Happy Tuesday! It’s quilt your stash day! Throughout the month of January I’ve
done quite a bit of organizing for the new year including some cleaning and
list-making. I’ve also decided how best to work my stash sewing into my schedule and chosen some scrappy projects I want to make this year. I’m actually really glad I took a month to do this instead of jumping right into a project. But now that the month is coming to a close I’m ready to get sewing!
As I’ve thought about my goals of using my stash and making scrap quilts this year, I’ve realized that my grandmother’s love of scrap quilts has really made a huge impact on my quilts. One of her favorite quilts was her charm quilt made with half-square triangles. She saved bits and pieces of every project and also collected scraps from friends to make this quilt. She knew exactly how many pieces were in her quilt, and she also knew there were two, but only two, of one of the fabrics: the rest were all unique.
But this quilt wasn’t made quickly…it was made over time. And I think it’s important to remember this year as we sew with our scraps and our stash that a lot of scrap projects won’t be “quilt in a day” projects.
But since I do want to get a lot of scrap sewing done this year, here are some of my favorite tips for accomplishing a lot in the sewing room:
- Always have something ready that you can pick up and sew. This can be handwork or simple machine sewing. I’ve really tried to do this over the past few years, and it’s really helped. You can accomplish a lot in even ten minutes if something is ready to work on without any preparation needed.
- Utilize the “leaders and enders” method of scrap sewing. This entails having something quick and simple to sew at your machine as you begin and end your regular sewing. By sewing scraps together at the beginning and end of chain piecing other projects you can get a lot of extra sewing done in just a little extra time. (For a great explanation of this method read Bonnie Hunter’s ideas on Leaders and Enders).
- Try to sew something every day…even if it’s just a little bit!
These ideas have really helped me get things done!
I want to leave you with a few thoughts from Scrap Quilts: The Art of Making Do which has some really wonderful ideas. Author Roberta Horton states, “Ofttimes I’ve admired a scrap quilt only to discover that I didn’t like some of the fabrics used in it.…It’s important to understand the relationships between fabrics. They don’t all do the same job within a quilt or a block. Some are there to catch our attention….Some form a contrast so we can better appreciate the beauty of another one.” I’ve come to understand this too…I don’t have to love every bit of fabric in my quilts as long as I love the quilt as a whole.
So gather those scraps…and get ready for a fun scrap quilt tutorial next week!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Susie Hoover says
Bonnie Hunter's method of using leaders & enders to make a scrappy quilt and use up scraps is ingenious. I started her 2014(?) challenge and am still adding to it. This is a great way to make a quilt while not really thinking about it and plus uses up your miscellaneous scraps!
Shasta Matova says
That is a beautiful HST quilt. I be tyou could look at it all day examining all the different fabrics in it.
Charlene S says
When Bonnie came to our guild, I was not a scrap quilter! Now, however, most of my tops are very scrappy. Change is good!
Janet says
Great tips and thoughts again. I'm motivated to make a scrap project now too 🙂
Janet says
Great tips and thoughts again. I'm motivated to make a scrap project now too 🙂
Hildy says
Love your HST quilt the triangles look perfect! I currently have a lot of my Farmer's Wife block scraps laying around (finished ALL blocks for the one quilt and only need 11 more for the B&C quilt:-) and figured I should do something with them. On then on friday I stumbeld over this http://temeculaquiltco.blogspot.de/2016/01/circa-2016_22.html and decide to use some of my scraps for it. Don't know if I follow the whole time or decide midway that now I have enough and make my own version but I think it's a good start.
Needled Mom says
I love the look of all of those HSTs!
Lara B. says
Your grandmother's quilt is amazing Sherri! I hope to start following your advice on getting more accomplished.
Lois says
I was sewing leaders and enders for quite a while and then stopped – a timely reminder for me. Love your work:))
Leeanne says
I enjoy reading your posts. Your mothers charm quilt is just that: Charming! I am a busy long arm quilter, but I do try to make time for my quilt making, scrap quilts are my fav!
AnnieO says
Sewing every day, even for a few minutes, does add up! I need to do some lengthy cutting sessions to have various projects ready to stitch on when I have a few minutes.
Robby H. says
More and more I am drawn to scrap quilts. Not surprising I guess since I am all about color. Friend never understood that I could walk through a store n a few minutes and announce there was nothing good on the racks. If it isn't a color I love, I just don't care! Scrap quilts = more to love, and see in a whole new context.
OPQuilt says
So glad to see Roberta Horton quoted–she's one of my heroes. And great advice for not "hating" the scraps, but welcoming them into the sewing room with a purpose!