Wickedly Easy scrap xmas turned difficult.
 

Hi everyone, I picked up all of these wonderful scraps at a thrift store. They were not long enough to make 7 1/2 cuts so i decided to cut 6 inches instead. Now I have 12 squares done, however they turnout 15" x 13 1/2 " so now I cannot turn every other one like the pattern calls for. What do you think I should do? It looks so busy like I have the blocks on my design wall. Thanks for any suggestions. Suzanne [ATTACH=CONFIG]449931[/ATTACH]

Tartan, you come up with such great suggestions. Putting that sashing on and then turning them might give them the same flavor as the...what is it called, falling charms, tumbling charms? You know what I mean.

yes this option would allow for turning and rotating, plus if you make the sashing a solid cream or light color it will maybe calm it down some.

first thought was add something between them.. to tie them all together but space them apart. love the idea of making it square again first..

I think black would make them POP. I love all your fabrics!!

That sounds like a great idea -- post a picture again when you've tried it. I bet we see a completely different quilt!!

Why can't you cut square?

I agree with DOTTYMO. I would cut 3/4" off of each side (of the 15" side). That would make the block 13 1/2" square. It would change the appearance of the block a bit, but the block could be turned.

What about a nice Christmas green or red sashing turning them into squares and then rotating. Or no turning - just a great quilt with sashing that is calm yet festive.

Great job with your scrap find, nice work assembling such a merry quilt.

I'd square them too and then add sashing. I like the idea of the green sashing. Good job.

Black sashing was the first thing to pop into my head.

Tartan DOES come up with the best suggestions !! I would try black sashing to make the Xmas colors POP!! It makes things so much easier when you can play with blocks on a design wall !!! Waiting for my flannel to arrived from JAF for my 3rd design wall !!

`As you said, it's very busy.Use a solid fabric to calm down the colors and give the eye a place to rest. Use sashing on each block to seperate the blocks.

Pretty fabric. Just need sashing maybe gold

Ok, I like it being busy! Really gave my eye a lot to look at and I was fascinated by it. Probably why I like scappy quilts.

I am going to add 1 1/2'' after the 1/4 inch for sewing on to the 13 and 1/2 side in gold fabric, just a small allover print and then I can see what to do. I will take a picture when i have it up on design wall after this step. Thanks everyone.

I agree with Tartan plus you would have less seams to match. jmho.

I think this is a really good idea!

I agree with the sashing, it's going to be great when you are done.

Is this inspired by the Moda Pop and Change pattern?

Don't forget that you need to add the 1/4 inch on both pieces. If you want both sides to be 15 inches, you will need to add 2 inches by my calculation. Tartan has said to add the 2 inches also.

looks, to me, liked wrapped presents...stick a forest green sashing in and call it done!!

How about if you try "squaring them off" by pressing or pinning the short sides under, then try rearranging on your design wall to see if it will work?

I like the "busy" look but if that isn't for you use sashing

Sashing gets my vote also! Love the idea of black or a rich Christmas green!

That will be a fine quilt. I would add 2 sizes of dark green or red to 2 of the sides to bring the blocks up to 16" each way. Then you can also rotate if you wish.

Ok, her is with the gold added to each square and now they are 15 inches sq and i turned each on different. maybe I should not turn them. I have been looking at this to long. [ATTACH=CONFIG]450214[/ATTACH]Here is with them not turned. I would add strip to all block on the left.[ATTACH=CONFIG]450218[/ATTACH]

I would add sashing, but I would also turn the blocks you want turned. This would change your sashing sizes (some wider than others). Just a thought. Looks like you had fun

I was doing a Turning 20 with Halloweeen fabric for a friend and it was so busy I just hated it. But I put borders of yellow and black around them and it was a great improvement and really set off all the different fabrics.

I'm for adding the long sashing to square them up. I've recently finished the flimsy for my DGD where I planned it that way on purpose as she wanted as many plaids included as possible. I made rectangles so I could add another plaid rectangle to square up the blocks and rotate them! It worked great.
PS: I like the blocks rotated with your gold sashing added!

In my humble opinion....trim the blocks down to square, then add a sashing in a bright color like a red or green (will tone down the busyness and somewhere for the eyes to rest).....then you can turn the blocks if you choose

I will post a finished product when I am all done. thanks everyone and it is all together now and I will add boarders and quilt next. Thanks again for all your help. It is looking better to me now and I turned every other one.

I'd do a sash between all the blocks - maybe pick up the deep green?