Scrapping along...

Finally finished the first scrappy quilt top. This one is made up of disappearing nine-patch blocks and then I added some offset squares in the corners. Originally I was going to add a small, maybe 3/4" border of navy blue at this point, and then another maybe 3" gray border before getting to the binding. But now that its pieced its 58.5" wide by 71.5" long --- a pretty large lap quilt, but not quite twin sized. I really just want to get to the machine quilting part. Still need to buy the batting. I'll probably jut back it with the navy....by the way, the gray and the navy are king-size sheets I bought at the thrift store...only $5 each!

The other scrap quilt is cut and pieced into small half-square-triangles, and I just need to decide how I want to lay it out.

Scrappy McScraperson

Turns out I have 6 posts in draft mode...just needing pictures. I best get on that. For now ---

I have a lot of fabric. I've shown my Drawer of Shame but that is only a small part of the stash. I have two whole other cabinets full of fabric. So, I have decided to use it all - Right Now!

I cut any cotton fabric smaller than a fat quarter into charms (5x5 in) and quarter-charms (2.5x2.5 in). Now I just have to piece them together.

I will be making a few scrappy quilts. I have gathered up some inspiration on pinterest and decided to make a large version of a latice quilt:

Source: modabakeshop.com via Julliana on Pinterest

This is a small carseat blanket but I plan on making at least a lap quilt, maybe twin size.
I'll just need to buy some white and some border fabric - or I could scrappify that too.

Another one I like is the Disappearing 9-patch...

Source: mypatchwork.wordpress.com via Julliana on Pinterest

...but it would take a lot of white that I would need to buy - so I may just use all scraps. That would be super bright and fun. Again, lap maybe twin size.

For the backings - I already have a blue and white striped sheet that I thrifted a while ago. Maybe I'll thrift another for the white and backing on the second quilt.

I've already cut charms, but I've seen some others that use 2.5" strips that are cool too. Do you have favorite scrappy quilts?

Fall Table Runner

I started this thing ages ago (that's a common theme with me) but it was just languishing in my sewing drawer. When I first started the quilting on it, somehow my tension was completely off and I couldn't fix it. At the time I was also working on my son's blessing outfit so I knew it wasn't just this project I was struggling with. So, I sent the machine in for a service. It came back great and I finished the blessing outfit but never got back to this quilt.

I did the binding on the machine and it turned out okay, not great. I followed this Quilt Binding Tutorial. I think if I bind on the machine again I'll have to either try harder to make it even, or get a binder foot attachment.

 I did the machine quilting myself and am quite proud of it. I used some cream thread and my darning foot. My stitches aren't very even (this is the best block) and my swirls are mostly awkward, but it was so fun! I am desperate to quilt something else - maybe a potholder?

I love the ricrac trim. I used matching thread and it turned out really nice.

Lessons Learned:

• Don't leave scissors lying around next to the quilt. Yes, Ben did cut about one inch into the quilt. Oh, well. That is the first time he's used the scissor successfully on his own...I guess that's a good thing. I just zig-zagged it together. The binding actually covered up about half of it...it adds character. :)
• Don't let the boys touch the sewing machine. Or even look at it, or think about looking at it. Ben actually put a button inside of the machine. Don't ask me how he did it, but it happened. I took the cover off to put oil in it and found a 1 inch button inside!
• Cut the back larger than the front. I cut it the exact size and in the quilting process it shrunk a bit. I had to trim the quilt a bit smaller, and it was no big deal, but next time I'll be sure to leave extra backing fabric.
• Even though I'm using the darning foot - presser foot must be down! Twice I didn't drop the foot, which is an easy mistake to make since the darning foot doesn't actually touch the quilt top. This caused the stitch tension to be off (of course on the backside so I didn't notice for a while) and I had to rip out two large chunks of work.