Does this drawing illustrate what you are trying to do/achieve?

Do you remember how many different fabric you start out with/need?

I know I just can't explain correctly...
I don't have the pattern...
But this is how I think the cuts should go...
The first cut...bottom right hand corner to the center of the top..
The second cut..bottom left hand corner to the center of the top...
The third cut..bottom of the left hand corner over to the right side about 1/4 of the way down from the right top...
The forth cut...bottom of the right hand corner to to the left side about 1/4 of the way down from the left top....
The last cut...from the left 1/4 of the way down top over to the right side 1/4 of the way down cut...

That illustration..shows the cut differently and I can't for the life of me figure the cutting formation with that illustration...

Since there are 11 fabrics in the star I just assume it was 11 fabrics..but as I think about it..and this makes since...you probably 12 fabrics..to have 12 blocks..and that would make the quilt...

I know I am talking in circles...maybe I will figure it out...

I have made a stack and whack quilt with a 7-year old friend.... this is essentially the same thing.

Do what is described here. Cut all first, hopefully several at a time.
Stack them all up -- and then follow what is said here about moving pieces to the bottom. I cut, did the shuffle, and then we sewed each block one at a time and had no problem with repeating fabrics in any given block....

By the way, the 7-year-old is now in her teens and designs and sews all of her own clothes and some for her mom.... I love getting to pass this passion for fabric and sewing on!!!!

Trust me - - if you look at it too much, you will become confused <g>.
Layer the fabrics
Make the cuts - - there will be eleven stacks, each with eleven different colors in each stack ... or, eleven stacks with FIFTEEN different colors ... you are the human, you have superiority over all inanimate objects, they have to do what you say! <g> If you want twelve blocks, then by all means! Use twelve different fabrics ...
Then you must shuffle the "deck" - - first stack, put top piece on the bottom. Second stack move two pieces from top to bottom ... third stack, three pieces put to the back of the deck (from top to bottom)
Work through each stack, moving the matching number of pieces from the top to the bottom as the order that you are picking them up to shuffle the pieces.

The reason that you are getting stumped is: you want to cut, shuffle, sew, then cut again ... and shuffle, sew, and then cut again ...
I don't know how that will turn out, and it might very well work ... but, I do know that the quilters who have written about the "stack and whack" or "shuffle the deck" ... have a process that will get you what you want.

now I have a question, and I am just going to go do what I just said to PROVE that you don't have to get to the point where you are moving FOURTEEN pieces to make fifteen blocks that are all different ... in the meantime ... listen to the ones that have actually done this!
I shall return in an hour to report on my findings!
<wave>

okay, so I am fudging, but could the name of your quilt you are looking for called:

Pointless Wonder

???
I still think you are getting hung up on process ... I promise ... what the others are telling you will work <g> <muttering to self: trust me like a mother :| > :wink:

hi,
the stacking concept is what Karla Alexander uses in her Stack a New Deck book. Maybe the library has a copy you could review. Good luck.

YOU GUYS REALLY ARE THE BEST!!
Without your help I would have never figured it out...but after many many diagram drawings I finally GOT IT!!
I got the stack and whack shuffle the way it needs to go....
I needed to use 12 fabrics instead of 11...but
I finally got 11 different fabrics in one star, and only using 5 cuts...
It was hard and my brain hurts...but it was worth it...
now I just need to go try it...but it works on paper...

EXCELLENT! Aren't you the clever one, though, to do it with PAPER ...
of course you have change my life forever, but that is a whole new story.
The progress I am making (following the stack and slash website provided by .. oh, who knows??? <g>)
I thought I was making the first cut correctly ... but alas ... it wasn't, and there is no way it is going to be a star, but I just kept slashing until I had eleven pieces.
Now, all I have to do is shuffle ...
oh ... that part where it looks like the top layer is two different fabrics? Well, that is because I wouldn't change my rotary cutting blade ... not to worry ... I will put them right before shuffling ... I just wanted you to see what I had managed in all of these ... how many minutes?
I have to go take the picture. :roll:

actually, I have seen a quilt made with pieces like this with the black "leading" between each piece ... fittingly called "stack the deck for a crazy quilt" .... back to the work.
You have to know that the rotary cutter I am using was purchased by my daughter YEARS ago so that I could actually make a quilt like this, and I just never got around to it ... I guess <g> the time has come ... still considering the leading, but for now, we are interested in the process ... and, I will complete it, even though the original poster no longer needs my input ... I think it is in my job description somewhere, but since I haven't finished writing the contract, I will do the best I can with what I have. 8)

This is my diagram...I don't know if it is going to make since..
TWELVE DIFFERENT FABRICS ARE USED...

I can always use your imput....
And thank you...for all your time and effort...
I started out with using fabrics..but when I didn't get what I wanted...I moved to cutting paper and taping....
When that didn't work...I just started drawing...
I was ready to give up..and go to plan B....
Thank you~Thank you~Thank you!!

I apologize for not cutting the star, but I am going to post to show ... what I discovered along the way .... nahhh ... I won't post all 24 pictures, but I do want to report that by cutting all the pieces, numbering each stack, moving that number to the bottom of the stack, even though I was using fifteen fabrics, did indeed accomplish fifteen different blocks, even though not all the fifteen fabrics will show up in any one block ... and, I will try to label the tips as I go, so shall we begin?

So for tips, I have a few - - Use a brand new blade in your rotary cutter.
The 60mm cutter will cut through fifteen layers of fabric like knife through butter, but only if it is sharp ... otherwise, it is a crappy shoot!
Use colors that definitely contrast, and when you are stacking them in preparation for cutting, go through your stack, making sure that the lights and darks are alternated ... or the contrasts are alternated. It may even be a good idea to carry out a color path or something, cuz what I did, ain't none too purty :?
I don't know if any of the samples will show up, but there was one piece that was smaller than the others ... bummer! I made sure that the short piece was in one area and I will think about what to with that tomorrow (Scarlett OHara is alive and well <g>)
And, IRON each piece ... I rarely iron until I am sewing them together, but you may see in my samples that the non-ironed pieces were not a good idea.

Because of you...I know now to alternate the light and darks...
Brand new rotary blade had now been added to my list...
I think I am ready to go buy my fat quarters...
Thank you for posting all your pictures..even though it is not going to be a star...it still going to be very pretty....and you taught me a lot...
I can't believe you did all of that for just some poster...thanks ♥

You are very welcome.
While I was working on this project, DD came out to the bunkhouse, just looking around. I reminded her of when she had bought the rotary cutter ... she didn't remember for awhile - - you need to know that I use that cutter a LOT! so, I was constantly being reminded of why I owned one in the first place ...
when she remembered, she looked at my project and sort of shook her head, and then she said: You know what? You ought to cut out a kit and use that for the next dinner and auction ... you can cut the kit, bag it all up with some instructions, and let them bid on it!
Which is a very good idea, but if they don't pay enough for the kit, I am NOT going to sew it for them! NOT NOT NOT !!!
It was a good suggestion, though, and I am really pleased that she thinks enough of what I am doing and who I am working with to do input ...
I like input, too <g>

Congratulations to both of you sno and omak!!! I love your blocks omak, I think it will make a great quilt!! I have this on my to try list :D :D :D

My little mind got totally lost at the idea of SEWING first and then cutting.

Congratulations on figuring it out. I'm still scratching my head.

YOU'LL DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ME DOING THIS QUILT.I'M SO CONFUSED ABOUT THIS WHOLE THING I'D GO BONKERS JUST TRYING TI GET IT TOGETHER. :oops: :oops: :oops:

LOL .. .you would do it just fine!
It is a matter of making sure you have more fabrics than you make cuts.
You don't have to do a star, or a jumble of anything! Stack the fabric, make your cuts, shuffle the deck, and sew it all together!
Easy, peasy ...
what sno did was stack his fabric, make a cut, shuffle the deck, sew it all back together, and then make the next cut, shuffled again and sewed it all back together ...
If you look at a turning twenty technique, it is the same concept! take twenty fat quarters, cut them sqare, cut in half, cut one section in half, cut one section in half again ... then, shuffle the stacks (all straight cuts by the way) ... then sew them all back together!
just a different way to make a scrappy nine patch ...
does any of that make any sense??? LOL

OMAK I want to do a crazy quilt out of my boxof scrap box it's18x30 an about 18 inches deep.An packed clear full of scraps. I have picked up pieces that aren't real big to even use in it to.

First thing to realize is:
If your box is stuffed full of scraps, and you only have one box, you have not got enough scraps!
And, a scrap box full of scraps, stuffed full of scraps should never be allowed to get out into the air ... give the scraps air, and they GROW!
I have never understood the phenomenon, but those quilters running around telling everyone how they emptied out a box of scraps by sewing all month?
I don't believe 'em!
LOL
but, if you are serious about using up your scraps, have you checked out quiltville.com?

http://quiltville.com/

Miss Bonnie knows using scraps! explore the site, you will probably enjoy it very much, get a lot of inspiration, and she is easy to read.

I wouldn't have to worry about material I also have a wallthat is
11 ft long an 7ft. high full of 15x15 wire squares that has material in it
an I have just about everything you'd want but yellows.I don't know why
but I have very few yellows.But I'm fixing that to when I see a yellow I really like I get it.An I also have two shelves on other wall that are almost six feet high that are clear full of material to.I had been getting material for quilting for around 12yrs before I moved down here to use for quilting.
I have a magor stash.AN I have been to that quilt site an seen some really neat quilts.

oookey, dokey, then .... I see that you have a STASH!
What did you want me to help you with again??? LOL
Do you really think we should sew that stash all up? I mean ... maybe you should just open up a fabric store or something ... <g>
The best thing I know to do to lessen a stash is to pick a pattern and make a bunch of blocks and start making the quilts ... actually, it is the only way I know to lessen the stash...
making blocks AND staying away from anyone selling fabric! LOL

Now I know I got your attion now I just have to get things in order again
an go to sewing again.I already have a box I know has 10,000 squares
in it.when I go to sewing them up I'll do small quilts out of them or have a
definate pattern for them there only 2.5 inches an my eye sight is going
crazy on me some days so they'll go in some easy patern so i can get them sewed quick.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/posts/l...78.page#572729

If this doesn't take you to page 31 of the October Doll Quilt swap, go to it!
Scroll down the page until you find the quilt that Rhonda sent Ninnie!
Keep in mind that these doll quilts aren't any bigger than 24 x 24 inches, but just think of the scraps you can use up making that simple block! and, it doesn't have a whole lot of light in it ... (which are the way I like my scrap quilts to look <g>)
What do you think?

silly me!
CORRECTION!
THere is plenty of light in that project, and on second look, I see that it is the Indian Hatchett pattern that Miss Ninnie did a couple of months ago ... I will go find that pattern for you

http://quilterscache.com/I/IndianHatchetBlock.html

Another great site to explore for scrappy patterns, also!
Enjoy!

OK Girl i just got through with a bunch of looking an came back an seen the last message.An yes that would work an I wouldn't have to work with all them little squares for very long.

This thread is making my brain ITCH! :lol: AAAAAh! It reminds me of something I purchased when I first began quilting. I wanted to do a crazy quilt. I had always liked SEEING them, but it never occured to me that I could actually MAKE one. So along comes Sharlene Jorgenson on one of the quilting shows on TV.She had a plan. She had a pattern. So I bought the book and the templates. The idea behind the whole thing is basically the same thing that is being discussed on this thread. 8 pieces of fabric are stacked and cut using the templates. THEN THE FABRICS ARE SORTED SO THAT THERE IS ONE OF EACH FABRIC IN EACH BLOCK. The suggestion of laying out all blocks as was suggested earlier in this thread is illustrated in the book. The book is CRAZY QUILT (as seen on Quilting from the Heartland) by Sharlene Jorgenson.

As I mentioned several times in other threads, I am not good at "random" so I thought this would be something that would give me a plan, a layout. Of course, I purchased this in 1998 and still am "meaning" to do it. It seems to be something similar to what is being discussed with the star. Has anyone ever seen or used it. The idea is the same as with the star. Remove the top layer and place at the bottom of the stack. Not sure how it works. :?

OK OMak.....I am a little concerned that you don't believe those of us who use all of our scraps???
I am cutting sorting and organizing all of my scraps ..have been for the last month and I am just sure by the end of the year I wont have any scraps left--I plan to use all of them...so I can start a new batch. I will bring my empty tub to the shop so you can see it for proof...lol.

P.S. I Love Bonnie's blog......I have used her patterns before!

So glad Omak and Sno solved the problem. Now I'm waiting for Sno to get that quilt sewn together and a picture posted!

DITTOES! LOL

We just spent a couple days discussing it! It works because in each stack, you move one more layer than you moved in the stack before it.
Actually, I don't know why it works, it just works, and sometimes, I don't need to know why ... I am just very grateful for whoever was creative enough to make a PLAN and share it with others ... LOL Know what I mean?
However, I am probably responding so much to this "issue" because like you, I have control issues :roll:

One other thing about the Indian Hatchet block or any block where you are going to do that "sew a square in the corner" technique?
Take the extra time and energy to move your needle over that half inch so that when you trim off the extra fabric? You will have created a half-square triangle unit, with a minimum of effort.
We will not even go to that place where I tell you how small of HST I have made with this technique, but I want you to know that they are NOT scraps! ... just little blocks waiting to grow up! :wink:

:shock: B-U-S-T-E-D !!!
DId I say a disparaging word about people possibly never being able to use up all their squares???
But, if I am understanding your process correctly, you are organizing one container, and - - now you know where your scraps are ... right? LOL
I will be looking forward to your empty tub, and the project you have used your scraps in! :wink:

[quote=JoanneS]So glad Omak and Sno solved the problem. Now I'm waiting for Sno to get that quilt sewn together and a picture posted![/quote]


I have started my project.....Once I get done I will post the pictures and the how to...That is if it does work....

As I am working on my sample of the technique, I picked up another tip:
always cut a straight edge on the pieces you are putting together before joining the next section ... and, because of the angles you are cutting, there will be uneven edges ... so handle yourself accordingly.

Also ... for those on the periphery, watching and wondering, I came up with an idea ... forget all the angles ... you can do this same thing with straight lines .... as in, a nine patch? or just about any block, I am thinking ... back to the sewing machine.

What I like about this idea, is when the blocks are all sewn together you have the makings of a really nice border almost done...add a few solid blocks the same size, or rectangles.... :wink: :D

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charismah wrote:

OK OMak.....I am a little concerned that you don't believe those of us who use all of our scraps???
I am cutting sorting and organizing all of my scraps ..have been for the last month and I am just sure by the end of the year I wont have any scraps left--I plan to use all of them...so I can start a new batch. I will bring my empty tub to the shop so you can see it for proof...lol.

P.S. I Love Bonnie's blog......I have used her patterns before!


B-U-S-T-E-D !!!
DId I say a disparaging word about people possibly never being able to use up all their squares???
But, if I am understanding your process correctly, you are organizing one container, and - - now you know where your scraps are ... right? LOL
I will be looking forward to your empty tub, and the project you have used your scraps in!


:-) lol..so funny!
Well I am organizing them so I can use them I have plans for what I am doing with them and I have many projects for them... years of scraps...My BFF doesn't believe in saving scraps so I have kept hers over the years as well..which is not as much as my own stash but definatly adds to them. I have a system as to what I am going to do with them and I have started sketches of what kind of quilts I will use them in....one problem I am only using my good fabrics ....I do have some scraps of wal mart fabric that I only use in craft projects for the kids or whatever--thinking that could be my next challenge after the first of the year...just try to get rid of all of it ...we shall see.