leaders and enders?
#11
It is kind of like making pieces for a bonus quilt as you sew. I just can't get into it because it takes my concentration off what I am working on and I don't need any more distractions when working on a project. I start seeing how my leaders are coming and before I know it I am over at my design wall and you know where that is going.
#14
However Bonnie Hunter came up with a plan which instead involved using pre-prepared scraps which would be seamed together in such a way that they can be incorporated into a quilt design later.
I use off-cuts smaller than 2.5 inch square (Hexie-size lol). Real scraps! I keep a jar of 1 inch squares, another of 1.5 inch. Every so often I'll have a cutting session in front of the TV.
They get leader/endeared into 2's. 2's into 4's. 4's go into 8's and then these into 16's. No thought required except I try not to have two the same fabric next door to each other. I don't bother to iron until I'm up to the 16 point. I also don't panic about seams nesting, the bits are so small they seem to match effortlessly.
Eventually I will have enough to make a postage stamp quilt, all from scraps too small to do anything with.....
If I remember I'll post a photo of the blocks so far later :-)
Cheers, K
#15
Super Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Central Wisconsin
Posts: 4,391
You are right DOTTYMO. You can use any scrap for leader and ender, or a spider, or a startie-stoppie. They have different names, but serve the same purpose. Chain stitching does the same, too. You just need a leader at the beginning of your chain, and you can cut that off and use the same piece as your ender when you finish with that chain.
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Tri-Cities, Washington
Posts: 757
It's hard for me to pre-prepare that much. Honestly. I have a few quilts going at all times and wishing I could start the next, but the leaders/enders thing is not part of that picture. I don't like cutting so much I guess, and that would be where I would have to put concentrated effort to keep up I think. I bought a new throat plate just for piecing with one hole instead of the wide slot and as long as I use that I don't need the spider or leader/ender piece, but I do love the little nine patch pieces that I saw. What a wonderful bonus!
#19
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: NoCal
Posts: 266
I like the concept of leaders and enders. I have had most success with using part of my current project (as described above) or just two inch scrap squares. I don't invest time in designing the leader and ender project. I cut 2 inch squares from fabric scraps as they accumulate then I pile them by the sewing machine and I now have a little over 100 nine patches that I will eventually make into a quilt. Otherwise these bits would be in a pile of scraps. It is mindless sewing.[ATTACH=CONFIG]558401[/ATTACH]
#20
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Utah
Posts: 8,847
Sounds familiar. I have quite a few Wonky Stars and crumb blocks that are waiting to be assembled into quilts.
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10-07-2011 04:58 PM