Last year, for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, I made string blocks. Some months I made a few and other months I made more than enough for an entire quilt with some left over. The width of the strings in each color bin, helped determine the size blocks I made so some months I made 6" and others I made giant 12" blocks.
All of the blocks I didn't make quilts out of, went into a project box.
All of the blocks I didn't make quilts out of, went into a project box.
Recently I put those blocks to use and made this fun quilt. I needed a few more blue blocks so it was perfect timing to finish it this month.
I kinda lucked out that the orange and yellow blocks were the same 10.5" size. I had just enough to make the center of the quilt (In fact, I think I had just two leftover orange blocks). It is hard to see but I used a striped fabric as an inner border to bring the center out to a size that would work for the next round of6.5" blocks. They are pink in this photo. I did have to make a few more this month to have enough for my layout plan. I had a bunch of leftover blocks made from 30"s prints that I have been holding onto for years (also 6.5") so I used them to colorwash this round....
because my plan was to incorporate the purple blocks I had in this round too. You can see the darker ones in the opposing cornier. I really like how it looks and it used up all the blocks I had in these two colors. I added another striped inner border - same fabric collection but this one was in turquoises and pinks.
The outside border was made by cutting some green and turquoise 12.5" blocks I had in half. This works great but you have to remember to orient the block correctly so they slant the way you want them. Cutting these blocks created some fun rectangles that finished off the quilt. To blend the blocks, I made a few more in fabrics in both blue and green shades. I think the quilts is about 75" square.
The great thing about rainbow quilts is pretty much anything can go on the back. I have been trying to use some of my older stash so I found a couple yard piece that was the perfect length. It is the dark paint spatter fabric on the outer edge. I sliced it up the middle and used the colorful floral for the center of the backing.
I really was surprised at how well it went together and how wonderful it turned out!
All from leftovers....
Happy Friday!
Linking Up:
If you love flannel on the backs of your quilts, I see Connecting Threads has moved some of their flannels to their sale section. In fact, they have moved over a number of fabrics. This is one of the places I pick up fabrics for my backings.
I like to have 4 yard cuts on hand in a rainbow of colors.
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42 comments:
It's a beautiful quilt. I love the pink/purple round and the striped fabric borders. You pulled everything together masterfully!
You nailed it-used up your pile of blocks and made a quilt to keep someone warm, a win win.
This is such a great quilt, happy and colorful and practical all at the same time. Cutting some blocks into rectangles was a slick move to continue the theme and use what you had but change things up just a bit.
Yes, you nailed it! So pretty! And I love that you had that striped fabric for the sashings. When I first looked at it, I thought you pieced that, too! A String Quilt is now on my To Do List.
You are an inspiration for making classy scrap quilts. I thoroughly enjoy reading all your posts.
This turned out so beautiful! I love it how when you're making scrap quilts the dimensions always seem to work out somehow as if you planned it
It is beautiful. The process delivered a sophisticated design with gorgeous colors and values.
Very pretty setting of your rainbow strip blocks--nice work hugs, Julierose
I love too how it turn beautifully, amazing work with strings! You have a great color placement feeling
Love it! No one would believe it wasn't planned to be like this from block one. It's amazing.
Hugs
Wow, that is sure pretty!
Another gorgeous scrappy quilt.
WOW, you made a beautiful quilt from spare blocks. Nice job. Thanks for sharing.
It's amazing what comes from a pile of scraps, isn't it? Wonderful how you've mixed and matched and come up with a beautiful quilt. Congrats!
Just gorgeous!! Lovely and creative rainbow string quilt. How nice to wrap up the RSC just as Kat is doing string blocks for CIL at the moment. You've got a great example for anyone wanting to pull together an entire top for her.
Hi Cynthia, that`s an awesome quilt. Looks really great! Love the colours and the cut up larger blocks on the edge look good.
What a great design! I really like the way you made all the different block sizes work together. And that backing is just perfect! Love it!
You came with a great desing. I love string quilts and now I want do make one like your. LOL Well done Cynthia!
You have such a great eye for put blocks and colors together. Congratulations on this beautiful, effective design finished quilt. I ♥ it. ;^)
Hard to believe this is a quilt made from left over blocks! It looks like it was designed to be designed to turn out exactly like this! Brilliant!
I usually just read but I had to comment, it’s so pretty in all its rainbowness!
Oh my goodness, that's gorgeous! That quilt stopped me in my tracks! It's just wonderful, and I'd love to try to make one someday.
That is beautiful! You have done it again. Made something beautiful from nothing!
What a beautiful leftover quilt. Your design decisions really made it all come together.
Oh my, this is fantastic. The rainbow colors, the colorwash effect, combining different size blocks. You've done it all. I started string blocks last year while away for two months, then never got back to them. You've given me inspiration to try again.
Pat
I love how creative you were putting this quilt together. It looks great.
Great to see the string quilt done! I love that you were about to fit in different sized blocks.
You'd never know these were "left overs". It really looks like you planned each block to get the finished quilt. Very bright and colorful. Congrats on a very pretty finish.
So pretty! I love how that striped fabric adds some extra pizazz to all the diagonal stripes! Genius! :-)
You just do the best things ever with leftovers!
Love the stripey borders - they really add a lot!
Soooo pretty!
Beautiful!!!!! It's amazing what you can do with leftovers! And the back is fabulous.
I love the idea of cutting some big squares in half for the outer border of rectangles. What a brilliant idea! Gonna steal it, um, I mean I'll be inspired to try this myself :)
Gorgeous quilts, full of life and color, Cynthia!
that is a great string quilt:)
I can't get over how beautiful this quilt is! I've been back several times to admire it! Your scrap quilts always inspire me, but this one is like a Siren's song!
What a creative way to use up string blocks - beautiful result!
This looks so nice Cynthia, the colours are really attractive and I love your layout.
I just love that scraps can be turned into such a beautiful quilt!
Gorgeous colour. Gorgeous quilt x
I love string quilts and yours is perfect. I like the way you kept the various color blocks together. The backing is perfect.
I just love how the different borders made this quilt so interesting!
I'm still catching up after my fight with the sewing machine needle, only just got down to your beautiful quilt, you must be thrilled to bits with this, so colourful reminds me of the multi-coloured sherbet lsweets we used buy as kids!
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