Too many left over blocks...again!
 

I have a bad habit of making quilts that I don't need to buy the pattern. Get an idea. Try to draft it out and away I go. Meaning I cut/sew lots of blocks and then start assembling.

Just finished a scrappy, really scrappy, baby quilt and AGAIN lots of left over blocks. I don't mean orphan...I have a whole, flipping FAMILY of blocks. These blocks are 3x3 solid and four patach so I'll have to choose another small block to go with it.

I like watching MSQC tutorials but I sew blocks in reckless abandon. Yep, another family of blocks.

Ever happen to you?

I'll make 1 block when starting a project to make sure I know how to make it and it comes out the correct size. I like taking my project into EQ8, redraw it so I know how many blocks of each I'll need. Then I'll calculate how many blocks I'll need for the project, write down how many sections for each block, then calculate how many sections I can get out of a stripe of fabric, write down how many strips I'll need and so on. Seems to keep me from making too many blocks this way. May seem alot of work but when fabric is getting so expensive I like to save where I can. The project I'm working on now is a MSQC pattern, her mock cathedral windows which she only goes into making a wallhanging size. I needed to make a queen size so taking it into EQ8 let me know that my mental calculations were not correct and I needed to make a whole lot more cuts. Did make some extras from 1 fabric as I didn't need the whole strip but this way I could arrange them as I wanted with the extras. I'm so happy I took the project into EQ8 as I would have thought I had enough cut when I had only a little over half of what I needed.

As to extras leftover blocks, sometimes I'll add them to the backing to use them up as long as it doesn't take too many seams.

I sometimes do - more or less - follow a pattern.

Other times I just start making blocks and hope that I can put them together into something useful.

I don't often have lots of blocks left over. I tend to get bored with repetition. Once I know a pattern (or my calculation) is correct, I usually cut for 10 blocks, sew them up, then repeat. Sometimes, I have completely changed direction after laying the original blocks out on my design wall.

Everyone works their own way, and that's okay. I'm a planner and may tend to over think things. I use EQ8 for the design, and then I turn to Excel for more precise calculations when planning a quilt. I figure out how many strips to cut before I cut them, how much fabric it will take, how many blocks to make, and I seldom have any left over. If I do, they go on the back of the quilt if possible. I never just start sewing without a plan, though sometimes the plan does change as I sew.

No, probably because I can't make anything other than a simple 9 patch without a pattern! LOL

I have a box jammed full of 6" blocks! Then another box with 8" blocks enough to make a quilt on their own and the of course orphaned blocks That need to be worked into a quilt someday. I know exactly what you are saying about making extra. I think most of us have a similar issue. Better to have to many than not enough.

I usually end up with a few extra blocks when making a quilt and I just put them on the back. This way I don't end up with extra orphan blocks and I don't need as much backing fabric.

I have found that extra blocks come in handy for testing planned quilting designs and checking different quilting threads.

Daffy

I make extra blocks when I teach at my club and these always end up being orphans. One day I'll getsmart and use the same fabrics every time! I use Eq8 to design everything. I love it.

I had questioned the forum about “crumb” blocks awhile back. One of the suggestions on making same was to cut up orphan blocks. Perhaps cutting up two or three just to see if you like the results while adding a few other scraps to the mix. I haven’t tried this but will. Only a suggestion.

I almost always have extra blocks. Either it's abandoned quilt blocks, blocks that didn't work or I simply made too many. I will sometimes put them in a strip on the back to extend the backing fabric or I will simply put them on the free table at Guild. Since this pandemic, I have lots built up for the free table when we resume. I have decided that I don't always have to use what I sew.

Well, if the nine patches have the dark in the corners a snowball block in between works well to extend it out to a larger quilt. I recently made the wall hanging like that I posted a couple days ago. The post is called red work birds.

Also, you can set them on point with a solid white squares to make a cute picnic quilt.

I need another mask that fits and I was thinking of seeing if I had an orphan or test block that would work. It would let everyone know I was a quilter.

I never end up with extra blocks. I make only what I need for each quilt. I'm usually bored by the time I've made enough for the quilt, so the thought of making extra ones never crosses my mind. I did end up with extra pieces once when I calculated wrong and cut too many. Luckily, they were a common size that I use for scrap quilts, so I know they'll get used someday.

Use them on the back, make table runners, mug rugs or pot holders, create tote bags, etc. I sometimes keep orphan blocks in a box and use them all together once I have enough for a quilt.

I have a drawer full of orphan blocks and blocks that I made up to see how they would look or to try out a technique. One day I'll make a quilt with them. It will be a pretty crazy -looking quilt.

Watson

If I'm following a pattern I don't have left over blocks. I do leaders and enders with 1 1/2 inch 2, 2 1/2 all the time. so I always have many little blocks to play with. Sometimes they go into a large quilt or if I'm lucky a quilt I'm working on or sometimes a baby quilt. But that's most of my extra blocks. I have many!

So this weekend I'm making a baby quilt sadly ...!!!! Bought some cute handprint fabric and coordinating coiors. Decided to sew pinwheel blocks with background fabric I have in my stash. Trying ...not to end up making too many blocks. Probleml is I don't have a pattern to guide me. I've changed the layout at least three times...remember no pattern just foggy images in my brain...but I think I have one down that will work. Hope this goes along ok w/o out too many leftovers,

The way I work with scrap fabrics is typically I make an additional 6 or so blocks per top to give me layout options. Lately I've started putting those together and incorporate them into the back. Other times I take stock along the way and deliberately make enough (typically 12) to make some sort of coordinating dog blanket. More sensible people might make pillow covers instead :)

I've been making HST like there is tomorrow. Using up lots of scraps but wanted to make groups of 4 blocks in color families so it took me awhile to have enough...I thought.

Last night stared to sew the famliles into columns and so each block is three columns...2 going North and in the middle 1 going south. Really turning out nice. (Making baby quilts for the family even tho there no babies on the horizon.)

So today realized I have enough blocks to make 2 and a half baby quilts with blocks left over.

My problem is I don't have and EQ program to plan the pattern out so I just start sewing and redesigning as I go along.

I think I need a vacation, glass of wine, or both. I vote for the wine to start with.

!!!!!.....Good news. I played around wilth the lay out and I only need to make one more column of 4 blocks and I'll have enough for 2, yes, 2 more baby quilts. https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...es/biggrin.png

Lacking EQ, Graph paper is your friend.

If anything, I have a tendency of not making enough blocks and then I'm losing my cookies trying to figure out if I have enough fabric left to finish everything. That's one of the reason why I end up getting almost a full yard per color more than what I need, just to make sure I've got enough before I get started and the reason my stash got away with me for a little while. Which is funny in of itself because I use Electric Quilt 5 and you would figure I would trust the software to tell me how much I need.

This is what I do. Put them on the back. I also put extra piano keys or other design elements left over in the center of the back. Then just add as much other fabric as needed. Sometimes I use several different fabrics just to "use it up".

I love the idea that you work any extra blocks into the back of your quilt. Thank you for stating this. I have made a matching pet bed with mine.