mixing 2500 plus 2 1/2" sqs
 

Help! I for some unknown reason decided to make several quilts out of left over Christmas fabric. I already had some cut in 2 1/2 sq so (why oh why) I thought that sounded like a good size. So far have cut approx 2500 squares. My question is how do you mix the whole batch up well so that I don't grab the same thing when I reach into the bag. Just so you know I have a terrible time making that kind of scrappy quilt. I am forever second guessing which color should go next. The colors range from FUN bright colors to darker more SERIOUS colors. WHAT have I gotten myself into!!! Quilts to be large lap size somewhere around 50" by 70". Thanks for all suggestion given. I know you girls will have some idea of what to do.

I heard at some time in the past that someone put their pieces in the dryer for just a couple minutes. The tumbled just long enough to mix all the pieces up. I would not tumble too long for fear of fraying the edges. Good luck and I so look forward to seeing your scrappy quilts

I'm working with 1.5" squares right now, I finally picked out some by color and put them in paper bowls. Still totally scrappy but I'm not riffling through the box of cut squares, squishing and unraveling. It is working very well. When the bowls get about 1/2 used, I refill from the big box,

For a bit of control you could even do all green 4 patches, etc so it won't make you completely dizzy looking at the quilt :)

I separate lights and darks into 2 bags, grab one of each and sew them together. That way no picking the same two pieces.

Cari

I suppose if you are making more than one quilt you can put the fun, novelty prints in one quilt and the sophisticated prints in another. Sometimes scrappy quilts are not totally random. I like to use a unifying color as a sashing or a consistent light color for a background of scrappy stars, for example.
Or add other elements besides the 2.5" squares. One example is combining a 16-patch block of 2.5" squares with a pinwheel block. Another example is combining a 25- patch block of 2.5" squares with either a snowball block or an eight pointed star. It gives the eye a place to rest, and can form a chain effect.

this is what i do, too, but not in bags, just in open bins.

I have never been able to do a completely random scrappy. I put my squares or strings in piles by color, then rotate among the piles. I don't agonize over each piece, but use just a little judgement to alternate values and colors as I go through it.

I wish I had your problem....I would love to have 2500 2.5" squares. I am making a 2.5" scrappy now, but I have to cut . cut, cut

I'm getting a panic attack just thinking about 2500 totally random squares being sewn completely random, guess scrappy isn't for me! Sorry I have nothing constructive to add.

[QUOTE=Jane Quilter;7626662]I wish I had your problem....I would love to have 2500 2.5" squares. I am making a 2.5" scrappy now, but I have to cut . cut, cut[/QUOT]

Jane I have been cutting off and on for weeks. I think I cut close to 150 tonight. I know I will have to cut more. A few of my friends have said they would check their scraps for more Christmas fabric. Most of what I have cut is all mine. Some only a very few sqs and some a couple dozen. I cut strips, stack up to 6 and cut sqs then. It still takes forever and my back can only stand and cut for an hour or so. Of course first I have to press the wrinkles out of the fabric. I had better love these quilts when I finish! Good luck with yours' Need any more fabric? I have quite a stash but not much yardage. I am always willing to pass some on.

My favorite quilt of all time was the one on the bed at my grandmother's house. It was a postage stamp with 1/2 by 3/4 inch finished pieces. I was told there were only two that were allike. Of course I would fall asleep before I found them.

I do the same as others, divide into light and dark and place in a 2 gallon plastic bag. I pull from the bag about 30 at a time and eliminate duplicates by throwing the duplicates in an open plastic tote. Just the 30, not the entire bag. So when I sew, I know at least my block doesn't have duplicates. Once I go thru the entire bag, I rebag them and start over. Whatever size block I am making. When I sew the blocks together, I don't worry about the closeness of like squares because they are divided into a checkerboard pattern. So two of the same whatevers are corner to corner not side to side.

I do this too. You might want to do a Google search on 2.5" square quilt patterns and see what you like. I made this from a bunch of leftover charm squares.

I did the same thing with my daughters Burgoyne Surround in a scrappy. Cut the squares into 1.5" squares, put them in a paper bag, gave it a good shake, pulled out one square at a time. My only rule was I could not have the same colors side by side, so one change was allowed, just reach back in and grab another. Here she is, 1" finished squares!!
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When I'm doing scraps, I mix everything up in a box as if I was folding batter, making sure that pieces cut in layers get separated. Then I take small handfuls to use as 'piles'. Grab one scrap from your original big group and match it with pile #1, big group- pile #2, etc. when one pile is empty I make a new pile that moves to the back of the pile line. Hope I explained this well enough

I like the random effect of the paper bag method, but I found that my pieces would get creased and some wouldn't lay flat when I tried to sew them.

These days as I am cutting for a scrappy project, I deal out pieces into 5 or 7 piles like they were a hand of cards. Each pile then will get cut a few times and then stacked altogether. This gives me a fairly random order from which to pick fabrics but the pieces still lay flat.

Saw this done on Simply Quilts years ago. It was a challenge with well known quiltmakers. Can't recall the lady's name. She put all her scraps in a bag and reached in without looking and sewed together whatever she pulled out. If you pull a matching square, just throw it back and pull another out. Her finished quilt was beautiful. If you are interested, I can try to find it to see what episode it was. I think I have it on tape....but pm me so I don't miss you. Ellen

Good luck. Sounds like a fun project. I've got scraps cut. Have been working on a postage stamp quilt for the past several years....on/off as I collect 1.5 inch squares. I've been doing blocks of 10x10....same color, if possible. To date I have 73 big squares done:)

Good advice. I think that about 900 2.5 inch squares are needed for 50 by70 quilt

I would cut those fabrics into 2 1/2" x 18 or 22" strips and sew a light strip to a dark strip. Then cut your strip sets at 2 1/2". Those 2-patches are easier to work with and you'll never notice that you sewed 9 identical 2 patches in the finished project!

Yep, this worked for me too (light & dark in separate bins) when I made my postage stamp quilt. I really enjoyed working with 1.5" stamps, 2 1/2" should be a breeze.

Good luck!

This is pretty much what I do too. I just match 2 that are a combo I like. Then when making foursies, set 2 pairs that I like together and sew them. Eventually they all get used up. And blocks that look ugly really do get transformed when they become a part of the whole. I REALLY have to remind myself of that.

Hey Twisted. Did you post your finished PSQ? I would love to see it. I haven't been sewing on my PSQ (1.5") but have been sewing my 2.5" charms together as leaders and enders. There is a quilt in these some day.

Hi Havplenty. I can't believe it but I finished making my postage stamp top in 2014, and still haven't finished it! :eek: You can see it here: http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...p-t247805.html

If I don't complete it this year, I might have someone finish it for me. It deserves better than to be sitting in an UFO pile.

I'm a big fan of totally scrappy so I can't offer any advice other than what's already been said. However, I have a lot of Christmas fabric and would be happy to send you some if you need/want it. PM me if you want any.

wow, that is gorgeous, thank you for sharing

Please DO NOT put your squares in the dryer!!!!! I read a similar tip before I began a triple irish chain with 1 1/4 finished squares..... I had to then sit and trim ravels off over 3000 little squares before sewing! Not fun!!!! It has taken me 3 years to get this one done because I was so frustrated. I knew if I ever put it away I would not finish this one ever. So I spent a lot of time not sewing at all. They were not I the dryer very long at all either.