Isn't that the cutest snowman fabric! I was so happy when I found it in the fabrics that were gifted to me.

Thank you for your kind words regarding the quilts and FMQ. I am trying some different FMQ and having fun.

WTG, Kiddo. But it's bigger than she is

I vow to bust 250 yards of stash this year.
I already started. Truly I have.

And I know you will do it too Beth. Can't wait to see everyone's creative creations.

This Modern HST piece (41" square) is from leftover stash when I made a similar wall hanging for a friend at work. It fits the stash-busting, the UFO-finishing, and the no-fabric-buying threads. A triple whammy!

I love the quilting but it looks like a lot of starting and stopping. How do you start and stop your threads? Everyone seems to have their own way of doing things. Yours looks very neat.

Love this quilt, I have some leftover dark colored 5.5" squares that I wasn't sure what to do with - well now I know! They are hunter green, navy blue, browns, tans, oranges, etc. I think they will do just perfectly for a small quilt.

Beautiful quilt Martina. I too love the quilting on it--inspired. Good job with your goals!

Thanks, and yes - there was A LOT of starting and stopping. I used the side of the walking foot as my guide so I could maintain reasonable consistency. When I start, I set my stitch length to .4mm, bring the bobbin thread up and sew 5-7 stitches at that length. Then I switch to 3 mm and continue the line until I reach the end (well, JUST before). At that point, I go back to the .4 mm and repeat the short stitches to close the line. Trim threads and go to the next line.

To make it easier, I toggle between the straight stitch (for the 3 mm) and the zigzag stitch (for the short stitches). I set my zigzag to 0 width and .4 length - my machine has a memory option. So when I toggle, I immediately have the correct setting and don't need to fiddle with it every start and stop.

What a beautiful quilt madquilter. Nice job on the quilting. Sounds like you have your system down to a science.

This challenge was made for me!! I'm trying to use up my scraps. It's Much slower cutting and piecing individual patches than strip piecing but for now I'm enjoying it. I will try to post a picture later but usually have no luck with that. I love my smartphone because. I can post my pics to facebook so easily.
I have lots of fabric and my goal is to make all my quilts this year from stash.

It's a beautiful quilt and excellent quilting Martina! And congrats on hitting three topics with one quilt!!!

Madquilter congrats upon finishing your modern quilt. what a wonderful saturated color scheme. The quilting also stands out and goes with it perfectly. Beautiful!

Hang in there Cindy. It will be worth it. Are you working on anything in particular or just cutting your scraps up right now?

Anna I'm working on a split 16 patch. Totally random, just half light and half dark. I'm using 2.5 in patches and have a few more quilts in mind using those same patches, so am cutting up lots.

My goal for the year is to make 1 block a day using scraps. Of course I prefer to sew units, then put the blocks together so I don't actually finish one block a day, but I do get 7 or more a week... So far that is, the year is young and you know what they say about New Year's resolutions....

But I think I can keep it up. Each year I set a goal for my quilting and I almost always make it. I love to quilt!! That makes it easier.
What kind of quilts do you make Anna, Any hints on cutting and using scraps?

I busted a bunch of wool-blends that I've had for quite a while. The picture is under "Pictures." Yay!

http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...t-t239052.html

Lots of pretties on here! I'm really enjoying shopping my stash first. Discovered that I had bunches of focus fabrics (no surprise there) but my blenders and sashing type fabrics keep going away too quickly. So now I'm trying to focus more on those when I go shopping.

I am making comfort quilts for church members out of 4.5 inch scrappy blocks. My mom passed away on Monday and this brings me to a quiet place. I have 2 done and will do another one tomorrow.

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. It is nice that you can do your quilting to ease your pain. HUGS.

You have my sympathy!

I am so sorry to hear your mom passed away. I am glad that quilting gives you some comfort. My prayers are for you and the family in this time of loss.

Sorry to take so long to get back to you. I sort all fabric by either color or category like sea life, floral, Civil War or 1930. I also have bins with very small scraps mostly for paper piecing or applique. all those are by color. Then when I make a quilt I pull bins that fit my plan and then I cut. I do not think I could handle precutting everything if I have no plan or use for it yet. At times I also "kit" up scraps and a pattern and I collect till I have enough to do that pattern. so those are my home made kits. I really enjoy that process. Almost always I make scrap quilts. It is the fun part of quilting. I do make mostly controlled/planned scrappies.

quote-Each year I set a goal for my quilting and I almost always make it.

Wow! Maybe I should try and do one block a day. You just motivated me. I never meet my goal and in the meantime the scraps are reproducing.:D

One of the items I like to use to cut up scraps is a shape cutter. I have a friend with a Go and she offered the use of it to me so I might try that out too. I was impressed with the accuracy but due to the cost I am not in the market for it right now. It also seemed like that would be a little more waste. I think I like to use it on all this older fabric that didn't cost me as much.

Annaquilts,
I've been thinking of sorting thru my scraps and picking out the colors I want for my next quilt. That would be like your homemade quilt kits. I have aq few projects to finish up before I start that thought!

I'm still working on my scrap 16 patch. I'm trying to get a few "extra" done because I'm going to visit family next week and won't be able to make any. I do bring some handwork to keep me busy though.

Before you buy a die cutter read the book by Ebony Love
http://www.amazon.com/Little-Book-Fa...e+cutting+tips

I read it and found out that I bought the wrong die cutter. I bought the GO but should have bought the BigShotPro. I do like my GO cutter though. I use it all the time to cut up my scraps. The wast can be controlled by how you place the fabric on the die. The book tells you a lot about that.

Keep sewing,
Cindy

Anyone making progress here??

Cindy I was wondering about the Sizzix Big Shot Pro. I actually talked to them on a quilt show last week. I am not in the market right now but might be in the future.For now I could use the Go from my friend if I would want to but I will probably not. I try to avoid using expensive items from others on a regular or repetitive basis. Thanks about the positive feed back on equipment like that.

You are dedicated to working on your projects for quilting. Wow working ahead since you plan to go out of town.

I just finished a new quilt top, made entirely from scraps. Not just stash, but true scraps leftover from previous quilts. Even the sashing & borders were scraps - off-cuts from a backing on a previous quilt, and there's enough left for binding I think. I'm making this a true stash-buster quilt - the batting will be pieced from some cuts I was gifted and the backing will be a piece (or pieces) of flannel from my stash. When it's done, it will head off to Victoria's Quilts Canada.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]458820[/ATTACH]

I'm in also. According to my husband I will die before my stash is used. Lol

Stash buster a little
 

The bird is a block that I made for a row quilt that is in my guild. And the Bargello table runner is my first. Both from stash only no shopping

Oh, Krista, what a beautiful quilt. And Tiger that cardinal is just gorgeous. Nicely done, both of you!

Tiger, where did you get the cardinal pattern? I'd like to have it in my arsenal. It is really cute. You did a great job with it.

Krista--great scrappy. I love how it is both scrappy and clean, organized look.

I finished up a top tonight using mostly scraps and a tiny bit of red yardage from my stash. I don't know the purpose yet for it, but I like it so it may just end up on our wall.

I used leftovers from my french braid quilt top I finished up last weekend, with 2 fat quarters from my stash that suited the scraps.

Now just some backing and batting.

Love it Yukon!

I'm not finished, but I have 100 scrappy split 16 patch blocks made. I need to figure out how to set them now.

scrappy 16 patch
 

Here's a photo:

Scrappy squares
 

Here's one I made with 2 inch squares. This one is finished.

Here's another top that isn't finished, scrappy trips:

Here's a doll quilt I made for my grandbaby:

I have to repeat what Lots2do says... Krista, great colors and congrats on using up some scraps. Tiger, LOVE the cardinal, I'm not a fan of PP but that one looks like its' totally worth the work. Where can I find the pattern?
cindy

I found the cardinal pattern here:
http://www.paperpanache.com/ecart/Pcard.htm

cindy