I don't know why I cannot seem to just get rid of fabric that I have fallen out of love with. Maybe it is the impression my grandparents, who grew up during the depression, made on me but I feel I must sew up the fabrics I have.
And as my goal was to sew up old stash this year, I thought I would grab one of the last big stacks of fabrics that has been taking up space and sew it into a quilt. All told, I had about 10 yards of fabric in these four prints - guess it is going to be a big quilt!
Jasmine over at Quilt Kisses has recently made some giant star quilts that I loved and she inspired me to make something similar from these fabrics.
Because of the number of prints I was using, I couldn't use the same design as Jasmine. But I liked the idea of using giant HSTs to create a big star and get this quilt together quickly. So I settled on a star in a star in a star design.
The outside HSTs are 16". I knew I would need that big 16.5" square ruler I bought myself earlier this year! The quilt top really went together easily and the fabric quanties I had were almost as if I had bought them to make this quilt.
I knew this quilt was going to go directly into my Etsy shop so I really didn't want to go buy backing fabric for it. I don't normally keep fabric pieces big enough for a queen size quilt so I had to make a piece I had work by adding in some leftover fabric from the top.
I had to use up every scrap of fabric I had left to make it work. But when you are determined to not buy fabric, you get pretty creative!
Not a bad finish for just a weekend! I spent this week hand sewing up the binding and now I can cross this one off the list.
So what about you - are you able to pass on unloved fabric or are you like me and feel a need to sew it up yourself? I will say this year has sure changed my fabric buying habits!
If you are interested in more ways to follow me, you can find me on Craftsy, Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin', Feedly, Instagram, Google +, or get my blog sent right to your email inbox by entering your email address on the right sidebar!
Linking up:
24 comments:
Congrats on a very effective use of your stash fabric!
Looks fab - I just bought fabric for a giant star quilt - nothing on hand to use up unfortunately! Really like how it all came together for you!
Fantastic - HSTs are so versatile. I love that you got your inspiration from Jasmine, too. :)
I am trying to just use fabrics that I have, but there are a couple of projects that I am "collecting" fabrics for - as they go on sale or when I find the right ones. I have been about 70% effective using what I have - I really have way too much and need to JUST STOP BUYING but then I go to a site and look at something new - online shopping is as addictive as gambling
For fabric you didn't love, this is sure a beautiful quilt!!
I'm like you - I feel I need to keep the fabric I just can't seem to use. I'm going to try making some scrappy binding for my son's quilt coming up -- maybe this could be a good way to dispose of it? Maybe I should consider donating it to the local quilting group!
visiting from crazy mum quilts. This is quick and easy and looks so amazingly effective
Very nice. You did a great job with those fabrics!
I decided this year I was going to try and sew through my stash. So I am finding I need to get creative in my projects. Your scrap quilts have been a source of inspiration for me.
tushay3(at)yahoo(dot)com
I love this quilt!! Is the pattern available?
You may have fallen out of love with the fabric, but I hope you fell in love with the quilt. It is beautiful. Fabric I'm not fond of is still in my drawers--some of it from the 70's. I keep thinking someday I'll make the ultimate scrap quilt, but it hasn't happened yet.
First, I really like your star in a star. Interesting that big pieces worked with unloved fabric. One of the gurus says that it you still think fabric ugly you haven't cut it small enough. Of course that would have taken longer. :-)
I keep fabric. The only fabric I've given away is stuff that now seems too sheer to me. I work on using my stash, but don't whip myself if I shop.
I love the design and the idea of huge HST is very appealing...especially when wanting to use up unloved/unwanted fabric! I think yours turned out fabulous! I have fabric that I have fallen out of love with, way too much. I've brought it to guild meetings in case someone wanted it! But there is still way too much left! Thanks for giving me some ideas!
I have been looking forward to seeing this ever since you told me about it. It turned out fantastic, and really does look like you purchased the fabric specifically for this pattern. I have also learned a lot about my purchasing habits this year.
Wowza - YES, a very good finish for just a weekend! Amazing, actually. Do you have a longarm, or was that even accomplished on a domestic machine in that time frame? It's very pretty, too - what a great success for old fabric from your stash. I am also like you, feeling a compulsion to work up the old kits and fabrics I'd purchased in past years (decades, really). My feelings are based on values from my depression grandparents, respecting the Younger Me's tastes even though they're different now (it's kinda like taking a Sentimental Journey train ride through earlier years of my life), and respecting the amount of money I spent on those throughout those years of our family life. I don't feel strapped down - I do let myself buy something for a completely new project about every 5th quilt or so. But I do limit myself to stash for things like baby quilts and other gifts that pop up - and it's surprising how nice I can make things turn out using those old selections combined with not-so-long-ago purchases that are in there. :)
It looks great! I love that backing fabric; it looks like lemons.
Today I am sewing with Moda brushed plaids that I've collected over the last 20 years, making hourglass blocks, mixing them with fishing prints and cowboy-theme collections. Having "old" fabric allows me to make totally original quilts that are completely my own vision. I like that! Any fabric that I know in my heart I will not use... I donate it to my quilt guild "give away" table. I prefer my stash to be only things I love and know I will, someday, find a use for. Fabric is expensive but what I do is an art form and I don't feel the least bit of regret for the money I've spent for all this beauty. Knowing what I have on hand, however, keeps me from going crazy and buying every new thing that comes along. If it's fabric, it's all good but I don't have to own all of it!
I always have good intentions of passing along fabric I no longer love but then I think I loved it once, maybe I'll love it again! Sometimes I do pass it on but others I'll use it to experiment and once I start cutting it up smaller it just gets better looking!
I love your giant star quilt! A great way to use up those fabrics!
Brilliant!! I have a ton of fabric that I got at a garage sale, and now just look at and shake my head. This is the perfect use for it. Thanks :)) XX!
I didn't use a pattern for this quilt but it is very similar to the Bright Sky QAL going on over at Blossom Heart Quilts.
http://www.blossomheartquilts.com/2014/10/bright-sky-qal-week-1-centre-star/
Thank you :) I have several big bundles of fabric that I need to use and this is just perfect !
You may not love it, but I sure do :) Well done, and it's out of your hands now! (Well, almost...you have to sell it first, but I bet it will sell quickly)
I have TONS of fabric. Some of it, I have fallen out of love with. I do feel like I need to be the one to sew it up, even if I do donate the quilt in the end. I try not to think too much about the money invested but I know that is why I can't give the fabric away. I think one of my main hurdles with getting these fabrics sewn is getting stuck by trying come up with "interesting" things to do with them, when really, plain squares would be just fine! The second hurdle is that my stash is totally disorganized. That will be on my 2015 to do list for sure.
I also have far too many "planned" projects that have patterns and fabric purchased, just sitting around waiting to be started. I finally made a list of as many of them as I could think of so that when I want to start something, I can start there! BUT sometimes, I just get inspired and I can't help it so I go to Fabric Depot ;)
Google+ told me I'd missed a couple of your posts. So glad I checked it out. Excellent quilt once again! You should write up this pattern, wink, wink :)
Post a Comment