Scrap-A-Palooza! Quilt #17 Part 4 Finish

Have you been wondering if I was ever going to finish this quilt?

I am the first to admit that I don't fall in love with every quilt I make.  And from the beginning, this quilt never really made me happy.  

But I didn't give up on it!

I started out wanting to use up some black and white fabric chunks I had in my stash.  I decided to also pull some leftover solids - there are crossweaves, peppered cottons, kona and shot cottons in the mix.

I sewed and sliced and sewed some more until I came up with this block.  I really didn't love it but I thought it had potential!

This project still fought me when I laid it out on my design wall.  I really thought I was going to have to admit failure.  But eventually a quilt top did come together.

I really didn't like it much and was secretly relying on the quilting to save this project!

Well, here it is all finished!  And it is starting to grow on me!!

I am fascinated by the colors (kinda eclectic), the subtle 3D effects and the contained chaos it evokes for me.

This quilt is being donated to an organization that provides comfort items to kids in crisis.  I hope it finds its way to an older child that will love it to pieces.

 For the quilting, I simply did some boxy line quilting.

A shaded black and white print from my stash (it looks gray until you get close) and more blocks on the backing.  I finished it off with a solid black on the binding.

A wonderful quilt all ready for a new home!

This is my first quilt being linked up with Quilts in the Queue for the 100 Quilts for Kids event.  I have participated for a couple of years now.  It is a great event and you have until the end of September to finish your quilts.  So there is still lots of time to make a quilt yourself!

Need ideas?  There are lots in the Scrap-A-Palooza Quilt Gallery.  Just grab your scraps and pick a project.  They are all fast and easy!

Linking Up:

My Quilt Infatuation (TGIFF)

Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Fabric Frenzy Friday

Richard and Tanya Quilts

Crazy Mom Quilts
Quilts in the Queue 

Oh Scrap! : Scrap-A-Palooza Quilt #17 Part Three

The scraps have been flying lately in my sewing room!  As soon as I find some time to get some quilt tops quilted, I will have lots to share!

 

Today, I am just going to have to share my Scrap-A-Palooza quilt top with you.

Sorry about the poor lighting but I finished this one up really late Friday night.  I really quilted myself into a corner on this one.  Here's the story...

If you recall, last time I shared the progress on this quilt, I had decided to use my scraps and make this framed block.   It fit the criteria for using the scraps I wanted to sew up and it was kind of fun to piece.

In no time at all, I had 24 small blocks sewn up.  I decided to sew them together and make these giant 4 patch blocks.  After making a few and viewing them on the design wall, I really did not like how they looked when I placed them next to each other.

I started playing with them on my design wall and came up with this layout using 4 of the giant blocks and 4 half blocks.  I liked how it looked but when I tried to place small blocks in those open spaces, I wasn't happy with how it looked.

  

"Ah, a new design opportunity!"

I remembered in a bag somewhere in my sewing room I had some small strips of black and white fabric.  I was determined to find them and use them up.

So I gathered up the bits and pieces on my cutting board and put together these blocks to fill in the spaces.  I could live with how they looked!

Now for many of you, I am sure you started to question a few steps up how I was going to sew this top together.  For me, it wasn't until I placed my blocks on the design wall and went to sew up that first row.  

"Brilliant Cynthia!  You are going to get a lot of practice on partial seams tonight!"

What can I say, it was late....

I certainly hope I am not the only one that finds themselves asleep at the wheel and creates a ton more work for themselves!

As you can see from the first picture, I did get the top all finished and I even came across some sewn blocks that will fit nicely on the backing.



I hope to get it quilted up soon.  I am planning on finishing this one up as part of the 100 Quilts for Kids drive.  I have a few more I want to donate so I had better get crackin'!

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How about you, what have you been making with your scraps!

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!

<a href="http://quiltingismorefunthanhousework.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg54Z8EyMCoCg0j1sBoz_APBotiRQveh32vQoL2dCSO4nQFAi8du60IuUCQp3Hb18vGD8IrM0W6_vmuufImGcr4Pf2Ve2dNIWd5LbQJfyDTRjtcekT6coT7c2nSCOG_9dvjiKGVAnuTN70/s1600/Oh+Scrap+Button.jpg" alt="Quilting is more fun than Housework" width="125" height="125" /></a>

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

Scrap-A-Palooza! Quilt #17 Part Two

Just to refresh your memory - for this Scrap-A-Palooza quilt, I am using up some black and white prints and some leftover solids.  I didn't really have a firm idea in my mind what this quilt was going to look like so I thought I had better come up with my final block design and share it with you.

 I have quite a few more scraps of the black and white that are not shown in this picture.  Many are long strips and smaller chunks.

 First, I just decided to sew a bunch of the strips together into an 8" block.

I found these blocks not very inspiring...

 And when something isn't working for me, I get out the rotary cutter and start slicing!

 I swapped around some pieces and sewed them back together.  I like this a whole lot better!

I decided to trim them down to 6 1/2".  

I just used the 45 degree line on my ruler and squared them up. 

I then cut 1 1/2" and 2 1/2" strips from a solid and framed them.  I do like offset blocks!

Next I just need to sew a bunch of these blocks up so I can start playing around with a layout.  I think I will also add some solid white and black strips into the centers.  I know I have some scraps of each.

Now that I have a plan, I realize I only need to cut my initial strips at about 7 1/2", which gives me plenty of play when squaring up the blocks. Don't want to waste any of those scraps!

These blocks will finish out at 9".  I think I will sew up 42 blocks and see what I can do with them.  At that point, I can decide on the next steps.  Of course I will share what I come up with!

Don't forget to link your scrappy projects up with Scraptastic Tuesday over at She Can Quilt.  There are some pretty cool projects being shared!





Linking Up:

Sew Fresh Quilts

My Quilt Infatuation

She Can Quilt

Scrap-A-Palooza! Quilt #17 Part One

I get asked quite often how I come up with all my scrap quilt ideas.  I thought today I would share how I find my inspiration.

I know many quilters spend countless hours online looking at quilts or play with pad and paper or a software program like EQ7 designing up quilt blocks.  While I do spend time doing all of these, my real inspiration comes from a pile of fabric.  Once I hold fabric in my hand and see the sizes of the pieces, a quilt will start to form in my head.

When I go to my fabric for some Scrap-A-Palooza inspiration, I tend to start by identifying fabric that no longer fits in its storage location or a piece of fabric that is no longer loved and needs to go.  I then just start digging around for other pieces that go with it.  During this process, usually something forms in my mind and I come up with a plan.  

My next Scrap-A-Palooza fabric pull started with the black and white fabrics.  As I sew up my RSC15 blocks, I am left with pieces that are too small to use.  Some of these pieces are only about 3" wide and I am sure I have other scraps that are even smaller.  I really want to get these out of my stash.

I love to see bright colors paired with black and white prints so at first, I was pawing through my color bins to see what inspired me.  Then I thought - Aha!  This is a great project to use up some of my smaller chunks of solids.  I have learned the hard way to not mix different lot numbers on solids so when I start a new project, I like to start with a large piece of yardage.  So this leaves me lots of leftovers.  

Perfect for a project like this one.  

I really loved these turquoises with the pinks and purples so these will be my color palette.  What will I do?  The black and white prints are mostly long and narrow pieces.  Some are very small chunks, others are the width of the fabric. To get the best yield, I need to use these in smaller pieces and keep it scrappy.   The solid pieces are almost all width of fabric chunks.  So I know I can have multiple pieces of each color.  So I am thinking I will do something scrappy in the center of a block with the prints and frame them (somehow) with the solids.  

Now I just need to start playing - I will soon share what I come up with!

How are you inspired?

Linking Up:

Sew Fresh Quilts
Freshly Pieced  

My Quilt Infatuation
Prairie Sewn Studios