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#1
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OK, you've finished the quilt, now what to do with the scraps? Have fun!
It's done, it's beautiful...the quilt you finally finished! But, what do you do if you have scraps and blocks left over? If you have nothing, or very few pieces left, congrats, you estimated your fabric requirements perfectly! If you have a smidge left, just cut them up into squares or strips to use on your next scrap quilt. However, if you have a bunch of fabric leftover: say, several blocks that were too small for the main top, or a huge swatch of fabric that you fussy cut your quilt's motifs out of and now you're left with "holey" fabric....what can you do with it? I've learned how to have fun. Forget patterns...you can piece any which way you want. With my leftovers, depending how much I have, either I make a large, large pillow for a coordinating backrest (26" square) to the quilt, a lap quilt or doggie quilt. No pattern whatsoever! You don't need one. Start with all the larger "good" pieces and decide whether you have enough for a lap quilt (say, 50" x 60") or just a smaller pillow. Readi-made pillow forms come in a variety of sizes. Cut the "holey" fabric around other motifs, as large as possible, if they're slightly "cut off" it doesn't matter, just cut them all out the same way so you have a pile of them. Arrange all the fabric scraps into like sizes. On a counter, start with the large pieces or blocks, and then add here and there the smaller scraps where-ever they "fit". I try to make things semi-symetrical, if I have 3 good blocks left I'll do 2 on the top, and one center in the middle under it. Then just fill in till you have a mini "top" (pillow, lap or doggie). The emphasis is on "NO PATTERN", you just piece with what you've got. If you can do a lap or doggie size top, I recommend just getting a high loft batting and tie it off. For a pillow, just put more pieces into 2 overlapping rectangles for the backing so that you can insert the pillow form easily. It doesn't matter if it "matches" the main quilt, as long as the fabrics are the same it matches! Then, when you're done, you'll really just have a few "scraps" good for your scrap pile, and really....another quilted item to keep or give away! This method is fun because you just piece-as-you-go! The dog will just love his/her new quilt if it's fluffy, you'll like looking at it, it'll be washable, and you'll have something to remember those great fabrics you used on that other quilt. ~Monique (quiltkitty) |
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#2
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QUILTKITTY wrote:
It's done, it's beautiful...the quilt you finally finished! But, what do you do if you have scraps and blocks left over? If you have nothing, or very few pieces left, congrats, you estimated your fabric requirements perfectly! If you have a smidge left, just cut them up into squares or strips to use on your next scrap quilt. However, if you have a bunch of fabric leftover: say, several blocks that were too small for the main top, or a huge swatch of fabric that you fussy cut your quilt's motifs out of and now you're left with "holey" fabric....what can you do with it? I've learned how to have fun. Forget patterns...you can piece any which way you want. With my leftovers, depending how much I have, either I make a large, large pillow for a coordinating backrest (26" square) to the quilt, a lap quilt or doggie quilt. No pattern whatsoever! You don't need one. (You can also hack of a square and send it off to be part of a HUG quilt) Not that I've ever done that. -georg who planned the borders of the HP WHs to make blocks with the extra. |
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#4
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i was just going to say,
how bout for every quilt you make, make one extra block and send for the next hug quilt request that the colours match up with. most are 6 inchers so one 6 inch or a 12inch even is the same as 4 x 6inch so will easily fit in the quilt somewhere. pretty typical size blocks too. can we ever have enough blocks for those hugz that give someone so much pleasure and warmth in their time of need... jeanne -- http://community.webshots.com/user/nzlstar real reply is san-fran at ihug dot co dot nz "georg" wrote... | QUILTKITTY wrote: | | | It's done, it's beautiful...the quilt you finally finished! But, what do | you do if you have scraps and blocks left over? If you have nothing, or very | few pieces left, congrats, you estimated your fabric requirements perfectly! | If you have a smidge left, just cut them up into squares or strips to use on | your next scrap quilt. | | However, if you have a bunch of fabric leftover: say, several blocks that | were too small for the main top, or a huge swatch of fabric that you fussy cut | your quilt's motifs out of and now you're left with "holey" fabric....what can | you do with it? I've learned how to have fun. Forget patterns...you can | piece any which way you want. With my leftovers, depending how much I have, | either I make a large, large pillow for a coordinating backrest (26" square) to | the quilt, a lap quilt or doggie quilt. No pattern whatsoever! You don't | need one. | | (You can also hack of a square and send it off to be part of a HUG | quilt) Not that I've ever done that. | | -georg | who planned the borders of the HP WHs to make blocks with the extra. | |
#5
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That's a great idea. I think i'll do that, too....hmmm, my head is spinning with
ideas tonight... -- Jalynne - Keeper of the Quilt for ME club list Queen Gypsy (snail mail available upon request) see what i've been up to at www.100megsfree4.com/jalynne "nzl*" wrote in message ... i was just going to say, how bout for every quilt you make, make one extra block and send for the next hug quilt request that the colours match up with. most are 6 inchers so one 6 inch or a 12inch even is the same as 4 x 6inch so will easily fit in the quilt somewhere. pretty typical size blocks too. can we ever have enough blocks for those hugz that give someone so much pleasure and warmth in their time of need... jeanne -- http://community.webshots.com/user/nzlstar real reply is san-fran at ihug dot co dot nz "georg" wrote... | QUILTKITTY wrote: | | | It's done, it's beautiful...the quilt you finally finished! But, what do | you do if you have scraps and blocks left over? If you have nothing, or very | few pieces left, congrats, you estimated your fabric requirements perfectly! | If you have a smidge left, just cut them up into squares or strips to use on | your next scrap quilt. | | However, if you have a bunch of fabric leftover: say, several blocks that | were too small for the main top, or a huge swatch of fabric that you fussy cut | your quilt's motifs out of and now you're left with "holey" fabric....what can | you do with it? I've learned how to have fun. Forget patterns...you can | piece any which way you want. With my leftovers, depending how much I have, | either I make a large, large pillow for a coordinating backrest (26" square) to | the quilt, a lap quilt or doggie quilt. No pattern whatsoever! You don't | need one. | | (You can also hack of a square and send it off to be part of a HUG | quilt) Not that I've ever done that. | | -georg | who planned the borders of the HP WHs to make blocks with the extra. | |
#6
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QUILTKITTY wrote:
However, if you have a bunch of fabric leftover: say, several blocks that were too small for the main top, or a huge swatch of fabric that you fussy cut your quilt's motifs out of and now you're left with "holey" fabric....what can you do with it? This is one of the central mysteries of quiltmaking. I make a quilt. I plan it. I choose the colors carefully for each block. Each part of the quilt is a masterpiece both individually and in relation to the glorious whole. I match up the points. I pay attention to ironing so the seams nest. I pin. I rip out the parts that didn't come out right and redo them. I use a calculator to make sure I get the border measurements figured right. I have a design board so I can examine my quilt in progress from close up and far away. I call in friends because we all love considering and rearranging. I end up with a huge box of scraps. That's blocks that didn't make the cut, pieces leftover from the end of the strip, half square triangles that didn't fit in the block, fabrics that were close to the right color but that didn't look right when all was said and done, math errors. I take the scrap basket and sew everything together willy-nilly. I pay no attention to pins or the direction of seams. I just take any 2 pieces that are close to having one side the same size and sew. I trim away the excess with wild abandon. I sew everything into oddly sized blocks. I supplement with charm squares from my collection. I square everything up, slap a border on it and machine quilt. THAT quilt always comes out better than the planned one! The planned quilt gets compliments like "nice work" and "pretty fabrics." The odd leftovers quilt gets compliments like "Wow! creative!" and "can I have a picture for inspiration?" I haven't sold many quilts, but the few I have sold have been the unplanned ones. I figured they weren't very good so I had more nerve to put them in the shop or donate them to the fundraiser. Will someone please explain this to me? --Lia |
#7
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chaos!! the one rule of the universe
we all love that which proves whatever that theory is bout chaos. jeanne -- http://community.webshots.com/user/nzlstar real reply is san-fran at ihug dot co dot nz "Julia Altshuler" wrote... | QUILTKITTY wrote: | | However, if you have a bunch of fabric leftover: say, several blocks that | were too small for the main top, or a huge swatch of fabric that you fussy cut | your quilt's motifs out of and now you're left with "holey" fabric....what can | you do with it? | | | This is one of the central mysteries of quiltmaking. | | I make a quilt. I plan it. I choose the colors carefully for each | block. Each part of the quilt is a masterpiece both individually and in | relation to the glorious whole. I match up the points. I pay attention | to ironing so the seams nest. I pin. I rip out the parts that didn't | come out right and redo them. I use a calculator to make sure I get the | border measurements figured right. I have a design board so I can | examine my quilt in progress from close up and far away. I call in | friends because we all love considering and rearranging. | | I end up with a huge box of scraps. That's blocks that didn't make the | cut, pieces leftover from the end of the strip, half square triangles | that didn't fit in the block, fabrics that were close to the right color | but that didn't look right when all was said and done, math errors. | | I take the scrap basket and sew everything together willy-nilly. I pay | no attention to pins or the direction of seams. I just take any 2 | pieces that are close to having one side the same size and sew. I trim | away the excess with wild abandon. I sew everything into oddly sized | blocks. I supplement with charm squares from my collection. I square | everything up, slap a border on it and machine quilt. | | THAT quilt always comes out better than the planned one! The planned | quilt gets compliments like "nice work" and "pretty fabrics." The odd | leftovers quilt gets compliments like "Wow! creative!" and "can I have a | picture for inspiration?" | | I haven't sold many quilts, but the few I have sold have been the | unplanned ones. I figured they weren't very good so I had more nerve to | put them in the shop or donate them to the fundraiser. | | Will someone please explain this to me? | | --Lia | |
#8
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I give my scraps to a local school. These days they have hardly anything for arts
and crafts. Its greatly appreciated. Tamara QUILTKITTY wrote: It's done, it's beautiful...the quilt you finally finished! But, what do you do if you have scraps and blocks left over? If you have nothing, or very few pieces left, congrats, you estimated your fabric requirements perfectly! If you have a smidge left, just cut them up into squares or strips to use on your next scrap quilt. However, if you have a bunch of fabric leftover: say, several blocks that were too small for the main top, or a huge swatch of fabric that you fussy cut your quilt's motifs out of and now you're left with "holey" fabric....what can you do with it? I've learned how to have fun. Forget patterns...you can piece any which way you want. With my leftovers, depending how much I have, either I make a large, large pillow for a coordinating backrest (26" square) to the quilt, a lap quilt or doggie quilt. No pattern whatsoever! You don't need one. Start with all the larger "good" pieces and decide whether you have enough for a lap quilt (say, 50" x 60") or just a smaller pillow. Readi-made pillow forms come in a variety of sizes. Cut the "holey" fabric around other motifs, as large as possible, if they're slightly "cut off" it doesn't matter, just cut them all out the same way so you have a pile of them. Arrange all the fabric scraps into like sizes. On a counter, start with the large pieces or blocks, and then add here and there the smaller scraps where-ever they "fit". I try to make things semi-symetrical, if I have 3 good blocks left I'll do 2 on the top, and one center in the middle under it. Then just fill in till you have a mini "top" (pillow, lap or doggie). The emphasis is on "NO PATTERN", you just piece with what you've got. If you can do a lap or doggie size top, I recommend just getting a high loft batting and tie it off. For a pillow, just put more pieces into 2 overlapping rectangles for the backing so that you can insert the pillow form easily. It doesn't matter if it "matches" the main quilt, as long as the fabrics are the same it matches! Then, when you're done, you'll really just have a few "scraps" good for your scrap pile, and really....another quilted item to keep or give away! This method is fun because you just piece-as-you-go! The dog will just love his/her new quilt if it's fluffy, you'll like looking at it, it'll be washable, and you'll have something to remember those great fabrics you used on that other quilt. ~Monique (quiltkitty) |
#9
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It may be that all the careful planning makes for a *tight and nervous*
looking quilt and the unplanned one is full of joyous abandon. In a quilt perfection doesnt seem as important as the fun. I wonder if most of us get to hung up on the 'perfect' color choices, and perhaps that makes for less than vibrant quilts. Its not that they arent beautiful, but there is no suprise in them. Thats my theory anyway. Diana -- Queen of FAQs Royal Peace Maker http://photos.yahoo.com/lunamom44 "Julia Altshuler" wrote in message news:Hd3Kb.220989$8y1.875725@attbi_s52... QUILTKITTY wrote: However, if you have a bunch of fabric leftover: say, several blocks that were too small for the main top, or a huge swatch of fabric that you fussy cut your quilt's motifs out of and now you're left with "holey" fabric....what can you do with it? This is one of the central mysteries of quiltmaking. I make a quilt. I plan it. I choose the colors carefully for each block. Each part of the quilt is a masterpiece both individually and in relation to the glorious whole. I match up the points. I pay attention to ironing so the seams nest. I pin. I rip out the parts that didn't come out right and redo them. I use a calculator to make sure I get the border measurements figured right. I have a design board so I can examine my quilt in progress from close up and far away. I call in friends because we all love considering and rearranging. I end up with a huge box of scraps. That's blocks that didn't make the cut, pieces leftover from the end of the strip, half square triangles that didn't fit in the block, fabrics that were close to the right color but that didn't look right when all was said and done, math errors. I take the scrap basket and sew everything together willy-nilly. I pay no attention to pins or the direction of seams. I just take any 2 pieces that are close to having one side the same size and sew. I trim away the excess with wild abandon. I sew everything into oddly sized blocks. I supplement with charm squares from my collection. I square everything up, slap a border on it and machine quilt. THAT quilt always comes out better than the planned one! The planned quilt gets compliments like "nice work" and "pretty fabrics." The odd leftovers quilt gets compliments like "Wow! creative!" and "can I have a picture for inspiration?" I haven't sold many quilts, but the few I have sold have been the unplanned ones. I figured they weren't very good so I had more nerve to put them in the shop or donate them to the fundraiser. Will someone please explain this to me? --Lia |
#10
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I use pieces down to 3/8" square, so all I throw away is lint,
practically. Yes, I am certifiably crazy :-) |
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