So Many Blocks
 

Hello everyone. I’m back at it with more questions…
I’m not a professional quilter meaning that I’ve never sold one. I’ve made a few but am self taught. This is why I have so many questions. 😉

Every time I make a quilt as a gift, I have blocks “leftover”. I say that they are leftovers because for one reason or another I didn’t like the way they looked in the quilt. I give it a few days and if I still don’t like it, I remake that block with a different fabric.

I’ve gathered about 2 quilts worth. What do I do with the blocks? They’re different designs and color combinations. Does anyone have any examples or inspiration to help me use them up? I’m think that I need something that I can do annually to wrap up my year.

Thank you for any advice!

The way I work, I will deliberately make a couple extra scrappy blocks per project because sometimes one just doesn't play well with the others. The term I hear most used is "orphan" blocks. Unfortunately, dealing with orphans is not one of my super powers, but many people on the board do wonderful things. From putting them together as samplers, to making placements or other projects, often people who make smaller donation projects actively want the orphans and I give them when I can.

I’ve made several orphan block quilts and love putting them together. If you like puzzles, this is a similar process. I begin with the larger blocks placing and spacing them out. Then begin filling in with smaller blocks and leftover tiny blocks. Occasionally I will have to add a strip or make something to fit the need. Using the larger blocks as a divider for large rows or sections helps. (Sorry but that part is difficult to explain. Hopefully, that makes sense).

Tabinfla: What a timely (for me!) question! My orphan block box is reaching overflow and Lena1952, your thoughts make sense to me. Thank you.

I have made placemats if I have more than one that would work together. Even as single mats you could donate them to meals on wheels or nursing homes. Great Xmas gifts for residents. Others I border enough to make little doll quilts. These can be given to charities for children

Keep in mind, that while we might call them "blocks" they are just fabric with seams. You can cut them into strips, resew them, and treat them as jelly rolls if you want. Doing a rail fence type thing with a consistent solid or two can help tie things together.

I find it hard to cut down my own blocks, but I have no such compunctions when I find a set of blocks in the thrift store or someone's UFO pile.

One of the ladies in my sewing group makes a variety of bags as gifts and for various organizations -- she's great about using just a single block (or a couple) with her own fabrics.

That's so pretty, Lena. I've been meaning to do something with my orphan blocks. You may have inspired me.

I have also made placemats out of orphan blocks and sub-units (some posted here) and it's a great way of using up other smaller pieces of fabric in your stash (for borders and backing). Another thing I have done is make gift bags out of them with a simple broadcloth (because that's what I had) lining - no batting. A couple of them have been seen at multiple Christmases now. Certainly simplifies wrapping!

I wanted a plain cream backing for my most recent quilt, but didn’t have quite enough fabric. So I took out a bunch of orphan blocks, made them all the same size by either adding small borders to float the smaller ones, or trimming the larger ones. I then stitched them into 2 rows with sashings between the blocks and between the rows.

Since it’s surrounded by so much white, it adds a nice pop of colour without hurting your brain.

Walker bags could be made from orphan blocks. Or make them into pockets on walker bags or other bags.