Lots of misc blocks I want to put into a quilt, need help!
 

Hi everyone, I have quite a few misc. blocks that I want to incorporate into one quilt, just want to use them so they don't go to waste. Since they are all different sizes and shapes, how do I square it up, to fill up the spaces inbetween the blocks. I want to zig zag the blocks so they are scrambled in the quilt, not position them in rows. Any suggestions on how I do this?

I once did a quilt with antique blocks of varying sizes by adding log cabin strips to make it the size I wanted. I had very small blocks I arranged together by adding small sashing to meet size requirements. Alternate solid colors, maybe repeating colors from the blocks, in squares may help you. For zigzag, I can't seem to visualize that. We did a quilt in a quilt class where we sewed columns beginning with a full sized block and the next column with a half block ending w another halfblock and thus avoiding matched corner seams and it sh accomodate different size blocks and if necessary adding strips to make uniform sized blocks at least to the widths.

yep add sashing strips or very small squares or some small half square triangles or four patches to fill in where needed.You should lay them out and see what is needed. mark them on grid paper if you can. it helps visualize.

Several years ago our guild did a raffle quilt from a variety of blocks that guild members made. Putting it together was kinda like doing a jigsaw puzzle, but it really turned out nicely. We made lots of filler units - half-square triangles, four patches, flying geese, checkerboards, to make everything fit together. If you want to avoid set-in seams, come up with a standard measurement, maybe 18" and make either rows or columns that size. If you stagger where the blocks are with the filler units, it won't look like rows.

Here's a photo of the finished quilt. I have others on my blog in Feb. 2010.

Andi

Wow! I really like your quilt. Inspiration!

i like andirs idea and quilt depending on the blocks you have and tbe fabrics used you might ant to find a pleasing pattern layout and go from there if u post a pic of the blocks peop,e can give better advise.

Thank you for the ideas. I'll play with it and show a picture when I complete it.

http://quiltinaday.com/theater/egg/egg13.html

Eleanor Burns did a sampler with several sized blocks. This is the video where she puts them all together. In a nutshell, she adds solid background squares to make it work, then you can put a quilting motif in those blocks when you quilt it. Have fun and post pics when you get yours puzzled out.

That is one beautiful quilt!!!Thanks for sharing.

My sister-in-law gave me a bunch of miscellaneous blocks. I laid them out in rows on a bed, then filled in with solid pieces to make sort of a row quilt.