My sewing room is covered in fabric, and I just don't know how to get it organised.
I have so many small pieces left over from cutting quilts, many of them less than half a FQ.
What do I do with them, how do I decide whether to store them or cut them into strips or triangles or squares? I'm completely undecided about how to tackle these leftovers.
I did used to cut them up into several sized strips and put them into the scrap drawers, but then I found I was sick of seeing them in each scrap drawer. And now I don't particularly like making random scrap quilts, so I don't want to go back to that. I'm thinking that I need to choose a couple of quilt patterns that use one size strip, and then cut everything up into that size.
I have two strip dies for the Accuquilt, and I love them.
All these 2" strips were cut in about 2 minutes; there are five strips of each fabric. All I had to do was layer the scraps and then send the die through the machine. It cuts 4 strips, and I can do 5 layers at a time comfortably, so that's 20 with each pass. It certainly is a quick way to deal with all the leftovers.
I am planning several quilts based on 2" strips, and this is one of my favourite blocks ever.
I've already made several quilts in this pattern, but I love piecing it, and the cutting is a breeze. I like the fact that it takes two main fabrics, putting the colour combinations together is pure fun.
I have 3 blocks finished, 8 blocks kitted completely and loads more pieces cut, so this project is well underway. I still have to decide how to use the scrap pieces that I don't want to cut into strips, and there are plenty of them. Maybe I will choose a triangle die and cut them into a bazillion triangles for an Ocean Waves or a Pine Tree quilt. Decisions, decisions.
7 comments:
I know the feeling. For years and years, I cut mine into 2" and 2-1/2". However, now I like to put the fabric away, stacked by color. It's much easier to have a small piece already starched ready to cut into the size I need it for. Especially since I change my mind so often about what to work on. I've finally given myself permission to work less and decide later.
Does the block have a name?
This is a fabulous idea. Love that block! Would love to know the name of it. Can't wait to see what it becomes. I love having blocks kitted up, ready to sew.
What a wonderful block! You'd have a quilt made up in no time with all those pieces!
I too would love to know the name of that block! Do you start with a 9 patch, then add the corners? About sorting leftovers-I like to keep all scraps less than a fat quarter sorted by color, but not chopped up any smaller. I never know what size I might need, and having 7-9 small tubs, each with a different color group is just as space saving as having the same number of bins of different sizes - and less work when cleaning up from a project!
Nice block, looks complicated to me, but I guess the middle is just a nine patch, is that how you start making it? Another question....do you leave the corners like that and add one square or do you put triangles in the corners?
Yep, I too have all these left over pieces, that I need to do something with. One of those "gunna do" projects!
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