Hiya all,

Just wanted to share my morning's work with you. I've been through my stash and pulled out all those awkward shaped little left overs, strips cut off borders and binding etc and sorted 'em out into strips or scraps!

I feel a string quilt coming on!!! :wink: :D

all right! now to www.quiltville.com to find a scrap quilt!

Usually when I see someone's progress (sewing room, quilt, etc.) I get the urge to do it too. Too bad I don't feel the urge to do this. :( I could really use it.

Nice job and a good feeling after, isn't it?

Barb

Thanks Barb, must say I AM rather pleased with myself! I like the look of String Quilting Primer on quiltville, looks easyish for my first go! And I think I'll make a lap quilt for Joseph, my six year old so I think he'll love it however it turns out!

K x

Nice job! Yup...I can just see that string quilt now...well, what are you waiting for?? :lol:

Just grabbin' a quick sandwich, Pat, it's past lunchtime here! then I'll get crackin'; I have all the zeal of a new convert - I've never really done a lot of machine piecing before, mostly by hand and I do like it (portable, can do it on the sofa in from of the TV, etc) but I am liking the machine stuff since i joined the board. It goes so fast!!!

K x

Isn't it amazing how long it can take just to get everything ready to start a new quilt!! But, in the meantime, you have also managed to clean up your scrap bin. Great job

I cannot wait to see the quilt you make from your strips. Keep us posted with your progress. Fun project!

Great job on sorting the scraps! Just wish it were catching as I NEED to do that also, alas....... :(
Maybe when I FINISH the project I am engaged in now, THEN, I will be inspired to sort before I begin another! :lol:

Thanks all - have already made 2 stringy blocks! I'm lovin' it! I've had such a lot of inspiration from you all on the board!!!

K x

Here's a great site for scrap quilts: http://quiltville.com/index.html

Hey K....great minds!! I too have been searching thru the net for a good scrappy quilt, Elle gave me a good bag full a couple of weeks ago, and now I have nearly finished the twist n turn...(Made a right mess of the machine quilting :roll: but I am gonna live with it as it's been a stressful week and that's my excuse lol), so what to do next with all my scraps??

Can't wait to see yours for inspiration K!! :D

how neat..... i can't wait to see it..... i wish i can sew, BUT gotta move first :(

Here's 5 blocks done! I did two myself and when the kids came home from school, I let them chose the strings, only telling them whether to get a dark, medium or light! The perfect way to keep it random! Some of their choices made me cringe but I didn't veto ANYTHING and must say I'm pleased how they're turning out. With this method anything goes! I'm usually so organised and matchy, this is a real freeing of the spirit! Thanks kids!

Izy, I'm amazed you've had the time or inclination to do anything with all your troubles, but if you're like me, sewing helps keep you sane in stressful times!

For inspiration on scrappy, the quiltville site (link I got from Barb!) is great.

K x

Wow K!! You certainly got cracking on this one...are you using paper or fabric for the foundation???

I think it is so difficult just to be random, but as you are finding, it is really lovely not having to 'think' too much about it for a change :lol:

When I was making the crazy/crumb quilts I loved the speed at which you could make the blocks too :D

I'm using some muslin that I ordered ages ago for a backing thinking it would be like cotton but it's more like the kind you use to strain jam! I cut one square first to try because I was worried it would be too loose weave and lose it's shap but it's holding up great! And it's quite this so I hope it'll be easier to quilt through;

Thanks so much for getting me onto machine piecing - it was your d9p started me off! I love the speed too, this will be a lap quilt for Joey (Lily's getting one thanks to you so he had to have one too!) He's thrilled at how quick it's taking shape. Usually he loses interest if I'm hand piecing cos it takes so long.

I'm not going to let the hand work go completely though, I've got a grannys flower garden I'm EPPing at the mo and the appliqué border for Lily's lapquilt I'm doing by hand too. I like those little jobs to do sitting on the sofa in the evening. BUT...typical Gemini (are you like this?!) a teensy bit obsessive with a 'new' thing?!

K x

Duhhh - should read, 'quite thin!' :oops: :wink:

Errmmmm, a little bit obsessive....just ask my fella, it drives him mad as everything else goes out the window while I am 'focussed' or in the zone as I like to call it...Yes got to admit to being alot like that!!

JUst a thought, did you pre wash the muslim, I bought some back in the UK and it sounds very similar, I haven't tried it yet, but looks like it might shrink up alot :?

Glad I got you motivated to use your machine more...I too, started off saying I would never use a machine for piecing......lasted about six months, then got a new (to me) machine and that was it :lol:

EEEKKKK!!! I Hhope I pre-washed it! I think so, I usually wash everything the minute I get it, but it was so long ago, i can't remember! Bu@&#r!!!
Oh well, we'll see the first time I wash it!
K x

Well, you could always try washing a piece of the muslim now and measure it up again after it is dried, then you will know whether to continue or ....dare I say it get ripping....Oh I hope not :?

That is SO sensible Izy, thanks I'll do that! Pray for me!

K x

Just put a ten inch square in the machine - ON IT'S OWN - bit extravagant, don't tell the eco warriors! I did a white wash yesterday so didn't have anything else to put in with it! LOL!

K x

WOW WOW WOW This morning I read you were cleaning your room, didn't have time to respond and now you have a quilt half done. Look at you go.

Mary, I've had a real 'me' day! Kids at school, DH away on business so just had a sandwich for lunch and have done NOTHING but sew! Bliss!

K x

OMG K....that is abit obsessive...NOW I would have boiled the kettle and poured it into the sink and left it in that, then with a hot iron dry it quick like...I am tooo impatient to wait 2 hours for the blinking machine to do it lol :lol: I wanna know NOW!!!! :roll: Patience is not one of my virtues.... :wink:

Yeah, I thought about doing that Izy, but I wanted to recreate the full washin' process!!! (Actually I'm lying, I just didn't think! Flew into a panic and chucked the little bleeder in the machine!!!)

Now I'm sitting here twiddling my thumbs, kids in bed, wondering if I dare risk making another block in case it shrinks!

K x

Stop the machine...whack in the sink and get the electric mixer in there......go up to no. 4 on the electric whisk for full impact of spin..... :lol: :roll:

It's finished! Now just waiting for the bloomin' door lock to disengage, can't see the muslin AT ALL hope it hasn't disappeared!

K x

Oh Heck.........tell me quick....has it survived?????? :shock:

Weeeeellll........







Bit frayed round the edges..............









Buuuuuuuut.............









Still 10 inches - HOOOOOORAAAAAAYYYYYYY!

K x

Oh I am pleased...phew....sorry if I caused you grief....will make sure I BOIL wash mine before I do any sewing.... :lol: :lol: :lol:

No probs, Izy, actually, I don't think I did prewash it...I seem to remember when it arrived, I was so disgusted it wasn't what I'd expected, I just chucked it in the cupboard... the quilting gods are smiling on me today!

K x

So pleased it has turned out fine :lol: So what you waiting for, got some catching up to do now.....at least another 4 blocks before bedtime :lol:

At least! I'm running on adrenalin now after all that excitement!

K x

Oh you will be spinning them out faster than every now K :lol: :lol:

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Can't wait to see the quilt that comes out of this.

Hey, that looks like one I started years ago. Yours looks better. I was doing mine like paper piecing on muslin and I got bored and it, probably, will be forever a UFO. NICE JOB!

I made 4 more blocks last night so only 7 more to go! Jaque, i get a bit obsessive about a 'new' thing but if I don't get it finished while I'm 'in the zone' it could end up a UFO! But with a 6 year old boy hanging over my shoulder asking if it's nearly done... not much chance of that!

K x

Here it is! Well, the top anyway! I'm out of batting so have to wait for more but Joey's pleased with it. He chose one of the new fabrics that arrived in the post this morning for the border and I think he's got a good eye!

K x

Well hasn't that just turned out great!!!!

Speedy work too, awwhh how frustrating to be out of batting, do you have a local shop for your supplies or do you have to buy online K?

I ordered some online last night Izy, but it'll take 7 to 10 days! Yeah it is frustrating but I should keep a better track of my supplies! The nearest shop is 1 & 1/2 hours away.

K x