Working with Scraps

Can you believe this year is almost coming to a close?!  It was a pretty good year for me and I am anticipating even more quilty fun in the coming year!  I don't know about you, but I always seem to spend the month of December reflecting on the previous year and identifying things I wish to accomplish in the future.  Usually by New Years, I have a pretty good idea of what I hope to accomplish.

So how about you, do you have any sewing plans or resolutions for 2014? Do they involve addressing all those scraps you have lying around your sewing area? Are you wanting to sew with the fabrics you already have? 

If so, we can definitely help each other out.  As I have shared with you, I want to really focus on scraps in the coming year.    I hope you join me and we can support each other!







I thought I would start by sharing some of the things I will be writing about so everyone gets thinking about dealing with their own scraps that have been hiding out in your sewing area.  Starting in January, I will be sharing in more detail my own journey with scrap quilts.  Rather than just briefly sharing pictures of the quilts as I make them, I will be spending more time discussing the process of determining my pattern choice, where my inspiration comes from, choosing fabrics and colors, determining best cutting sizes, choosing layouts and even sharing some quilting ideas for each project.

 There will even be some tutorials showing how to accomplish various steps.






Learning how to make beautiful quilts from your scraps (and existing stash) just takes a little practice and planning.   I am hoping the information I'm about to share in the coming year will provide a little guidance that will allow you to create some beautiful scrap quilts of your own.




I want to remind everyone that when looking at these ideas or examples I present, try and focus on the lessons and realize that your quilt will be made from your scraps and will look very different. Each scrap quilt I make will have about 4 posts sharing information to allow each of you (should you so choose) to sew along.  Sewing along will allow each quilter to problem solve using their own scraps and make their own unique but similar quilt.





I think many have the perception that scrap quilts are disordered, dated and not the most attractive of quilts.  I hope I can change that perception.  Mastering how to make fun quilts from your scraps (and existing stash) keeps the sewing room tidy and is definitely easier on the pocketbook.

As you are working with leftover scraps, I find quilters have less fear and start to build more confidence in putting colors and fabrics together. They begin to play more with design elements and are far more willing to practice more FMQ patterns.









As I have written this, I have shared some photos of some scrap quilts I have made recently.  As you can see, they are pretty easy piecing but have produced some great quilts.  They all came out of my scraps with maybe some rounding out of my stash.  I rarely purchase fabric for a scrap quilt - to me it defeats the purpose of getting fabric out of my stash.

I hope you stay tuned and maybe even join in on the fun.  I am always available if you get stuck or need help in any part of the process.  As I hope this becomes an all-out crazy party with a ton of quilters joining in, I have decided to call the series Scrap-A-Palooza.  I have created a little button if you want to post it to your site to share with your readers.  Who knows, maybe they want to join in on the fun, too!

<a href="http://quiltingismorefunthanhousework.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjl-ZgzJ55jRKwQPawzgdAmpsJ7szfSNzI2RRMocZd_hYYVeUyBf9pv8KpH-i7Rfezc9zAERDgfS-XUlDwJnTx4vVOF_o0fhCUZdgyj-fIhnKoEgze75WPi3It9BO4n3hZXF4dnkctu7U/s1600/Publication2.jpg" alt="Quilting is more fun than Houseowrk" width="125" height="125" /></a>

(Be gentle...it was my first try at making a button.  I obviously need a lot more practice!)

Linking up with Anything Goes Monday at Stitch by Stitch and Linky Tuesday at Freemotion by the River.