Only One Way For This Year to go!!

If you know me, you know I have a love for scraps and selvedges.  Well, that leads me to my ONE.  There is only one way I want this year to go, the one year of scraps!! So I created this bag, the front is made of selvedges, one block, that can be read one way!! 

I pulled out the one bag of scraps from my last selvedge quilt to use one focus fabric.  But then I thought it needed a little more.  Next up, came the One box of Kaffe Scraps that I knew would blend right in! 

I quilted up a panel made from scraps with the same color as the focus fabric. Then used some scrap batting to sandwich it and quilt it with straight lines.  Added a vinyl pocket to one side with a zipper. 

Then a big pocket on the other for the pattern or pricked to go in.  I kinda now regret I didn't add a closer, but now that's a lesson for the next one!  My big one project done and on to the next one!!  Made for project quilting challenge one, 2023! 

Kaleidoscope Scrap Pillow

I started this week with another quilt and what is going to turn into a big project. I had a few bins full of scraps I used the accuquilt to cut up from a quilt last year.  I knew there were pieces I could turn into flying geese.  Well, I liked what I was doing soo much that now it’s going to be a big project and I had to find a new one.  So that turned into me seeing a book I had on the counter by Lori Holt.  Kaleidoscope Quilt.  

     The Kaleidoscope block has 12 flying Geese, so it fits this weeks Project Quilting Challenge. I went to my scrap pack cabinet and saw a bag of old Lori Holt Fabric from 2011.  So I knew it would be perfect for this! 

I used the big block that came out as 16.5 inches.  Then added a 2.5 inch strip around.  After sewing it up and making a false binding, it comes out to fit a 20 inch pillow perfectly! 

Quilted it with a plain wavy line pattern.  Then backed it with a dot variety from the collection.  I think it’s called Daisy Cottage. 

Took the photo on my front porch where of course it’s covered in the spring pollen.  But it kinda matches the mustard in the center.  Now it has me wanting to finish using up this collection I held onto.

Project Quilting Challenges done for the year. Already can’t wait til next year!! 

Scrappy Repetitive Star

I had 2 goals this week and they kinda  took every moment I had.  The first was to make a quilt for a coworker who is moving and second was to use up scraps.  This weeks challenge for Project quilting is repetitive.  

The Swirling Star Quilt pattern from Fat Quarter Shop was on my bucket list of quilts to do.  Yes, to also use scraps.  The pattern is a repetitive scrappy star in 2 sizes.  So of course it was perfect.  

I decided to use the Accuquilt to cut it.  So instead of the pattern sizes, I used the 6 and 12 inch Qubes.  The only bad thing is this quilt ended up huge. 72x72, but the accuquilt made cutting fast and easy. 

The quilt is made of 18 blocks.  12 small, 6 large. Honestly a fast chain stitch quilt. I went outside my box again and used pattern fabric in a lot of my whites. 

To finish it, I pulled out my big piece fabric bin. My eyes were drawn to this black and gray checkered fabric.  Since it’s black and some of the fabric on the front is white, it gave me the perfect chance to use my black, gray and white Aurifil thread. 

I straight stitched it and put this cute sweetwater label on the back.  This quilt is going to a friend who I work with who is moving back home.  I am kinda glad it ended up big, it will be sooo useful!! 

Looking at this quilt. I love seeing all the fabric that I used in other quilt.  Add the old fabric others toss away and don’t want anymore.  The ugly ones that others don’t want. They each make a scrap quilt perfect!! 

We took these photos at the Brewington Church outside of Manning. On a little road trip with my friend Teri. Her Aunt and uncle were married there years ago. The church when we looked inside had an old buck stove.  Such an awesome part of history being kept up!! 

Zipper Bag Scrapping

This weeks group of Zipper bags!! I sewed some strips cut off from old projects together. When they reached over 12 inches, I turned it into a bag!! This was the first one.  

I lined it with a coordinating brown batik.   

Made another and connected 2 long scrap strips. Straight line quilted both of them. 

Backed both with a cabbage flower looking material. 

Love how these both turned out!!! And my batik bin looks better!! 

Scrappy Martha Stillness

    

 Another year of Project Quilting has begun. This time, unfortunately it started with a week off work with Covid.  But that’s another story. So the Challenge this week is “All The Colors”.  With a little extra time, I knew I could make a full size quilt. 

After a few minutes of thinking and the scrap cleaning mood I was in.  I knew what I was going to make. A few weeks ago I committed to pattern test a quilt for a friend. She used yardage, but my new idea used simple scraps. Her pattern called Martha’s Stilness is an Accuquilt friendly pattern by Beaquilter. So off to pulling abd cutting I went. 

Each pinwheel block inside the stars are a lighter color.  The Darker print is the star. So I pulled out each color scrap bin and cut the blocks out to make 12 sets. This process actually went by very quickly.  The slow process was cutting all the scraps up for the background.  I sadly have too many scraps and lots of small pieces.  The Accuquilt makes these go by quickly. I only used the most of 3 extra big pieces. Yep, the clean out felt good. 

Then I chain pieces all the blocks. The pattern went together super quick.  Part of the reason I reason I love Beaquilter patterns. The entire top went together quick. Then I laid it out to pin…, Well then I found an error. 

  So it sat for 2 day, I wasn’t feeling good and did not feel like touching it.  Last night I decided it was time to take it out and finish it. So I stayed up late, unstitched, rest itches and quilted away. Forever. 

    Trish, the theme lady for Project Quilting, showed her work with Rainbow thread for quilting.  I bought a spool of Aurifil last year on clearance and knew it would be perfect. I straight line stitched the outline of all the stars. Then did swirls in all the white.

Then I knew the stars needed something to tack them down.  I came back and did loops abd swirls in the white anc black in the star rows. This quilting took a bit. But turned out alright.  Not too sure on the loops. 

I took a poll of friends and binded it in black. Again. All scraps!! Making this quilt 100% scrap. And yep, didn’t change the thread and quilted across in the rainbow. 

The backing is almost the end of a large piece I was given a while back. I love using discount, thrifted on given pieces as the backing.  And of course the green on the back, I also used on the front with scraps!! 

Put another Sweetwater label on the back and yep, this is a finish.  I already decided it’s a goodbye gift for a coworker who is transferring!  

Here is a link to Beaquilter patterns.  We have bounced off each other for about 10 years. Her patterns cut out with Accuquilt Quickly and go together Quickly! 

     

Scrap use up Project Bags

     I was distracted midweek and honestly did not feel well, so I started going thru my quilt room cleaning a little. The scrap bin for batiks was one of the first things I hit up. The bin was rolling over. 

So I took out all the cut off half square triangles. Turned a lot of them into 2.5 inch squares and laid them out. Made this little piece.  

My sons girlfriend liked it, so I asked her what color to go with it. She picked Orange. So I picked another orange out of my scraps. It happened to be in the piece!!  Made a top and a back.  

The inside. Some cheap batik I bought years ago. Thought this would be a good way to get rid of!! Yep, I can’t waste, but love getting rid of what I have in a project! 

I used the Sashiko to quilt it down.  The machine did not like the thick seams of the fronts.  But did really well on the back plain fabric and batting. 

This was an easy sew. Ended up about 11.5 x 14. Put one of my cheaper cute labels on it and there’s another Project Quilting, All the Color finish!! 

And then I made another.  All scraps from a like 7-8 year ago Project Quilting Challenge. Love the fish on the back!! May keep this one! Yep, that means 3 projects done for this challenge and a few scraps cleaned up! 

And the backs!! Love these! Easy sew! No real pattern! 

American Flag Shirt Quilt

I started this quilt with my Guild group, way back in June or July. It’s a copy of one I saw on Jo’s Country Junction. We all collected shirts and cut them and sewed them.  The hope was to make a few quilts for Quilts of Valor and a few quilts for a few of us.  

The realization though, was that this was a lot of work!! I probably bought 20 shirts and others bought 20 more!  I know as of now we have completed 4 tops and are piecing 1 more.  Then started scrapping some of the leftovers to make what I hope is a few smaller nursing home quilts. 

Honestly, this quilt to make with shirts, takes a large variety of shirts and lots of cutting.  We did figure out early how to chain piece most of the blocks.  100s later, I am tired of them! 

This quilt is a really big quilt and takes over 250 of these little block sets.  That’s over 1000 pieces in total.  Sadly, we made a big mistake and did not realize in the beginning that the whites were directional or that the white stripes really needed to read as white.  So we had to buy and cut up a few more shirts!! 

Then it honestly takes a full day of seeing to lay out, piece and quilt this top. As in probably a full 12 hours. 

I used my new Sashiko machine to quilt the top. The machine mimics hand quilting.  I did one set of stitches down each row.  I originally thought I was going to do white stitches. But then there was red thread in the bobbin.  I decided I really liked it! So I finished out all the stitching in red! Love it! 

For the binding, I used some woven cotton.  This helped with the flow of matching the binding with the shirts in the top. Strategically planning where the red and blue was located on the quilt. This is my first time doing a split binding to match color sections on a quilt! It made me love it a little more!! 

Of course I am on the right track again with labeling all my quilts!! Love these sweetwater labels.  I may have to start writing the year on them! 

I usually don’t keep many of my own quilts. Truly, I give away about everything I make.  But I decided it’s time to decorate my house abd use some of them myself.  This year, I have kept more quilts instead of giving them all away!! 

So this is another Luthridge finish!! Now to get motivated at home!!

I thought this was the perfect cotton field quilt. The crips of America, picked blossom by blossom to firm our country. The shirts worn by the hard working men of our country!  I am so proud of the work of the men of the past! And I love the crops that built our land!