How do I use UFO Blocks?
 

So I am cleaning and organizing my sewing room, and in among the scraps, I have found some old UFO blocks from old quilts I and my daughter made......some 15 years ago. They have some great memories,,,especially the quilts she played with making and never finished (because she was a child). None of the match or blend or could ever look good together, so I am looking for Ideas on what to do with them. Anyone got any Ideas???????????????????????????

Can you make it into a sampler quilt??

I'm a fan of sampler or collage quilts, maybe you can get them to play nicely mixing them in with some neutral fabrics for filler. Or there's always my old standby--potholders LOL.

Since they have such great memories for you it would be a shame not to do something with them. If the ideas above don't appeal, maybe you could frame them or make a fabric scrapbook with each block being its own page.

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I used some orphan blocks to make a quilt with wonky blocks.
First, I added sashing to square up all the blocks to the same size.
Got the inspiration from DianeF here on the board.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...n-t268854.html

How about making some bags or totes using a block on each side. Maybe you have two that will play well together to do these

Add sashing, trim them to fit, and enjoy the memories.

I agree with MadQuilter - they are memories just like T-shirt quilts - who said they have to match.

How about making a Gypsy Wife quilt? It seems to me that almost anything goes with this quilt. Colors don't have to match since you add more fabric to the blocks. Just a suggestion .....

fabric boxes with the orphan block on the front. Perfect for storing all you other orphan blocks or more fabric!

Yes, I would set them with a neutral sashing into a quilt. Plain old white or light grey would make them look "modern!" Have fun.

Or just put them away and get them out to enjoy again later. Sometimes it's fun to go find things in one's stash that they haven't seen in awhile.

Enjoy.

If some of them are small, maybe make a wall hanging or two~~

How about making throw pillows?

You don't have to keep them exactly as they are. You could change the shape or size, either cutting to fit or with templates or patterns. For example, you could use them as part of either a Drunkard's Path or a Dresden Plate.

My thoughts exactly. Or you could put them on the back of quilts in ones or groups. If they don't blend maybe cushions with plain back.

I have put then in picture frames and use then as Art for my sewing cave.

Or, you could cut them up....disappearing nine patch style,mix them up a little...put with neutral sashing.

I like the idea of tote bags. But then use them for "gift" wrapping at Christmas time. You get to use them, save paper, and each will hold a treasured memory.

totes everyone loves them, especially your favorite charity.

This is what I usually do with mine. Or you could make table toppers or mug rugs.

Purses or tote bags would use some of them up. Either one on the front or one on the front and a complimentary one on the back. Use them for gifts if you have a bunch and don't need a bunch of purses or tote bags. Oops, others have beat me to the punch.
Sue

I was given a tip from the owner of our local quilt shop. She suggested using black fabric with tiny white dots as sashing around blocks of many different colors in order to bring them together. Maybe you could audition your blocks at the fabric store to see how you would like this look using any fabric that is black and white.
You may laugh at this, but my friend uses her ufo blocks to make tiny quilts that she uses between platters and casserole dishes in her cabinets so they won't chip. :)

When I'm done with my Gypsy Wife quilt along, I plan to tackle some of my orphan blocks, using them in the same manner.
Another option is to add them to the back of a quilt for her... she might get a kick out of having them incorporated into a quilt.

I also have orphans I should use and you gals have given me some ideas.

A white on black material is a good neutral for me when I am mixing blocks to make something unexpected. The darkness of the black seems to meld everything together and makes it look so modern.

I love the idea of the Gypsy Wife quilt using them. That way, you can make other smaller blocks and use some of those stripe fabrics that are the "What was I thinking" type of fabrics. http://www.jonesandvandermeer.com/pr...ypsy-wife.html

Why don't you post some pictures and let all these wonderful quilters help you position the blocs? It will be easier to make suggestions is we see the actual blocks. You could name the quilt, A Quilter's Journey.

Edited to add: Another suggestion....take pictures of any ideas you have where you actually place the blocks on fabric. This will let you look back and pick the best setting for you.

I use them to make tote bags or small zippered bags. Also, our church does pocket prayer quilts and a UFO block is perfect for those. I haven't read all the responses...pot holders are another. Or sew the square onto a kitchen tea towel for a hostess gift.

Frame and hang on your sewing room walls?

I love the pieced backquilt. Bonnie hunter has awesome backs with orphan blocks!

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_XYyxiBwbr4A/TS...ack%5B2%5D.jpg Carolina Christmas Front Carolina Christmas Back

Lots of good ideas expressed here. If you are sentimental about them, and it sounds like you are, I would do as suggested and find a neutral (or two), maybe frame in a narrow black and then a neutral, then make a sampler quilt. Setting them wonky, as suggested, is good if they aren't the same size. Good luck and please post pictures.

I make tote bags. They can be used as the 'wrapping paper' for gifts. If for a child, add a couple books. If for an adult, maybe some wine with crackers and cheese. Even a gift card bundled up in a large bit of tissue looks special in a small tote! I have even folded them in half and made a wine tote out of a UFO.

Sarah Craig at Confessions of A Fabric Addict shows a beautiful quilt that she made with orphan blocks.

Check out her post: http://confessionsofafabricaddict.bl...rphan%20blocks

She added scrappy strips around each block to make them the same size, sewed them together, and -- viola! -- a great quilt that anyone would be proud to own.

Sounds like you really have the makings of a memory quilt sampler. And there are no quilting police to arrest you for combining blocks that don't match or work so well together. And I'm sure she'd love a quilt of your shared memories. Something she could pass to her children and share the stories of time spent together creating beauty in the world. Maybe you'll inspire a future quilter!

I would definitely put them into a quilt. I would use some of the smaller blocks to build a larger block, out them as corner squares, incorporate them in the binding. The larger squares I would sash with varying widths of sashing so the blocks are the same size. I would go with either black or white for the sashing -- whichever color shows up less in the blocks.

I was thinking the same thing. That or make smaller projects with them like a wall hanging, placemat, table runner, doll quilt etc.

Ok, here are some pictures of my UFO Orphans. I have one of this:
http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1uejayqg.jpg
I have 10 of these 10.5" blocks:
http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/...psk9xnf0xw.jpg
I have spiderman fabric to match the spider blocks:
http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0rcaj2ji.jpg
Misc as is:
http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4lwacckl.jpg
A mug rug is a good idea for this:
http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/...pstqxzpuz6.jpg
Hope these pictures come through....Jane

Wow! It looks like you have enough blocks to make at least 2 sampler quilts!

The top block has 10 wedges, wouldn't it be fun to figure out how to put the 2nd set of blocks (you show 4, but your caption says you have 10)-- radiating around the first piece--- you could make a really cool modern quilt or large wall hanging using just those blocks.

Rob

You could add a small border and use for quilt labels. Or add a few into backings if you don't fancy making a quilt top out of them.

The batch labeled "miscellaneous as is" are all in similar color families, as are the two square blocks shown with your Spider-Man blocks. You could make a nice sized sampler quilt using filler strips to help you set the blocks. To do that first decide how you want to lay out the blocks, then cut filler strips to help in the construction process.

Rob

Interesting Idea........like a lily pad for the frogs? You got me thinking!

I love this idea!

Those are beautiful blocks. I hope you share what you've decided to do with them. :-) (I'm nosey and it might help me figure things out one day.)