sewbizgirl

Good for her! We should all do what we enjoy. To each, their own.

I LOVE cutting. Much more than sewing... and I agree, using scraps that would otherwise be tossed out is very satisfying. You can't put a dollar amount on that.

Is your wife actually cutting all 1" squares to put together? She could save a lot of time if she sewed 1" strips together and then cut. This also gives you a little more control with the smaller pieces. Just a thought.

1.5" squares are the smallest scraps I keep, tho I do keep down to 1" strips for string piecing.

AZ Jane

I did 1.5" when I did my daughter's Burgoyne Surround but I hated the cutting. After you have sewn them for a while, it's not too bad. But when you finish, 2.5" squares are humongous!!! LOL, it's all perspective!!

rosiewell

I can't wait to see the finished quilt, please keep us posted on the progress.

ThayerRags

I see where you’re going with this, but she already has her print fabric cut into 2” squares, so it won’t help to make strips with them. It could have, had she decided to use 1” strips, but she’s using 2” squares instead. Also, during her selection of 2” squares, only 6 squares of the same fabric print will be used, so it will end up being extremely scrappy with no repeating color scheme which using strips lends itself to very nicely.

So, yes, she will actually cut all 1” squares and sew them all together, but will be using the Bonnie K Hunter method from her book “Leaders & Enders” for most of the blocks while she works on other quilt projects. Sort of like “multi-tasking”. In other words, while she’s working on a table runner, small seasonal throw, or any other sewing project for the next several months, she will sew two of these 1” squares together as an ender every time she needs to remove work from her presser foot. She will sew two 1” squares together, or strips of them, instead of lifting her foot and cutting her threads. Once a mini 9-patch is completed, it will be set aside and another set of 1” blocks with a different print will become the leaders and enders.

There may be times when she sets down to simply make mini 9-patch blocks for the 99 Bottles quilt, but probably not that often. She’s going to take advantage of the Leaders & Enders method to get them done.

I should add that even though she does alterations and repairs at the shop for 9 hours each weekday, she usually sews at home for several hours each evening, so she spends a lot of time sewing. She won’t do any of these blocks at the shop, because of different stitch lengths, stitch patterns, and thread colors/types involved in alterations. She’ll make them all at home in the evenings and weekends.

Did I mention that my wife loves to sew?

CD in Oklahoma

MargeD

Now I like to cut up fabrics into little pieces, then sewing them together to make bigger pieces, etc. However, as much as I love a challenge, trying to sew 1" pieces is beyond my comfort zone. I have made a couple log cabin table runners using 1" strips and that is as low as I'll go. However, if this is what pleases your wife, encourage her.

JudyTheSewer

I like scrappy. I liked to sew fussy, small pieces (think Dear Jane quilt). This sounds like a fun project! However, I too would have to cut down squares or strips from my scrap drawers since the smallest size I cut is 1-1/2 inches. I look forward to seeing her progress on this beautiful quilt.

peaceandjoy

Joan Ford, designer of this quilt, has teamed with Quiltsmart to make interfacings for a couple of her patterns, this being one of them. If you scroll down in the link I previously referenced, you will see a mug mat made using the mini scrap grid, it's adorable. Here's another link, this time to Hummingbird Highway, Joan's website for books, patterns, notions, etc. There's a picture of the Quiltsmart grid with fabric laid out as well as several of the mug mats.
http://hummingbird-highway.com/patte...-2-panel-pack/

AlvaStitcher

I am currently working on a quilt top with scraps cut to 1 1/2". Like already stated, I can only work on it for so long though. Drives me buggy. I thought I had scads and scads of squares cut but it is amazing how soon those get used and I still have such a small top done! I have done minis before but I am finding now that I don't have the dexterity in my hands and fingers as I did several years ago. Harder and harder to pick up scraps of fabric or pins.

Luv Quilts and Cats

That's a lot of cutting. But if she works the quilt a little at a time, it will be done. I am not sure I would work with squares that small but I have seen many scrappy quilts that do and I do get tempted!

FroggyinTexas

If a piece is less than 2 1/2 inches--and that has to be a strip for a strip quilt--it goes in the trash or into a give away sack. froggyintexas