Using Up Scraps
 

I've been really motivated to start using my scraps after reading so much about it here and on other sites I follow. So, after looking through some of my scraps and not feeling motivated, I bought a really nice book, Happiness is Scrappiness. I like to study books and patterns. This is a great one. Great ideas for organizing scraps. Then realize that one of my favorite set of scraps and left over fat quarters is very directional. Start searching patterns on internet that might work, I find a good pattern, order it and oh look, it requires a specific ruler set. OK, add to cart, I really want to use up this fabric. Receive the ruler and pattern and make two practice blocks. Don't seem to have the right background fabric. Must go to fabric store today and purchase coordinating fabric. So far, I'm really saving by using up those scraps! HaHa- typical for me!

Is that called the domino effect?

Tell me about it....

I decided to work from my stash, then realized didn't have enough of the fabric that I needed. And, can no longer get the matching fabric. So, since this quilt if for someone else, I needed to get the fabric to do it, then another quilt was put in the works as well. I only had the backing fabric for it, and was able to find and order the same line of fabric for the front.... more expense, more fabric

-- Then two more quilts were needed and they need to be matching, with the same pattern. Had to start from scratch for these as they not only needed to be the same pattern, but the same front material in different colorways. Finally found it and all is on order.

Then of course, feeling what the heck, at the moment, I had to buy some yardage just for me for the quilt I'm planning for me. And around it goes.....

I've pretty much decided that making a rule, that I need to use up my stash first, is a rule that was made to be broken. It's like going on a diet and gaining 20 pounds in the process of being on a diet.

Thank you suern3 and quiltsfor for the wonderful laughs. Glad that I am not the only one that has her plans thwarted one way or another.

So here are some trueisms I have learned over the years - do any sound familiar??

- the goal of all scraps is to reproduce. They do it on the sly, in the dead of night when all quiilters are asleep - it is a conspiracy
- all fabric in the stash that has been used must be replaced by more than was used
- there are never enough fabric in the stash to make the needed make the number of blocks needed for the quilt
- there is never enough matching fabric in the stash to complete the quilt
- there is no fabric in the stash that matches the focus fabric of the quilt
- if you have enough of the matching fabric, then your rotary cutter slips or your fabric is folded when you cut out the most critical or largest pieces
- if you give away half of of your scraps, the remaining ones expand to fill the space
- when you buy all the fabric you need to make a particular quilt you either loose a pattern, put the fabric in a "safe place" and can't find it or (my most common problem) you make another quilt first and use some of the special fabric.
- when you go to the store and find the same fabric you were short of, you get home and discover the dye lots are different and it doesn't match

I make Scrappy quilts. If I run out of 1 cream background, I replace it with another different cream background. The same for the actual pieces in the quilt, replace 1 blue with another blue. Saves me a great deal of stress. the only thing I allow myself to purchase is backing fabrics and every now and then some lights for backgrounds. I still haven't run out of scraps though! LOL

If you haven't gone to Bonnie Hunter's website, go there! She is the Queen of scraps. She uses anything and everything and no fabric is too ugly to use. Her yearly mystery which usually fun, if not a marathon to do is coming up this fall. The mystery is free while it is being run and she also has a lot of free patterns and hints. I have really learned a lot from doing the mystery.

Exceptionally Valid Observations
 

EVERY SINGLE ONE! Some of these are definitely t-shirt quotes I need to wear!

If any of you have an abundance of scraps, perhaps you should join BOOM 28 that is getting lined up right now. Perhaps you can use up some of your stash being wonderfully creative with a bunch of folks who love to talk while sharing their skills with you? Take a look https://www.quiltingboard.com/vbulle...a-t318987.html

Save yourself now from falling down the Scraps Rabbit Hole!! LOL. After my first scrappy quilt left pieces of fabric literally covering my sewing area, I organized and said, "Never again!"...Until next time! I'm currently working on a scrappy quilt. Finished all the blocks and waiting to be joined together. I like a method (don't know what it is called) where each scrap strip is added next to previous. Here's my first.

Nice job !

Two years ago I vowed not to buy any more fabric until I used up what I have. I've made about 8 quilts in the last two years and gave away a couple good sized bags of scraps yet somehow have ended up with way more fabric than I started with. I'm amazed at how it multiplies like magic.

Scraps
 

Thanks! I made up the pattern after seeing a similar block. Not difficult at all.

• I cut the foundation squares, 10"(?)
• Used my iron to make two "guide" lines
• 1. diagonal-corner to corner
• 2. 60 degree line
• sew strips to diagonal side, then
• sew strips to 60 degree side

Message me with any questions!

- what was going to be the backing fabric turns out to be too thin and normally used for a lining fabric so off to the fabric section again. (my problem with about 100 boxes NOT one piece will work for the Cop Quilt. Goofy must have sneaked in and switched it.

All the rest are absolutly from my quilt statch as well. :}}

Quilted Twins and Bonnie Hunter are great sites for scrappy quilt patterns. I've been using up mine this way. The scraps from one quilt just went into a Quadruple Irish Chain quilt. Couldn't call it a Triple cause it had more rows than a triple. Wondered why none of the triple chain quilting patterns would fit correctly...DUH.

Lately most all of my quilts have been from scraps from other quilts. But for whatever reason my scraps don't diminish in time but multiple as if they're procreating during the night.

I haven't bought yardage since November 2018 as I put myself on a "NO FABRIC BUYING" spree until I can find room for all the fabrics I have now. I've got them tucked under the quilt frame, under the pressing station, along the cutting table. You name it, I've got them stashed somewhere but not ont he shelves where they need to be. My scrap bins are over flowing too.

There is a free paper pieced pattern called Eastern Sunrise on happyturtlequilts.blogspot.ca that looks just like your quilt. I see you use a different method of construction to get the same look.

That's it! I saw the block on Pinterest and improvised!

Aashley333

Thanks so much. Going to give it a try.

I've started doing pieced backs to use up leftover fabric from the front.Typically a simple medallion of some sort. I knew a customer who swore by what she called her fabric journey quilts where all leftovers were cut into a specific size/shape and added onto a single top over time until it was big enough to suit her. I tried it once and hated the end result so much I chopped it up into doll quilts for the nieces and nephews. 😆

Any block pattern can be turned into a scrappy pattern!! I do many, many scrappy quilts but I find that I get overwhelmed if I just look at a bin of scraps and don't know where to start. My method is to choose a background of cream or white/white, scraps of course, and then choose one color from my colors scraps or bin of smallish pieces. This makes for a very scrappy quilt with a bazillion of variations within one color way. Some time I will chose one contrasting color to use consistently throughout the quilt to sort of make every thing work nicely together. (Green/white & yellow quilt below.)

Other options is to use traditional color groups such as red/white/blue or purple, turquoise, blue or black and white. Often with the black and white I will add one color for pop!

This method works well for me. It leaves me focused, keeps the scraps down to a manageable level and has made many donation quilts that I am proud to pass on to someone else.

Well I don't think I will ever get to the end of my scrap pile as it just blew up once again. Someone left 2 medium size boxes of 4" squares already cut at my door. No info as to whom it is from or what it is for so I will be washing it for the next several days. Then it will go into a new box with the label of the size blocks. I've looked at several and the one main color is red and white stripe already sewed to other blocks of which most is white so I have several options but it will be taken out in order or maybe used in several quilts. Actually looks like maybe was a first quilt. Just squares. No picture of what the person was doing/trying to do/had finished with left overs.

This quilt will be quite a journey FUN

Although I have not had any mysterious boxes on my doorstep, I have from time to time been given boxes and bins of another quilters UFO or odds and ends from their stash. It has happened twice this year and I consider them a blessing. I don't need to shop! These unexpected blessings also push me in new directions because they are often something I would NEVER purchase. For instance, I was given a computer paper box of lovely tropical large print fabrics that are all high quality fabric and so out of my comfort zone that it makes me laugh. The adventure begins. Enjoy your new "Front Step Collection" and quilt on! :)

Front Step Collection quilt--I like that name. It's what I will be calling my new quilt. The boxes are mixed print and plain. 100% cotton I think. I think the red/white stripe & white will somehow become part of the border.

So much FUN going thru these 2 boxes. I am very blessed every day and these boxes show how much. YEAH Quilt supplies. In the bottom of the first box I found a straight pin box full of miniature buttons. Needed these for my dolls and I also found a Christmas stocking pattern large enough to hold an 18-inch doll with instructions "for 18-inch Doll and wardrobe. Ages 5-8 ONLY. Room for doll and 7 piece wardetobe--slacks, skirt, Sunday-Go-To-Meeting Dress, shorts, blouse & 2 sleeping outfits along with 2 pair of house slippers and 3 pair of shoes." Nothing about dolly quilts but I'm certain every little girl will love a quilt for their dolly. I'll add the quilts to the supply list.
I will say Thanks to the next rainbow I see and that will send it to the correct person. (According to my Daddy when I was a kid)