Quilting is more fun than Housework...: August 2017

Sunday, August 27, 2017

Oh Scrap! : Sashing

I spent most of my time on Saturday quilting up my Improv Stripes quilt (which means I should have it finished to share on Friday). But other than that, there hasn't been much time for sewing.

I did make a decision on how to handle my neutral strip sets. I decided to add sashing in-between each set with a dark corner stone in the middle. I did "flip" the strip set. I thought it would balance out the color but I think it might not have been the best choice. I am hoping it won't show as much when the top is finished.

I certainly am not changing my mind now!

Here are four completed blocks with the additional sashing I plan on adding. Sorry about the poor photos but I am a night-time quilter and these neutrals are hard to capture with zero natural light.

Looking at these blocks now, I might have to go back and flip those strip sets around. Looks like my seam ripper is going to get a workout.

What about you....What have you been making with your scraps!

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Now it is time for you to share your scrap projects. Here are the details for linking up:

This linky party is for any scrappy project - It can be in-process or a finished piece.
You can link up your blog post (not your homepage please) or Instagram photo from the past week that features your use of scraps.
If you are linking to a blog post, I ask that you link back to my blog somewhere in your post. So if you are writing about scraps, just get into the habit of including a link as there will be a linky party available every week!
If you are using Instagram, please use the hashtag #ohscrap.
This is a party so remember to socialize and comment on the posts of others.
Following my blog is not necessary but it sure would be great if you do!

So if you love scrappy projects, feel free to grab my button for your sidebar or posts and get ready to share all your wonderful projects from scraps. And if you have a great idea for using scraps and would like to be featured, feel free to contact me!

An InLinkz Link-up

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Linking Up:

Love Laugh Quilt (Monday Making)
Small Quilts and Doll Quilts (Design Wall Monday)
Cooking Up Quilts (Main Crush Mondays)
Em's ScrapBag (Moving it Forward)

Friday, August 25, 2017

Neutral Strings

When neutrals were chosen for this month's Rainbow Scrap Challenge color, I initially thought I would take this month off and work on some other projects. I also wanted to spend some time organizing my sewing room. Well, we all know where this is going...

As I was digging through some bags of scraps, I came across some fabrics that were gifted to me. The entire bag was filled with leftover fabrics in tans, grays and creams.

I decided to chop up the pieces into strings and create some slabs that were about 16 x 17". I made a total of 12 - using up almost all of the fabric.

This afternoon. I squared them up to 16.5" wide and trimmed each slab into two 7.5" wide strips. My plan is to sash them somehow so I will probably play with them more this weekend.

This is going to be a very subtle quilt when it is all finished. Definitely not my usual color choices but it will still be fun to see how it evolves.

Have a great weekend Everyone!

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Linking Up:

My Quilt Infatuation (Needle & Thread)

Confessions of a Fabric Addict (Can I get a Whoop! Whoop!)

Busy Hands Quilts (Finished or not Friday)

So Scrappy

Connecting Threads is having a goodbye summer sale by adding an additional 20% off site-wide.

Just add promo code GOODBYE to your order over $60.

*This post contains affiliate links,. If you click through and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you, I may make a commission. I appreciate the support!

Sunday, August 20, 2017

Oh Scrap! : Wanna Trade?

So far, this weekend has been quite productive....

I sashed my Sewcial Bee Sampler blocks and pieced a backing so it is all ready to quilt.

I also finished the quilt top for my Improv Stripes quilt. For the backing, I dug through some older stash fabrics and found a red/black stripe that I could use with some black fabric.

I hope to get them on the frame soon!

So with these big projects completed, I was able to do a bit of organizing. And I discovered I have WAYYYY too many novelty prints chunks/scraps and I am hoping someone out there would like to trade...

Here is what I have. The upper left are larger cuts - some are maybe fat quarters. To the right are large chunks and WOF wide strips. In the lower left are strings and small pieces.

Here they all are in a padded flat rate envelope. It is stuffed full and weighs just under 2 lbs.

I am looking for someone who wants to trade some scraps. Here is what I am looking for...

I need bright, happy yellows and pinks. For the pinks, I need just about any shade from pastels to dark magentas. All of my yellows are dark gold so I am really looking for sunny yellow. I don't really use a lot of tiny scraps or triangles so if you have an abundance of yellow and pink chunks and would rather have these fabrics, let's talk.

If you are interested, let me know in the comments. Thanks
(I will start contacting people Tuesday if I have any takers...)

Please note: All of the fabrics above are good quality and come from a non-smoking environment. I ask that I get the same in return. And, sorry, you need to be in the US.

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Now it is time for you to share your scrap projects. Here are the details for linking up:

This linky party is for any scrappy project - It can be in-process or a finished piece.
You can link up your blog post (not your homepage please) or Instagram photo from the past week that features your use of scraps.
If you are linking to a blog post, I ask that you link back to my blog somewhere in your post. So if you are writing about scraps, just get into the habit of including a link as there will be a linky party available every week!
If you are using Instagram, please use the hashtag #ohscrap.
This is a party so remember to socialize and comment on the posts of others.
Following my blog is not necessary but it sure would be great if you do!

An InLinkz Link-up

Did you see that this weekend is Craftsy's Makers' sale. It is a great time to pick up some of their Boundless solids. Remember this courthouse steps quilt I made with them. They are really nice!

Friday, August 18, 2017

Parsons Patchwork

Sometimes Simple is the Best Choice!

While recently cleaning out some project boxes, I came across a whole bunch of leftover fabric from various Parsons Gray collections. I had forgotten they were stashed away.

I decided to get them out and turn them into a quilt. Some of the prints I had only small chunks of while other pieces I had almost a yard.

I decided I would just keep it simple and cut some 6" squares.

The nice thing about simple patchwork is you have a lovely quilt in no time at all.

I really like how this one turned out.

I tried not to worry too much about having similar prints right next to each other. However, I did try to balance out the colors. And I also didn't want to adhere to a strict light/dark layout so I added in a few extra dark squares.

It was really hard to capture the quilting on this but I did some swooping curves in an ivory thread.

Somewhere along the way, I had picked up a backing knowing I would need one and stashed it in the box too. For the binding, I used a light colored stripe. I usually prefer a dark binding but it was the only print that I had enough of.

It was nice to turn all those leftovers into such a handsome quilt. It has no home so I just listed it in my Etsy shop. I am currently inundated with stacks of quilts around here so my quilts are priced to move! Need a gift for someone?!

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Linking Up:

My Quilt Infatuation (Needle & Thread)

Confessions of a Fabric Addict (Can I get a Whoop! Whoop!)

Busy Hands Quilts (Finished or not Friday)

Sunday, August 13, 2017

Oh Scrap! : Improv Stripes

Happy Sunday!

Remember this pretty stack of scraps?

They are now all somewhere in this project!

Debbie over at A Quilter's Table hosted an #improvstripesqal and I thought it would be fun to join in the fun. I knew I wanted to make a lap sized quilt so I decided to make my blocks more rectangular so it wouldn't get too busy.

I don't often do improv. I find it to be a really slow process and I swear sometimes after sewing a bunch of seams, your blocks appears smaller! Just kidding of course but I do find it to be pretty time consuming.

Even so, I have been enjoying this project. I still have a couple of vertical seams to sew and I need to decide how I am going to finish the left side. I like the large piece of black but I still need to determine if I will add any strips. I do have a scrap pinned up there so I can think about it.

I also added a few bowtie blocks to my Rainbow Scrap Challenge quilt. Such quick blocks!

How about you - what are you making with your scraps?

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Share your scrap projects. Here are the details for linking up:

This linky party is for any scrappy project - It can be in-process or a finished piece.
You can link up your blog post (not your homepage please) or Instagram photo from the past week that features your use of scraps.
If you are linking to a blog post, I ask that you link back to my blog somewhere in your post. So if you are writing about scraps, just get into the habit of including a link as there will be a linky party available every week!
If you are using Instagram, please use the hashtag #ohscrap.
This is a party so remember to socialize and comment on the posts of others.
Following my blog is not necessary but it sure would be great if you do!

An InLinkz Link-up

Thursday, August 10, 2017

TGIFF - Licorice Allsorts Finish

Welcome to TGIFF! (Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday!)

I have been waiting for a special day to share my finished Licorice Allsorts quilt and today is the day!

I made this quilt following crazymomquilt's #junequiltqal. I knew as soon as I saw her sample that this quilt would be ideal for all of those black background scraps that I had piled up and never seem to use.
(I probably still have enough for a second quilt!)

I did make a few changes to Amanda Jean's instructions. I knew a lot of my strings were up to 3" wide so I decided to make my strip sets 6" x 12". I really am glad I made that change to the scale - it really fits these fabrics better. The other change I made was to the cornerstones. I decided to piece mine. When I increased the size of the strip sets, that meant my cornerstones were larger too. I felt a single fabric would stand out far too much - plus this way, I used more scraps.

That is always a big bonus!

One of my client's fell in love with this quilt before it was finished and offered to buy it. Because it wasn't quilted yet, she got to pick the fabric for the backing. She chose this mod print but there wasn't enough for the whole back.

I decided to add a giant strip set to the back. How is that for scale! I think she is going to love it. I believe she plans on picking it up this weekend.

It is going to be a hard quilt to give up! I am almost hoping she decides not to buy it....

Then it can be mine!

Thanks for stopping by TGIFF. I hope you have a finish to link up!

Please remember to visit some of the quilters that link up their finishes before you run off.

It is a great way to be inspired and maybe make a new friend! :)

An InLinkz Link-up

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Linking Up:

My Quilt Infatuation (Needle & Thread)

Confessions of a Fabric Addict (Can I get a Whoop! Whoop!)

Busy Hands Quilts (Finished or not Friday)

Sunday, August 6, 2017

Oh Scrap! : Scrap Dealer

I am the first to admit, I am a bit obsessed with scraps. To me, they are like a puzzle to be put together into a pretty product. Want to throw my daily schedule out the window? All it takes is for my "scrap dealer" to drop by with a new baggie of stimulant.

Recently, along with a quilt came a bag of leftover pieces of some brushed cottons. She warned me she had a terrible time with these fabrics. And as I quilted the project for her, I could see why. She thought maybe I should just toss them and not mess with them.

Hmmm. I admit, I felt the same way. The fabrics were amazing soft but they had absolutely no structure to them. But the pull of the challenge was just too strong!

I ended up using a LOT of starch (which helped some) and then decided to go to my stash and just add in some flannel horizontal strips to give the scraps a framework to hold them in place.

The colors in these fabrics are really pretty. And the finished quilt is exceptionally cuddly.
But these scraps about did me in!

I decided to just use up the rest of the fabrics on the backing and the binding.

I am curious if you scrap quilters are able to resist the siren song of a bag of scraps - even when your "dealer" warns you against them!

I obviously can't!!

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Share your scrap projects. Here are the details for linking up:

This linky party is for any scrappy project - It can be in-process or a finished piece.
You can link up your blog post (not your homepage please) or Instagram photo from the past week that features your use of scraps.
If you are linking to a blog post, I ask that you link back to my blog somewhere in your post. So if you are writing about scraps, just get into the habit of including a link as there will be a linky party available every week!
If you are using Instagram, please use the hashtag #ohscrap.
This is a party so remember to socialize and comment on the posts of others.
Following my blog is not necessary but it sure would be great if you do!

An InLinkz Link-up

Friday, August 4, 2017

Rainbow Scrap Challenge Finish

Last fall, I started making 6" nine-patch blocks with no clear idea of how I would use them. Then earlier this year, I decided to go back and frame them with some solid colored scraps.

Finally, in July, I determined I had enough blocks to complete a quilt. To make each block, I used black/white scraps and the appropriate Rainbow Scrap Challenge color for the month I made the blocks. So when it came to sashing and the border, I pulled scraps/fabric from my black and white stash.

I am sure this quilt will probably get donated to a local charity (like almost all of my RSC quilts). I played around with the quilting on this one. I simply created a vertical "helix" design that went quite quickly.

I was able to use one of the backings I stashed away when a great sale presented itself. I think it looks great with all of the scrappy colors in the quilt top.

This quilt went together REALLY quickly. It all came out of the scrap bin except the outer border and the backing. Now I am starting to sew up bow tie blocks. I have been working on more blue blocks which I hope to share soon.

Have a great weekend! Our crazy heatwave is supposed to be over so I am happy to see temperatures back in the 90's. This is Oregon - we like out moderate temps! :)

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Linking Up:

My Quilt Infatuation (Needle & Thread)

Confessions of a Fabric Addict (Can I get a Whoop! Whoop!)

TGIFF (Thank Goodness it is Friday Finish)
Busy Hands Quilts (Finished or not Friday)

So Scrappy