I'm working on a Buckeye Beauty quilt, and it requires over 1000 squares. My question is, what would be the best way to get this done.

Questions:

Do I just cut squares until I'm tired and then divide into light/medium/dark, or cut in groups, e.g. light, then medium, then dark.

Since I need over 1000 squares, how many of each should I cut from each fabric, or does it matter?

Right now I'm just cutting whatever fabric is in the bin. If it's a scrap and I can only get one square, that's it. Bigger pieces I'll cut 4-5 squares.

Suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I would just cut 250 in the light, medium and darks to start with. then lay them all out and see which you should cut more of. this way it gives you a starting point. post a pic when you got the cutting done and layed them out and we could always help you decide which you need more of.

If I was cutting that many, I would probably be bouncing all over the place LOL
My thought is this, will you KNOW what a light/medium really looks like, before you get them all cut? To my eye, these can change until I get the rest cut and layed out. Or they can change depending on what other fabrics I put with them in the block.
So I guess I would cut a bunch, knowing I made need to cut a few more of one or the other once I get to piecing the blocks :D:D:D

You are soooo right! I was having trouble determining if some were medium or dark, or light or medium. I was really feeling pretty dumb. :roll:

Great idea to lay the blocks out, and then test the questionable blocks to see where they would go best.

Everyone's suggestions about laying out your fabrics are great! If I were considering this project, I would find it a good reason to invest in a June Tailor Shape Cut ruler, especially if they are all small squares.

Good for you to attempt this. I would go crazy!

I think I'd do as Sahm4605 suggested cutting out 250 Sqs. and doing a layout from the assorted shades and see how it looks before deciding which shades and colors you need more of. Don't panic, cut one sq. at a time and ask us for help if something doesn't look right.

Happy to help...Andie :-D

Sounds like a plan.

Thanks!

You couldn't pay me to do what you're doing!! If I can't strip cut I won't do it!!
Good luck to you :D

100 down, 900+ to go! :thumbup:

I had to look up what a bucheye beauty was. It's great! I saw so many variations here : http://quilting.about.com/od/blockof...ye_block_4.htm Keep us posted!

There is a red plastic (acrylic?) tool to help check values. It is like a rectangle or square piece of red plastic. I'm not sure if it is called a value finder or what. I had seen it on a quilt show one time (maybe Georgia Bonesteel's Lap quilting, or Fons & Porter's show). You might check at a LQS or maybe an art supply store.

I am working on a quilt that has over 2500 pieces and I broke it down into batches. I cut the fabric for 12 blocks at a time, made the blocks, then did the next 12, etc. for the 48 blocks.

Facing cutting out that many pieces is a daunting task! I'd break it down into parts or sections.

I just looked at the Buckeye Beauty link and realized that I was looking at one in the Connecting Threads catalog tonight. I would do strip piecing with that, like a strip of white sewn to a strip of blue, then cut them into sections to make the blue/white squares and sew two sections together for the 4-patch block. Of course, if you're doing all different fabrics/scraps then that wouldn't work.

I like what you're doing now - cutting from scraps, and cutting as many squares from each scrap as you can. Don't stress it and don't try to "control" your scraps; just use what you have, and don't worry if you have more of one fabric than another. My absolute favorite quilts are those made from a mish-mash of fabrics, which is what it sounds like you're doing. I can't wait to see the finished product! :D

When I did my avatar quilt, I cut out approx enough for four squares - 128 2" squares of each colour (light & medium) and the 96 of the medium & dark squares.There was a total of 30 squares, so there was alot of cutting. I would sew these together, and by then I was willing to tackle the cutting again. I will admit, there is no easy way, just alot of patience.