lovely quilt and even more happy with the way it turned out. Thanks, @sewhookedontreasures. I can't wait to show the full reveal!!
Blocks complete. Now it's time to sew the top toge Blocks complete. Now it's time to sew the top together. Look for this fun new quilt pattern coming soon from @sewhookedontreasures!

#holidaytrimmingsquilt #quiltpatterntester #patchworksampler
Fun fabric pull to test the lovely #holidaytrimmin Fun fabric pull to test the lovely #holidaytrimmingsquilt by Shereece @sewhookedontreasures. 

Does the new Hustle and Bustle fabric by @official_basicgrey on a Grunge Hits the Spot background put you in the holiday spirit?
This is my most recent finish. I stitched the last This is my most recent finish. I stitched the last bit of binding just about a half hour ago! I love the fabrics in this quilt and they were just random fabrics from my stash. The pattern is #theellaquilt by @kitchentablequilting. I may have to hang this in my family room until it finds a new home.

#igquiltfest2022 #igquiltfest2022day14 #patchworksampler
Today's prompt is pressing matters. I love flat bl Today's prompt is pressing matters. I love flat blocks and these three items are my essentials for achieving that: white fluffy bath towel, cheap Black & Decker iron that steams like crazy, and a Jackson's Woodworks square clapper.

I have a wool pressing mat, but I like the bath towel better. It has enough nap to "grab" the fabrics for a super flat press and it can be tossed in the washer and dryer. 

#igquiltfest2022 #igquiltfest2022day12 #patchworksampler
One of my cherished quilts is one I didn't make. T One of my cherished quilts is one I didn't make. This album quilt was made by members of a club I ran for many years when I had a brick and mortar shop. Several members continued to meet in my home monthly until COVID hit. 

It is special to me because it is a reminder of what is important; the friendships, camaraderie, and encouragement that developed within the group. 

#igquiltfest2022 #igquiltfest2022day9 #patchworksampler
This super scrappy quilt is one of my favorites fo This super scrappy quilt is one of my favorites for a couple of reasons. First it is proof that any fabric works when you cut it small enough and second I pieced it on a little mini retreat with a couple of friends. The pattern is Rectangle Wrangle by Bonnie Hunter.

I love, love, love scrap quilts, the more fabrics the better, and that's how I justify buying all the fabric I do.

This particular quilt was chosen for today's prompt because tomorrow it will be on its way to Poland along with nine others from my "quilt room" (see day 3 prompt).

#igquiltfest2022 #igquiltfest2022day8 #patchworksampler #scrapquilt
Lesson learned. I could write a book on all the th Lesson learned. I could write a book on all the things I've learned through quilting, but one I can't seem to get through my head is that I don't like foundation piecing, paper piecing, or hand piecing.  Slow stitching is a concept I can't wrap my head around.

This String Spiderweb was started at a retreat so I jumped on the bandwagon without thinking it through. I have a bunch of these units made but no interest in continuing. As I was snapping the photo though, I had an idea. Stay tuned.

Are there quilting techniques or methods you don't enjoy?

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Patchwork Sampler

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Uncategorized · May 30, 2013

A Never Ending Job

Every once in awhile I have to make a committed effort to tame the scrap monster.  No matter how many scrap quilts I make it seems like I end up with more scraps than I started with.  I’ve had this stack in my sewing room for quite some time so I brought them upstairs to do a little cutting whenever I have a few spare minutes.

scraps

It took many years for me to find a scrap system that works for me.  In 2000 Debbie Caffrey came and taught at our shop and she recommended cutting scraps into 2-1/2” strips.  This was around the time she published the book Open A Can of Worms (still one of my favorite scrap quilt books). So that’s how I started cutting scraps into usable pieces.  This was long before jelly rolls and the myriad patterns developed for 2-1/2” strips.  This worked for quite awhile especially since I led a Strip Club for several years and was making a quilt using those strips every month.  Eventually I wanted to branch out so I started cutting several different sizes of strips and some squares.  Now I strips 5”, 3-1/2”, 2-1/2”, 2”  and 1-1/2” wide.  I cut the same size squares:  5”, 3-1/2”, 2-1/2”., 2” and 1-1/2”.  Here’s what I’ve cut so far from that big stack of scraps.

Cut scraps

I store them in rolling plastic drawers.  When a drawer get full I start looking for a pattern to use that particular size.  When I’m making any quilt I start my fabric search with strips or squares that are already cut.  My Sunny Side Up quilt is cut from the scrap drawers.  I wanted to make mine a little bigger so I’m making 12” blocks instead of the 9” blocks that Judy made for her quilt.  The bonus was that I was able to use 2” strips and 5” strips that were all ready to go.  Win-win! 

This system doesn’t work for everyone.  It may seem like a lot of work to cut all these strips that may never be used.  Several of my quilting friends just keep bags of scraps and root through the bags when they need small pieces of fabric.  I’m all for anything that works as long as those beautiful scrap quilts keep coming?

How do you organize your scraps?

Technorati Tags: cutting,scraps,scrap quilt
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Comments

  1. Podunkpretties says

    May 31, 2013 at 4:30 pm

    I’m one of those that throw them in containers or bags. I’ve been trying to organize by color but the thing is I make so many scrappy quilts that it gets all jumbled up in no time. It scares me to cut into strips or squares because I always think what if I need it to be a bigger piece.

  2. Mary Ann says

    May 31, 2013 at 6:34 pm

    I have 2 very large plastic bag full of scraps. I keep saying I am going to go thru them and put them in some kind of order but then a new quilting project comes along and the scraps stay where they are! I like your method with the different sizes.

  3. Quilty Conscience says

    June 1, 2013 at 3:53 pm

    I sort my flat fold by color “about” one yard or larger are flat folds at my house. Smaller pieces are sorted by color. My “scraps” are immediately cut into sizes ranging from 2 1/2 inches to 5 inches, whichever is the largest square I can cut out of leftover fabric. Those are not sorted by color. Strips are cut from any widths of at least 1 1/2 inches by 6 inches. Again, not sorted by color. And let’s not forget left over triangles! HST are made, and squared, at 2 inches, 2 1/4 inches, on up to 4 inches. I give away the 2 and 2 1/4 inch ones. I’m not accurate enought to deal with those smaller sizes! Now, I was given a bag of scraps on Thursday night. I had better get to cutting! Toni

  4. desertskyquilts says

    June 1, 2013 at 10:08 pm

    Good system. Mostly, I cut 2.5″ squares.

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