Question for today is: What size is considered a crumb?
 

Hi all,

How many of you ever made a crumb block quilt?
I have never made a crumb block quilt. So, I would like to make a crumb block quilt.

1. What size is considered a crumb?
2. How do I sew these crumbs together in order to make a block from them?
3. How big are crumbs blocks?

Do anyone have a good pattern for a crumb block quilt that you have made or any pictures of your quilt?

Thanks and have a quilty day.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]607031[/ATTACH]
This is a 'crumb' type quilt. I used many very small pieces, some larger than others. They were attached to a long strip, with a gap in between, cut in the gaps, more small pieces sewn on, some of these attached to long strips and cut again. Each small square about 6 inches, and several months of scraps used to make this quilt. Completed as a QAYG quilt.
The photo was too large to upload, so I have reduced/cropped it, and not sure how it will turn out in this post.

here is the only one I've made that I might consider a crumb quilt, though for me, I would consider peices less than 1" as crumbs. Anything larger is just a regular scrap to me.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...psk2oyws9h.jpg

I had cut my scraps into strips and larger squares, and then used everything left over for this. I sewed smaller peices together to create bigger pieces, and then sewed them together until I had it large enough to trim to 8.5"

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...pslfahf2at.jpg

Your picture is fine and I'm glad you could show it! What a great quilt!

You crumb quilt is lovely! I'm currently working on a crumb quilt myself, using crumb blocks that are 6-1/2 square and hope it turns out half as nice as yours.

I think a crumb is anything smaller than you would find useful, so it can vary from person to person. For someone who likes to make big block quilts of applique, anything smaller than 12' might be a crumb. In my case, I like to do scrap quilts, so anything that cannot be cut into at least a 2"square or a 1x3" strip is a crumb. Anything under 1" gets chopped into confetti to use as filler for pet beds.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]607053[/ATTACH] I sewed all sizes of fabric scraps together, cut into 8 inch blocks then used black in between them.

Hmmm . . . this thread is making me want to do a crumb quilt! What a good use of scraps!

I cut all my scraps into squares and strips, and store them in drawers. I don't do "crumb" quilts or string quilts, and for me, that's anything smaller than 1.5" (my smallest cut square or strip). Those get thrown out.

That is a great looking quilt, really like it. As you are sewing the fabric scraps together, do you press the seams open, or to one side. Then when you are assembling the 8" block, how do you handle the seams, just let them fall where they may?
Thanks, and your quilt makes me want to try one.

Any piece smaller than 1 1/2” square is a crumb to me.

JustAbitCrazy I would not mind taking the ones off your hands that you throw out.

Your quilt is so awesome. What does QAYG stand for? Thanks for showing your quilt and the block size and pieces size you used.

Thank you Jeanne S for a size to use.

sandy I thank you for asking this question. I was wondering also.

Teddybear Lady your quilt is also awesome. Thank you for showing use.

JJBlaine thank you for letting use know what size blocks and crumbs that you use. I find every ones information very helpful.

Macybaby, thank you for showing us your crumb quilt in all these bright colors of a crayon box, the sizes you use and the demo. I have some crumbs in these colors that would look great for a small child quilt box of crayons.

I think I can scare up a few. PM me your address.

As far as pressing seams, people do both open and to the side for various reasons. All the mainline quilting texts, instructions, etc I've read say to press to the side and then one thing I read finally said, "When seams are pressed open, there is a greater chance for the batting to beard through between the exposed stitches." The light bulb really switched on for me with that.

I think the other reason we press to the side is that the seams pull open very easily in pressed open seams, unless the stitches are very short, or you backstitch start and end. I'd never noticed when sewing garments, but my backstitching isn't always aligned with the seam, and it does make a difference with the much smaller quilt seams.

Of course, this is for machine stitching. Hand stitching is not likely to pull apart, but the bearding problem might still apply.

The other issue to consider is the intersection of seams. If pressed aside, the way to handle bulky intersections by spinning them is well documented. For pressed open seams, you're on your own. A simple intersection can use garment rules, but there's no way it will work at the center of a block like a pinwheel where 8 points meet. Sometimes we just have to follow the "rules" and have faith that someone else did the trial and error experimentation that made the rule.

I think any fabric trimming can be a crumb. I kept tiny scraps for a long time but never used them. I don't keep them anymore. I give my crumbs to a guild member who will hand sew them together to make one big enough to make a hexie. She spends most of her time piecing the crumbs to make one piece big enough to cut. I guess she likes it or is very broke.

QAYG stands for Quilt as you go. You would quilt the blocks or strips "as you go" and then join them together.

bkay

I can't imagine thinking that way, especially since things are endlessly repeated online and the mere volume of similar statements can make anything seem true.

These quilts are very intriguing, and I certainly have plenty of scraps to do it, but one question: with all the seams, are they much heavier in weight overall or harder to quilt?

thanks,
Charlotte

Teddybear Lady, you can really see the individual fabrics, too, which leads the eye all around it. You're inspiring me!

hugs,
Charlotte

Charley26...your quilt is beautiful!
It looks like you have sewn nine 6" squares together and then added a small sashing in between?
I'm very inspired because I save everything and sort by size. This might put a bit of dent in the "under 1 1/2" basket.

I have never made a crumb quilt but think if I did would use the QAYG method of sewing to batting as you add pieces ..I do many placemats with strips sewn to batting...

I have made lots of them. They are one of my favorite quilts to make. The way I learned to do it was by watching Darlene Mauchard (spelling) on youtube. If you google crumb quilts, there are several sites for doing it.

The lady who blogs at Quilted Twins uses a lot of crumbs and small pieces. There are many many free patterns. You might like to check it out.
https://www.quiltedtwins.com/free-patterns-layout-2/

I have made crumb quilts. I will sew in anything I can get a seam into. If I have a little strip 1/2 inch wide, I will make 1/8 inch seams and have a cute 1/4 inch of it showing. But that piece would have to be a beautiful color that will stand out in the finished block.

I made crumb quilts for two of my granddaughters. The blocks were 12" finished and the corner stones were 2 inch finished. The corner stones all have at least three fabrics in them and there is one that has eleven pieces - in a two inch block. Stunning.

I have seen other quilters make string and crumb quilts for teenagers and they seem to love these quilts. I cannot seem to figure out why they do.

I'm having fun making kids quilts from my scraps and crumbs. I don't separate them, they all go in, along with strings, strips and all the odd shaped pieces that won't make at least a 2" square for me. Less than 3/4" would only give you a 1/4" of fabric showing after the seams, so I tend to go with 1" as useable.
Here are some of my recent tops using crumbs and whatever else I have to toss in.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]607198[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]607199[/ATTACH]

Whoever would like to have some of my crumbs, please PM me. I consider anything under 2" square a crumb, as I don't have the patience to work with tiny bits. I just threw out out a bunch in my great purge of the sewing room. I'd feel better sending an envelope of them to someone who'd appreciate them.

This is a crumb quilt I made about 6 years ago. There are many small pieces and I stitched them on this way and that way until I had a block about 6 1/2 inches. It is one of my favorite quilts and I am planning to make another one.[ATTACH=CONFIG]607262[/ATTACH]

Apologies,
I have only now seen the responses to my photo. Yes, there are nine 6" squares sewn together, to make i big square. The sashing is how I did the Quilt As You Go. I will try to find the method for joining all the small pieces together. I think my pieces were smaller than suggested.

Apologies for delay in reply. I did not think anyone would comment on it. The quilt is made as you describe; nine 6" blocks joined to make a large block. The sashing is added at the 'Quilt As You Go' method. I cannot find/remember exactly how I did it, but some were so small that used paper as a foundation. I was very pleased at the result. Attached is a photo of the back. The photo looks small, but I cannot seem to get the size right!!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]607268[/ATTACH]

No idea how 3 copies of the blooming photo have attached to my post. Apologies.