Last night I was reading through some quilting blogs and I came across this neat tutorial on how to use up scraps and leftover pieces from blocks. The writer calls the blocks she created Mile-A-Minute blocks because you can whip a good many up fairly quickly. So this afternoon I decided to give it a try. I needed something a bit mindless to do and this fit the bill. In about 90 minutes (maybe less) I had 19 blocks done. They are super scrappy.. no doubt about that! I cut mine to 6 1/2".. so I will need to make quite a few more before I have a quilt.

I now have a box with scraps and strips for these.. and another box with strips etc. for the Heartstrings project blocks. Nice to have these set up so I can just grab one and do a bit of mindless sewing when I want.

Here is the how-to tutorial:

http://quiltingisstillmypassion.blogspot.com/2007/07/mile-minute-blocks-photo-tutorial.html

Barb

Here are some pix... Barb C

Very cool!! I love mindless work!!! As a matter of fact, it is what I'm best at!!! :lol:

Great idea! and just what the doctors should order. :D

barb c , i just love this scrappy look. it's allso the very best way to finish off some of those scraps.

I have never seen this before. Your right a great idea. You can do these when you are debating what to start next.............or the kids would love it

thanks :D :D :P

thank you for sharing that. as my scrap stash builds, now I know what I will be doing with it!

Very pretty, I'll have to check that one out one of these days, scraps I have scraps! :D

Hi Barb, I am glad to see the directions on the "Mile a Minute" quilt. My scraps multiply at night when I am sleeping. never will use them all up. A couple of yrs ago I put them all in a very large garbage bag and took them to my guild in Fl. when I was down there. They had a ball picking out what they wanted . But this quilt will also be a good way to get rid of those leftover pcs. Thanks Marge

Barb C,

Thank you for the great idea. BUT, I believe you were in my scrap box because I recognize some of your fabrics. Actually, mine is purged with my five 4Hers want to dig. They believe this box is a gold mine.

Can I tell you about my five little ladies (one - first year[8]; four - third years [10,10,11,11]). We had 4H Youth Fair this week. All five got blue ribbons. Two of these were Reserve Grand Champions, and another was a Grand Champion. The other two have been Champs in previous years. We were all excited with our finish.

The first year made a wall hanging from four HSTs, and two borders. The fourth year ladies made the Ohio Star pattern with one border, into a pillow. There projects area all handquilted. We did all of this in nine meetings and also made up our display for the fair.

Love my girls. Suzanne

Finaly a way to use all the odd size scrapes I have. Like most of you there are a lot I think I have more yardage in my scraps then my stash

What a great use of leftover or what-was-I-thinking fabrics. I have made some string quilts but will give this one a whirl.

piney

Congratulations! You have every right to be proud. I would love to see some pictures.

What a great idea! Thank you so much for sharing. I'm hoping this winter, I'll get a chance to use up all my scraps.

Thanks again,

Barbara J/NYC

Barb thanks so much for posting that website. That is a very good way to use my scraps.They are just sitting in a box.....waiting. LOL. I love the scrappy look.

[quote=live2teach]That is a very good way to use my scraps.[quote]

That is what I am doing. I have about 60 of them made. Aiming for 100 this week. They go fairly quick and are definitely easy!

Barb C

I had a huge bag of fake-fur scraps from kids costumes, etc. It was all good quality fur fabric, so I made a quilt almost like this. It's fantastic! I put a light batting, black flannel on the back, and it's one of the kids favorites. Those little scraps are a fun challenge to work up, and the projects are unique and fun. I like how yours turned out with scraps. S.

Thanks for the link to the site.

Did you see that the quilter/author made over 1000 blocks (making numerous Crumb quilts).

On the right hand side of her blog click on Crumb blocks to read all her posts about the blocks.

This does look like fun. It also looks like it could be 'an organized scrappy' quilt...something I like better than just 'scrappy'. May try it in June at a machine that sitting all alone and not used.

I'm always looking for a way to use scraps!!

Thanks for the link. Great idea.

I've made many MaM blocks - I think it was Carol Coski at Quilt-A-Way in VT that started them many years ago.
I cut mine 6 1/2" but always on an angle, not straight.
I've sashed them with multicoloured-striped strips cut horizontally.
One of these days I'll get them out of my UFOs and make up a quilt top.

I love these blocks. I'm making string blocks so use the trimmings from those for the crumbs. I love scrappy & these are fast and fun. I cut mine at 8 1/2" since I like bigger blocks.

Barb, thanks so much for posting this link!! I also seem to have a LOT of scraps!!! :D:D
And I love scrappies !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I start out with two squares a lot of the time and do it like log cabins

One year I made more than 600 mile a min squares cut 9 1/2. All red, white, blue and sashed with navy blue. Turned them into quilts for the Alpha Omega Vets and they loved them. I always make RWB quilts for them, this year my guild helped me. I cut 31 jelly rolls from my stash and they made the tops. I then cut the borders, they added them, I quilted them on my long arm and they bound them with striped fabric. We turned in 33 with labels from the guild and they were over the moon.

I saved all the scraps so the year I am back to mile a min using all those RWB scraps. Can't wait to get my room cleaned up and organized again so I can start.

Lu in TN