U.B.E.'s
 

I know I'm not the only one who has amassed some single quilt blocks - the ones that just don't quite work so you set it aside because God Forbid we throw anything out!

I did a jelly roll race quilt, and decided I didn't like the colors chosen, or the way they fell together, and hated it so much I just folded it and put it away, thinking that maybe perhaps someday (yeah, right), I would cut it in half and have 2 donation baby quilts.

However, I've instead decided to take all of my homeless blocks and combine them into one big Ugliest Blanket Ever (called UBE, which rhymes with ruby).

I have 2 projects to finish before beginning on this, and as I type, I just remembered 2 more projects in the queue (every time my Pastor mentions to take care of the Man of God first, I always remember his quilt that's not even done yet after 2 years... :(

So I don't know when my UBE will become the truly ugliest blanket ever, but am I the only one with this idea? What do you do with your unpurposed blocks?

When I make a block I don't care for I put in the orphan block bin. When I need a fast utility quilt, I sash the blocks with a solid color. I always think the quilt looks pretty good when I'm done.

Our guild made a car cover (actually a van cover) with leftover blocks. http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...rs-t22705.html

I throw them away, along with small scraps of fabric, and empty spools and other sewing stuff.

I have a whole sack full of UBE's. Was just looking at them this weekend wondering what I could do with them...guess it could be a "sampler" quilt...LOL ...

Yep. That's what I'm doing with my QAYG quilt. You will see half of a star block, many halves of bento boxes, various 9 patches, some paper piecing practicing (I couldn't throw them away--horrors!) and some various leftover blocks (like the patriotic baskets). I decided to just add fabric around them to make them about 16" square and then trim them wonky. It's not particularly pretty, but it will be just as warm and while not PRETTY, it's "INTERESTING". It would have been esp. interesting if I had done interesting quilting. But I'm just getting to that....in my skills set.

Wow very interesting. I guess I know what to do with all the blocks I have piled up now. Thanks for sharing.

That is so cute!

I think your quilt looks really great!

I would try and see if you can locate a copy of "Setting Solutions" by Sharyn Craig.
This is one of my favorites. It has innovative ways of setting a bunch of disparate blocks to make it look like that's what you planned all along. It also has ideas on setting blocks that didn't all turn out the same size, such as thoseyou may have received in a block exchange.

http://www.amazon.com/Setting-Soluti...s=sharyn+craig

Your UBE might surprise you and become a gem after all. My blocks will come in handy when I want to practice FMQ. Not sure if it will be a QAYG or just a bunch of scrappy block sandwiches. Who knows, those might become potholders.

I put mine in the closet in The Box That Shall Never Be Opened. I love the covered car--I probably have enough to cover a city bus!

I take orphans and put them randomly on the backs of quilts for extra surprise

You know, I don't have any orphan blocks. None. I don't know why people do. I only make as many as needed. I guess I should make a couple extra on every quilt and then I could have enough to make a couple of sampler type quilts at the end. Good idea!

This is realy funny. My board name is UBE!:D

I have started making hand bags from my orphan blocks. I've sold several.

Could sew them all together and call it an "I Spy" quilt for quilters. LOL "I Spy" a log cabin block, etc.

I really like this idea!

I love your quilt.

This is really a great idea. Mine tend to end up as potholders and make wonderful gifts - especially for non-quilters - after a FMQ practice run.

I have sent mine to a board member that puts them together with other "orphan blocks" and she makes quilts for returning veterans.

Good idea.

I made a tote bag with one, and my church lady friends and I are making walker bags/wheelchair bags.

Mine are all in a bag in the closet just waiting on me to throw in the next one. Someday, I'll take them all out. Organize them in such a manner that I'll have a giant Dear Jane. hehehehe!!!

????? THROW THEM AWAY????? Oh Wow! I even have problems throwing away small scraps! I am better at that now since our guild encourages us to use them in beds for the pet shelters!....but a whole block? Or blocks? I just couldn't do that!

That's not half bad! It will be just as warm and cozy as any other quilt you've made.

There is a book called "Setting Solutions" by Sharyn Craig that offers a lot of possibilities. It is on Amazon with a "look inside" feature.
http://www.amazon.com/Setting-Soluti...I1X8OVULIC1P4E
I was able to check out a copy from my local library.

I used a lot of my extra blocks to make bedroom curtains.

I think that quilt is pretty. Looks like a scrappy to me. It will still be warm whether you think it is ugly or not.
I only have a few orphan blocks, not enough to do anything with, yet.

You can always bind them and make mug rugs... Don't much care for the sampler look, myself.

For that jelly roll race top that didn't pan out, you can cut it on the diagonal, or in strips running perpendicular to the fabric strips, and then piece it back together in interesting ways. Lovely diamond shapes can be created from diagonal cuts, or bargello from the perpendicular cuts.

My Mother had an orphan block from nearly every quilt she made. My sister appliqued them to a neuutral fabric backing and now has a beautiful memory quilt

Our United Methodist Women had a quilt display at a recent tea. I made pot holders from my orphan blocks and they were given as door prizes.

I used them to decorate some of my reuseable grocery bags. Get quite a few questions like "where did you get that"?

I love orphan blocks. I always create some to try out a new technique or to have teaching samples. They never go to waste, as most of them wind up as tote bags. Please send me your unwanted orphans!!

You could always use them to have an 'orphan block swap' with your guild!

Some one in my first learn to quilt class had a suggestion (I don't think it was the instructor) that I've used over the years. If you are trying a block for size or technique or anything but color, use colors you really like or CHRISTMAS colors - you can never have too many Christmas quilts! I've sashed for sizing and placement, done set in triangles etc. Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of Christmas quilts -- but I've got a couple of tops in red, green, white, gold etc.

mine go into scrappy quilts. Sometimes I chop them up first and put a segment into each of several blocks. some go into potholders. One of my favorite purses was from 2 very different orphan blocks.

Nooooo, some one could use them!

I really like your quilt...

I just save mine and then one day something comes to my pea brain and I make a quilt using some of the blocks ..

Luthern World Relief is collecting quilting items and completed quilts for those in need. You can just call a Luthern church for more information.