A Little Quilt from Grandma

As a child, I loved playing with dolls.  Grandma knew that.  When she had some fabric leftover from making aprons, she made doll quilts for me and my sisters.  This little quilt was used to tuck in some of my favorite dolls back then.      

I have not outgrown my love of dolls.  I have kept some of my favorites from childhood and have built up quite a collection of bears.  My doll quilt is still cherished and every so often I'll bring it out and display it with some of the bears and dolls in my collection.

This quilt was the inspiration for "Granny Stars"--one of the patterns in my Little Dolly's Too pattern packet. You can find the pattern on my website: http://carolsscrapquilts.webs.com. 

Wonder if this bear has invited others to the picnic???   

Another "Oldie"

Last week was a crazy busy week so I did not have a chance to post.  I spent 3 days at the NQA show in Columbus.  Once again I was wowed by the beauty and creativity displayed in the quilts there.  There were many quilts with detailed applique; many with amazing machine quilting; and as usual, the ribbon winners were stunning.  I admire the determination it takes to see such a project through to the end!
The Blazing Star quilt that my grandma made for my parents took determination, too!  That is one design that must be pieced carefully so that it lies flat, especially in the center. 

This quilt was long-forgotten until I found it at the bottom of Mom's cedar chest when I was preparing her house for sale.  Like the 2 quilts I showed in previous blogs, it is thin and worn--signs that it was used often and well-loved. 
Grandma made these quilts in the late 40's and into the 50's.  I'm intrigued by the fact that the colors in these quilts are 30's colors--pastels.  Makes me wonder just how far back Grandma's scrap bag went!!!  I will most likely never know.

A Very Traditional Quilt

Grandma's smaller apron and dress fabric scraps went into this Dresden Plate quilt.  I'm guessing that she acquired scraps from her quilting friends, too, because of the variety of fabrics in this quilt.  This one was used on my older sister's double bed (she had her own room!!!). 
The "plates" were pieced by hand and hand appliqued to the background squares.  The blocks were set together by machine, however.  Grandma had a sewing machine--one that started out as a treadle, but was converted to an electric machine somewhere along the line.  That machine saw lots of activity because Grandma loved to sew. 
This quilt was hand quilted by the church quilting ladies.  Even though it was often washed (because it was used and loved), the quilting stitches are still intact.  Those church ladies did quality work.  :) 

The beginning of my love of scrap quilts

I've decided to share with you the vintage scrap quilts in my collection.  Perhaps they will inspire you as you work with your own collection of scraps.
My grandmother was a quilter.  She made quilts for the family from scraps leftover from making house dresses and aprons.  My sister and I slept under Sunbonnet Sue quilts that Grandma made for us.  My quilt was sashed/bordered in green (pictured).  Grandma used pink to sash/border my sister's.
Black embroidery stitches accent the appliqued Sunbonnets.  And the hand quilting was done by the ladies in Grandma's church quilting group.  My sister and I have fun reminiscing about the aprons Grandma made for us when we see certain fabrics in these quilts.  And I like to think that I came by my love of scrap quilts by osmosis...sleeping under this quilt as I grew up!

  It is ragged in some places because it was used.  But that also shows how much it has been loved. :)

Taming a Scrap Quilt

Scrap quilt blocks tend to be "busy" with all the different fabrics being put together.  Unless you like the busy-ness, it is necessary to calm things down.  How do you do this?  By strategic use of a solid fabric. The solid fabric gives the eye someplace to rest as one studies the overall design of the quilt top. 
Makers of old scrap quilts used muslin as their background fabric.  Some chose a solid coordinating color fabric for the sashing between their scrappy blocks. 
Unbleached muslin, white and black are all good solid fabric choices.  Audition each against your scraps to see which one shows off the colors in your blocks the best.  If there is a predominant color in your scrap blocks, perhaps that would be a good solid color choice.  Other colors to try in sashing, borders or cornerstones are teal and brown. 
Lay out your blocks against your chosen colors, either on the floor or on your design wall.  Stand back and study the layout.  The color choice(s) will become obvious.  (If you find that you need to shop for your solid fabric, be sure to take all of your scrap blocks to the store with you.  Find a spot where you can lay the blocks against several colors, stand back and decide.  Again, the color choice should become obvious.)  How satisfying to find just the right color to show off your scraps!   

Use Your Scraps, Part 7

In previous blog posts I have given you suggestions for strips, squares and triangles.  If you have sorted your scraps, you have probably found fabric chunks that do not fit into any of those categories, and you might be wondering what to do with those.
An easy solution is to create your own fabric from them by sewing them together.  You can combine the colors randomly or sort so that you are only using neutrals, only greens, only reds, etc.  The most important "rule" when creating your scrappy fabric is to make sure you are joining STRAIGHT edges.  This will insure that your finished fabric will lie nice and flat.  So, once the fabric chunks have been pressed, trim a straight edge on each scrap and pair up the scraps according to the length of the straight edge.  Stitch with a 1/4" seam and press the seam allowance to one side.  Trim a straight edge on this pair of scraps and add another scrap to it.  Continue to add pieces in this way until your new fabric is large enough to cut your desired shape from it.
Leftover pieced units from previous quilt projects can be worked into this fabric in the same way as other fabric scraps.  I like to sort my scraps into "large" and "small" before beginning to create my fabric.  I piece the small scraps together when I know that I will be making small blocks.  I piece the larger scraps together when I know that I will be making large blocks. 
For more detailed instructions on making scrappy pieced fabric, check the "How-To" tab on my website:  http://carolsscrapquilts.webs.com.  
Have fun creating your own unique fabric!   

Use Your Scraps, Part 6

Many quilt projects result in half-square triangles being left behind.  Once you have a collection of them, turn them into squares.



Cut a strip of background fabric that is wider than your largest triangle is tall.  Place the half square triangles along the edge of the strip--raw edges of long side of the triangle matching to the raw edge of the strip.  Stitch them in place.









Cut the triangles apart, leaving extra fabric around each one.  Press the seam toward the dark fabric.  Using a small square ruler, align the seam with the 45 degree line on the ruler to square up each triangle square. 

Once they are all squared up, the squares can be trimmed down to the size needed for your project.  Be careful of the edges of the background fabric.  They are now on the bias, so handle the finished squares carefully.

(To end up with edges that are not on the bias, cut squares of background fabric slightly larger than the short side of your half square triangle.  On the wrong side of the fabric, draw the diagonal of the square.  Match the long side of the half-square triangle to the drawn line.  Stitch the triangle in place, using the drawn line as a guide for your 1/4" seam.  Add another triangle to the other half of the square.  Cut apart on the drawn line.  Press seam allowance toward the dark and square up as above.)
Great scrappy quilts can be made from these new 1/2 square triangles--pinwheels are fun.  Be creative and play with the design possibilities. 

Use Your Scraps, Part 5

Here's another idea for using your charm squares--a fun way to make 4-patch squares.  Right sides together, pair up a print charm square with a solid square of the same size.  Using a 1/4" seam allowance, stitch the squares together on opposite sides.  Then cut the sewn squares apart through the center (the cut will be parallel to the stitched edges). 

Press the seam allowances toward the print fabric.  Right sides together, place one pressed square on top of the other, with the print rectangle on top of the plain rectangle below and the plain rectangle on top of the print rectangle below.  The center seams should butt nicely to each other.  Pin in place.  Using a 1/4" seam allowance, stitch along the opposite outer edges--this stitching will be perpendicular to the center seams.

Again, cut the squares apart through the center--parallel to the seams you just sewed.  Open out and press.  You now have two 4-patch squares!  Square up as necessary.

I think this technique is perfect for those charm squares with pinked edges-- which I find so hard to work with!  Because of the way these 4-patch blocks are constructed, those pinked edges disappear!
Try this...you will like it!  :)

Use Your Scraps, Part 4

Do you have a collection of Charm Squares?  If so, are you wondering what to do with them? 
Here's a quick and easy idea:  Put them in a paper bag and mix them up.  Draw them out one at a time (without peeking) and sew them together as you draw them out.  Charm squares typically measure 5", so once they are sewn with a 1/4" seam allowance, they will finish 4 1/2".  For a lap quilt that measures ~45" x 45", you will need 100 charm squares. 
Idea #2:  Draw the diagonal line on the wrong side of each charm square.  Pair a print square with a solid background square, right sides together.  Stitch 1/4" either side of the drawn line.  Cut on the drawn line and press the seam allowance toward the print.  You will end up with a collection of 1/2 square triangle blocks that can be arranged on your design wall as you wish. 
Other ways to cut charm squares:  cut in 1/2 vertically or horizontally to create 2 pieces 2 1/2" x 5".  Use these for scrappy Rail Fence blocks.
Cut into quarters, creating four 2 1/2" squares. Make scrappy 4-Patches or 9-Patches from an assortment of these small squares. 
As you are shopping for quilt patterns, seek out those that use charm squares.  :)

Using Your Scraps, Part 3

More ideas for using your collection of fabric strips...Sew the strips to foundation blocks. 
From any thin fabric you have in your stash, cut squares--anywhere from 6 1/2" to 10 1/2" square.  (The larger your square, the longer the strips will need to be to cover the square, so determine the size of your foundation square by the lengths of the strips in your collection.  Another thing to think about--the smaller your foundation square, the more of them you will need to make a large quilt top.)
You will cover the foundation square with the fabric strips, using the sew and flip technique, then you will trim the outer edges back to the size of your foundation square. 
Begin in the center of your square.  Lay one strip, right side up, across the diameter (or near diameter) of the square.  The ends of the strip should hang over the edges of the square.  The next strip you choose can be a bit shorter than the first.  Place it on top of the first strip, RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER, matching the long edge on the right-hand side.  Stitch along this edge, using a 1/4" seam allowance.  Open out the stitched strip and finger press the seam.  Choose another strip, a bit shorter than the one it is next to (but be sure that it covers the foundation square) and repeat the process.  Continue choosing and sewing strips until the entire right-hand side of the foundation square is covered.  Rotate the square and do the same to cover the other side of the foundation square. 

 At this point, it will no longer look square.  Turn the entire piece over so that your foundation square is visible.  Using your square ruler and rotary cutter, trim the block to the original size of your foundation square. (Your foundation square may have shrunk with the stitching.  If so, do not follow the edges of the foundation square, but trim the block to the size it was to begin with.)
You can choose the color of the strips at random for a true scrappy look.  Or, you can use the same color strip down the center of each block and put light strips on one side and dark strips on the other.  Play with the placement of the blocks when you are ready to set them together.  Alternating the direction of the strips creates interesting designs.  Use my pictures for inspiration and have fun!!! 

A Bump in the Road

Well, so much for resolutions!  I'm already a couple of days late in blogging this week, and this post will NOT be about scrap quilts.  I am playing nursemaid to a husband who had surgery on Tuesday to repair a broken ankle.  I had good intentions of continuing with ideas for using fabric strips, but my brain is not into it right now and my time is spent doing other things.  Each day is getting a little easier, though, so next week I'll be back with some strip quilt ideas, complete with pictures.  Stay tuned!  (PS:  so glad that I'm a quilter!  Helps to keep my sanity!!!) :)

Use Your Scraps, part 2

Have you been piecing strips together?  Along the long edges?  Making strips of multiple strips so that you have pieces that are 6"- 8" wide?  If so, are you now wondering what to do with them??
Interesting quilt tops can be made merely by cutting squares from these pieced strips. 
--Cut 6 1/2" squares across the strips.  Lay them out so that alternate strips are horizontal while the others are vertical (a Rail-Fence type layout).  Mix up the colors as you lay out the squares.  A baby quilt, finishing 36" x 42",  will use 42 squares (set 6 x 7).  Cut more squares for a larger quilt.
--If you have the width to do so, lay your square ruler on the pieced strips so that the strips are on the diagonal of the square.  (Cutting the squares this way will require more pieced strips than the first method...but triangles resulting from this cutting method can be pieced together to form more squares.)  Lay out these squares so that alternate strips are pointing in opposite directions and play around with color placement.  Some interesting designs can result.
--You can also just alternate a strip square with a solid color square and do some fancy quilting in the solid square.
Use your imagination and be creative.  You will be amazed at the quilt you can make just by piecing together your leftover strips!    

Use Your Scraps, part 1

The whole point of sorting your scraps and leftovers is NOT storing them.  The real point of sorting is knowing what you have so you can begin to use your scraps and stash.  :)
Keep your eyes open for patterns that use the stash items you have.  In the meantime, pull out some strips, small squares or half-square triangles.  Press them so they are flat and ready to work with.  Keep a box of them next to your sewing machine and use pairs of them** as "run-offs" while you are piecing other projects. (**Pair up your squares or triangles by light/dark.  Strips can be paired up according to length; choose colors at random.)  Before you know it, you will have enough of these units to use in a quilt top!

Boxes, Bags, Bins

If you are like me, as you've sorted your scraps, you've put them in boxes, bags and bins that you've had on hand. The 18-gallon plastic totes hold a lot!  Large shopping bags do too.  Shoe boxes, computer paper boxes and smaller totes are good depending on the size of the scrap collection.  If you choose clear plastic containers, you can easily see what is inside.  Label other containers with the contents.
My favorite containers for not only scraps, but also projects in progress, are the flat boxes I gather at my local Aldi store (a bulk-type grocery store).  Because of the way I store my scraps, they need to be pressed before I can work with them.  As I press them, I put them into a flat box so they stay nice and flat.  As pieces are cut for a quilt project, they go into their own flat box so they are all together when I am ready to begin putting them together.  I keep a flat box next to my sewing machine.  Pieced items that need to be pressed before the next step can be easily carried to and from the ironing board. And if I get interrupted and the project has to be put away, it goes into its own flat box, ready for me to pick it up and start again. 
(These flat boxes fit nicely inside an 18-gallon tote!  I have a lot of them stored inside MY 18-gallon totes...projects waiting to be completed and already pressed leftovers from previous projects...they will get used eventually!)

Storing Scraps, Part 3

I am not UNorganized.  I am not VERY organized.  I store my scraps and leftovers in ways that draw from both of these styles.  So, I call myself SOMEWHAT organized.
All of the charm squares that I have collected over the years are in one box.
Smaller squares are in their own zip-lock bags, somewhat sorted by size.
1/2 square triangles (those that haven't been passed on to a friend who makes miniature quilts) are in THEIR own zip-lock bag  
All of the strips leftover from projects are overflowing the large antique crock in which I put them. (I really do need to plan a strip-pieced quilt!)
Small scraps of fabric (smaller than 1/4 yard) are stuffed into a couple of plastic totes...a ready source for applique or scrappy piecing.
Larger pieces of leftover fabric (including fat quarters) are stored in boxes according to color.
My collections of 30's reproduction fabrics and late 1800's reproduction fabrics are in their own boxes.
And within my sewing room, I know where to find each of these collections. When I'm ready to start my next scrap quilt project, I dig into the collection I need.  That's when the fun begins! 

Storing Scraps, Part 2

So, how organized are you?  Unorganized, somewhat organized or very organized?
If you are a very organized person, perhaps you don't even like the idea of having fabric SCRAPS!
You are one who takes the fabric leftover from a quilting project and cuts it up right away into pieces that will be useable in a future project.  You cut 2 1/2" strips, 2 1/2" squares, 5" squares, or any other size squares you can comfortably get from your leftover fabric.  You then store these new pieces in their own (carefully labeled) containers so you know just where to find them. (Perhaps you even sort them by color...)  When you are ready to make your next quilt, scrap or otherwise, your pieces are all cut and ready to use.
I wish I were that organized, but I'm not.  Next week I'll tell you how a somewhat organized person stores her fabric scraps.  :)

Storing Scraps, Part 1

How should you store the fabric scraps you have decided to save?

That depends on the type of person you are.  Are you unorganized?  Somewhat organized?  Very organized?

If you are unorganized, you will use the easiest way to store fabric scraps.  Just stuff them into whatever container you have available--a bag, a box, a plastic tote, etc.  Each time you decide to make a scrap quilt, finding fabrics to use will be a new adventure for you.  You probably won't remember what you have stuffed into the containers, so you will have the joy of dumping them out and sorting through a mountain of scraps.  This will take some time, but on a day when you really don't feel like sewing, but still want to play with fabric, this will be the perfect activity.  As you sort, you will recall the projects you made with the various fabrics, too.  Just don't get too involved remembering that you forget your original task--finding fabric for the scrap quilt you want to make.  Happy sorting!  :)

Throw them away???

What can be done with the fabric scraps you do not want?
If they are too small to work with, you could just throw them away.
But, there are some "greener" alternatives:
--Check with your Humane Society to see if they take "dog pillows."  If so, make a pillow casing from unwanted fabric and stuff it with all your fabric scraps, even those pieces you trim off as you are squaring up your quilt blocks or trimming seam allowances.
--Is there any organization in your area that collects scrap fabric because they can sell it and get $$ for it?

If you have larger fabric scraps that you have decided you do not want:
--find a group that makes charity quilts (your church, for instance).  They will welcome your fabric donations.
--pass your unwanted fabric on to a quilting friend who likes to work with scraps or one who likes to make miniature quilts. 

Since quilters were the original recyclers, we should do our part to keep fabric scraps from the landfills...
:)

What scraps to save

You've decided to save your fabric scraps.  But what should be saved?  When is a fabric scrap too small to be saved?
--You need to allow a 1/4" seam all around a scrap whether you are piecing or doing applique.  If the fabric scrap is too small once you take away the 1/4" seam allowance, then the scrap can be discarded.
--What size scrap are you comfortable working with?  If you do not want to work with small pieces of fabric, then the scrap is too small for you to save.
 
Small fabric scraps can be pieced together to make larger fabric, but many small pieces means many seam allowances.  That means a bulky (and bumpy) finished piece of larger fabric.

Ultimately, the decision of what fabric scraps to save is up to you.  Have fun deciding!

New Year's Resolution

One of my New Year's resolutions was to get back to my blog (before blogspot throws me out).  So, I will try to post weekly, and my posts will focus on answers to some simple questions. 
First one:  WHY save fabric scraps?
I guess my first answer would be WHY NOT save fabric scraps???
--It's economical!  Once you have a nice collection of scraps, you can make some colorful and unique-to-you quilts.  You will save gas $$ by not having to go to the fabric store, too.
--It's ecologically sound ("green").  Why put perfectly good pieces of fabric in the trash??? (There are other ways to dispose of any scraps you choose not to save...that will be the subject of another blog posting.) 
So, if you don't already do so, why not make a New Year's resolution to start saving your fabric scraps?  It will definitely be worth it!