Can I make anything pretty out of this?
 

While helping my mother downsize last summer, we came across this box of fabric scraps that had been used by us both to make clothing during the 60's and 70's. I kept it because it seemed to make her happy to remember the fabrics and what we had made out of them. Her 85th birthday is coming up in January, and I'd like to make her a quilt out of these scraps. I have everything from corduroy to wool to double knits to psychedelic cottons. As a novice quilter, I can't look at this pile and "see" a quilt in it. Any suggestions as to what I can do with this? I'll need some big blocks and some small blocks in the pattern due to scrap sizes and pattern sizes. Please, I hope there's someone out there that is creative enough to help me with this pile of chaos. Thanks.

I am sure you will have answers from folks here...not from me, unfortunately. I always have trouble selecting fabric and patterns. I suspect some sort of scrappy idea might work. Well, wait, here is an idea. Cut 2 1/2 inch strips the width of the fabric, sew 5 together, cut into squares (I think that would be ten inch squares), then alternate the directions of the stripes, putting sashing between them. I did this several times and liked the results. Let me see if I can find any pictures.

Dina

Or alternate 9 patch blocks made from the smaller pieces with solid blocks of the bigger prints. Dina, your quilts are beautiful!

If the fabric were mine, I'd cut as many squares (starting with whatever the smallest size might be)... then group "like" fabrics color wise together. Think a fade, from pale to primary colors. Then bind it in a shade of blue that works with all the other colors. Don't worry about it being pretty. The memories associated with this fabric will be enough for your Mother.

Aside from the different fabric types (I personally am not a fan of using different fabrics, but I know lots of folks do all the time) I would suggest first separating them into lights and darks. Perhaps something simple like a log cabin, or barn raising done with HST's would work.

reminds me of a quilt I once made - appliqued butterflies. But pieced pinwheels would work also. My little girl loved seeing and feeling the different textures.

I love Dina's idea with the 2-1/2" strip blocks, but I would avoid using anything other than cotton fabrics in the quilt. With the other fabrics, you could probably make some coasters or some other little items with that fabric. Be sure to post pictures of whatever you decide to make. I'm sure it will be fabulous.

I think it would be very fitting making an X's and O's quilt out of these for your mother. The tutorial is on Missouriquiltco.com. What a wonderful gesture and memory for her using these fabric pieces in a quilt for her.

I think maybe a snowball block alternating with a 4 or 9 patch. Cool idea and your mother will love it, no matter what pattern you decide on!

I can totally see a beautiful scrap quilt from these fabrics. They tell a story and how wonderful it will be to have them all in one quilt!! I think everyone's suggestions are great and I really like Dina's ideas, which might end up being the easiest. Please share a photo when it's done!!

check out the chinese coin patterns----strips any width sewn in a strip one on top of another these verical strips can then be sashed---we used a light weight non fuseable vilene to sew the strips on this keeps them straight and stops the knits stretching

I think you have a good idea for her birthday. I would not mix the fabrics but you might use the corduroy for a lap quilt. Most older people like to have something soft to grab as a cover while watching tv or reading.

how about a 'crazy' quilt - these traditionally use any type of fabric

Dina, I love your quilts. I've bookmarked this post so I can come back to it later when I need to use up some of my scraps. Thank you.

A string quilt would take care of the cottons and lightweights .... I am inclined to use many different fabrics, my only rule is that I keep the weights similar. Large squares, strips are in order for the heavy fabrics. Rail fence is another pattern that can work. Crazy quilts can use mixtures but there's quite a lot of work involved (but they are addictive:)).

I would sort them first. Were they mine, I'd cut 2½" strips. Sew together 6 strips alternating dark and light. The mediums could be either dark or light depending on its neighbours. Then cut the strips into 2½" strips again. This gives you hundreds of little six-in-a-row squares (strips). Now you line up these new little strips from different stripsets, again alternating dark and light squares and sew together six strips to make a block of about 12". The blocks can be attached to each other with or without sashing or you can add some picture blocks or strips. Since the fabric represents clothes you both wore, it will take her on a trip down memory lane. You could also use short strips and even single 2½" squares if the pieces are smaller.

Would love to see how your quilt turns out. Enjoy the process.

Good use - love it!

You should pick out the cottons and use them. Courderoy and knits won't wash and dry the same, elliminate them from quilting fabric. Donate them to the resale shop.

Dina's quilts are beautiful.
You have gotten lots of ideas. I can't think of anything new. Very pretty fabrics.

I think the picture shown would work well. No matter what you do she will spend hours just looking and remembering. I am still sleeping under a quilt I made in 1958, I enjoy looking because it was made from my maturnity dresses and my son's first shirts.

I see you live in NE Texas. I would love to help you with this quilt.

I would use larger squares - 6 inches or bigger - so Mom could savor the memories of the pieces and items made from them. You could make a piano key border to use the same fabrics again.

I am sure if you move them around you will find a way to make it interesting. Love the quilt inspector by the way !

Thanks for the compliments on my quilts. You all make me feel good. :)

Dina

OHHHHH lots or pretty things. if you really don't find anything to do, mix them all up make some kids quilts and take them to your local shelter. that is what our quilt guild does. We have made well over 300 for the shelters and police for kids that get displaced from their homes. good luck on your new adventure

I can only echo everyone's ideas. I do love Dina's quilts. They do not look scrappy at all. Exceedingly orderly and pleasing to the eyes. Have fun with your project.

I would use ALL the fabric, no matter what it is, corduary, wool, jeans whatever....it is more a memory quilt than anything.....What is your mothers most favorite color, purchase a nice solid and use that as your neutral sashing.....
I personally think log cabin would not feature the fabric, something either like a simple nine patch or simple strips.
MSQC has a tute on a block that I think is from the 3 Dudes in Arizona....That is going to be my next quilt....it is pretty, simple but has a little style....IMHO

I like the simplicity of Dina's quilts, and having the solid sashing between the blocks, it keeps the quilt from looking too "busy" as could happen with a lot of other patterns. I too say go ahead and use all of the fabrics. I have used corduroy in quilts before without a problem.

Thanks, everyone for your ideas and encouragement. I like Dina's idea, except some of my scraps aren't long enough to make strips ( my bridesmaids dress scraps, especially, which I didn't even know existed!) Last night I was looking at www.epatterns.com and liked the lap quilt pattern "Flower Beds." It has 4 1/2" squares and 9x4 1/2 rectangles, and sashed all around. I think this would showcase the individual fabrics well. Would you look at this and see what you think? Thanks again.

Did you really mean this link or should it be.....E Patterns Central ???????
http://www.e-patternscentral.com/det...d=9131&cat_id=

Do a preliminary sorting. Sort by color. Or sort by type of print. Then lay your piles out so you can see what you have.

Oops, sorry! Yes, it's E Patterns Central. I'm embarrassed. Thanks for the correction.

Nothing to be embarrassed about, just wanting to make sure I was looking at the right web site....
I do like the simple strips look as that will really really showcase the fabrics and the sashing will combine everythin. IMHO

I love your "Boyd's Bear" in your Avitar. I collect Boyd's Bears and Cats also. Your's is so cute!!!!

Deborah, I like the Flower Beds pattern. I think it would work well. (Just so you know, you could make the quilt I made without making strips. In the first one, which is hard to see, some of the "strips" are made up of smaller pieces sewn together, and not all of the strips are 1/2 inch wide. I made that one out of scraps of all sizes when our guild had "grab bags" for us to take and create charity quilts from. All I had was a stack of very strange sized pieces of fabric. I sewed them together randomly...not really strips, and then cut them into 10 inch squares. I had to use my own white fabric for stashing, but that was allowed for that particular challenge.)

I was reading about scrappy quilts on another thread, and it sent me to quilterscache.com, to a pattern called Sunny Lanes. I don't think that pattern is what you are looking for, but it might be. I intend to make one like it, I think.

However, I like the Flower Beds pattern too. I may have to make it too. :)

Enjoy the process, whatever you decide...and I know your grandmother will love it!

Dina

I agree about not mixing the heavier fabrics with the thinner ones in the overall construction of the quilt, but if you do a scrappy quilt and really want to use all fabrics, how about using the thicker fabrics (the corduroy and the knits) for borders and/or blocks in the corners where the borders would meet? Good luck with your quilt. I'm sure your mother will cherish it!

I make a lot of memory quilts out of clothing. I use everything the people bring me in the quilt. Heavy or light fabric. Denim & silk ties altogether. I just but different thickness of fuseable webbing on the backs of the thinner fabrics. Have had no problem making them play nicely together this way. I agree that the flower beds pattern would work great for you & would be fast & easy.

[QUOTE=SandScraps;5624981]I would sort them first. Were they mine, I'd cut 2½" strips. Sew together 6 strips alternating dark and light. The mediums could be either dark or light depending on its neighbours. Then cut the strips into 2½" strips again. This gives you hundreds of little six-in-a-row squares (strips). Now you line up these new little strips from different stripsets, again alternating dark and light squares and sew together six strips to make a block of about 12". The blocks can be attached to each other with or without sashing or you can add some picture blocks or strips. Since the fabric represents clothes you both wore, it will take her on a trip down memory lane. You could also use short strips and even single 2½" squares if the pieces are smaller.

Would love to see how your quilt turns out. Enjoy the process.[/QUOTE

I did something like that with flannel from shirts of my friends late husband. I picked a solid that blended with those crazy scraps. I used 3 strips and added a strip of that color top and bottom. Then cut in blocks and alternated placement and use the color (red) as the first border. I also added a border of leftover squares cut from strips. I think it helped to hold thing together and kept it from being too busy. This is on line some where but I forget the name.

I agree. Crazy quilts are usually pieced from all kinds of fabric, and it would be really fun to make. You could assemble crazy blocks of whatever size you want, and maybe (or maybe not) use sashing between the blocks. Great opportunity to use the decorative stitches on your machine.