I can't believe I stayed up until 2 AM working with this ugly fabric! I was trying to downsize my stash yesterday by cutting scrappy fabric into 2" and 5" (charm sized) squares and jelly roll sized strips. I was on a roll and about 12 midnight, when I should have been quitting, I came to this fabric. I almost tossed it because patchwork fabric scraps don't do well turning them into randomly cut 2" squares or 2 1/2 inch strips and they weren't big enough for the 5" charms. Then I remembered seeing where someone had cut "pieced" prints into 4-patch squares, so I decided to try it. I cut all I could from the scraps that were large enough and then started fooling with layout...and went to bed at 2:00. I have enough to make 10 blocks and will fussy cut 2" squares from some of the fabric that I could use in borders or something. Is it worth spending this much time with ugly fabric. What will I do with 10 blocks?

They arent ugly anymore! I love the blocks!

Really nice. I do my best planning at night. They will make a nice quilt top. I also cut small fabrics into my "lumberyard" 2 x 4 1x4 4x4 5x5 etc. Such a great idea. Woould love to see the finished quilt top. Have fun.

Put some alternate blocks and maybe a border - at least you could get a lap quilt or child's quilt for charity out of it, and it would look like more work that it actually was.

Make the quilt. It will find a home:)

Well, I tried posting a picture of the original fabric, but I just put up the one of the blocks twice, must have clicked on the same picture both times. I think someone gave me a pile scraps from a shirt factory. They all look like 70's shirts to me. Remember when they had all those bold colors?
I'll see if I can attach the picture here. The 4-patch are only 3" square, so the blocks aren't turning out very big. Guess a lap quilt is in the making. I could sew some of the 2" squares together and make some more 4-patch until I get 12 blocks. That may be a better size to work with...3 blocks by 4 blocks.

I like them. I don't think they're ugly at all. I like the layout, and turning them on point was a good idea. If it were me, I might use the larger floral and continue cutting and have an 8" square in the center of these which would spill over into the squares you have here and look like a "piecy" (is that a word?) bouquet. But, you said scraps, so you probably don't have enough of it for that. You'll find something appropriate I'm sure. Your avatar is beautiful and you seem to be on the right track with this. And, as far as staying up til 2am, I've been up til 6 or 7, still stitchin'. Hey, when you're on a roll, you have to go for it. LOL
Oopsy! While I was typing you posted more.... thought all the squares were separate. My bad! Guess you couldn't use just the floral... I have faith you'll find something appropriate for the spaces between, though. Keep us posted on your progress.

I like it! a bright blue would make the flowers POP!

It looks great the way you have cut the fabric and pieced the blocks... Why not find some other fabrics to alternate with those blocks, and experiment with layout? I think it's going to make a nice quilt!

Thanks for all the encouragement and ideas. I think it's growing on me. Maybe I will keep going. I'll post the final whenever it gets done. (I may store the blocks for awhile. Too many other irons in the fire.)

I thought with all the scraps I had that I could cut out more of the 3" 4-patches, but as you can see from the second pic I posted, the scraps are just not quite big enough. I think I'll try cutting some border pieces that are rows of the patchwork, so I don't have to do quite so much piecing back together of fussy cut squares.

I absolutely love how they look. You could make an oversized, summery bag with them. Or use them for pillowcase edgings. I'm sure they'll look as pretty to you as they do to me once you get the 2am sleep out of your eyes. Coffee!!! :-)

i think they look really nice...the right sashing will really bring out their beauty...

Well, there you go! Quilters are so creative....and goodness knows we can take the smallest of pieces & turn it out to something spectacular!
Maureen

This is not ridiculous. This is what we do, we quilters. That is why we have so much fabric, so many started projects and so many finished ones to bless someone else with. Go for it! You will like it better than you think. There is always someone who wants it or needs and so many places to donate your works of heart to. And your Avatar pic is SUPER !!!

A young person would love that. It brings to mind the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer....surfin, hangin out, etc. I really like what you have done. Keep up the great work and I can't wait to see it finished.

I like your bag idea. Hmmmm....wheels keep turning...why do I have other projects I really need to work on...this one just keeps calling me back! Who would have ever thought this ugly fabric would keep me in such a creative stew?!?!?! It's international quilt day, I should take the day off to do the creative, right?

I love the way you have the blocks arranged in the first picture. You could use 9 blocks set on point with sashing and borders for a crib quilt; the extra block could go on the back. The key is choosing the right fabric to frame these blocks -- probably a calm fabric in the right color, shade & intensity.

You can always donate it to charity if you don't like it

This is great recovery and use of fabrics to their best advantage!

I love what you did with the scraps. Very creative of you.

remember - the ugly duckling turned into the beautiful swan!

I really like it, You had a neat idea and making it work. Nice way to use your scraps.

Can't wait to see your finished quilt!

I think they are great and remind me of Hawaii - never been there, but hope to one day soon.

i would put a dark blue frame of strips around each block to enlarge it, then cut a solid block of the lightest color to match the new size and alternate them on point. if you then add both colors as borders, it will greatly increase the size. you could end up with a cuddle quilt.

very nice job

Which is the ugly fabric? I don't see any ugly fabric!

Blocks look good

One person's ugly is another person's beauty. I think it is actually quite nice.

A good use of your time. I bet you have a perfect fabric to go with them and turn it into a pretty quilt. This will get your creative juices flowing.

I like the fabric, I think the blocks are nice myself.... :-)

I like them - a lot! I'm sure tomorrow late night you will have a plan!

I think they're neat..kinda 'homey' looking. Love the colors

I agree.

Ugly fabrics make the best quilts.

Put them on point as you have them with a whole fabric block in between. Right now the carpeting is looking like the block in between.

You stayed up late and the last two days I have gotten up at unGodly hours in order to get quilting done. I'm glad someone else is as crazed as I am.

I like those very much!

They are cute - kind of "Japanesey".

Look what a person can do with those "Dogs" we all have in our stash.

I love it!

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I am beholding some beautiful blocks.

I think that they are beautiful.