Tuesday, July 6, 2010

My 15 Minute Sew-Along

First I want to say thanks to Victoria for setting this challenge up. I haven't quilted in a few years (since my kids were born) and this is just the thing to get me back on the wagon.

My prerequisites with this project:
  1. I don't want to buy anything (all the supplies must come out of my stash)
  2. We are in the process of relocating (painful backstory is here) and so I can't find my rotary cutter, mat or even ruler (at least I have my machine!), so everything needs to be eye-balled and cut with a scissors. YIKES! (I am not going to buy temporary ones per Rule #1)
  3. I want to use this as a chance to practice my machine applique (since I currently suck at it) so I am not going to make square blocks (which is good since I don't have a ruler *giggle* )
So there it is. Here is what I have done so far:

The first thing I did was pull out my fabric stash (which I keep in a cardboard 4-drawer organizer sorted by color.) How does everyone else store their scrap stash? I think it is a pretty good system but really I do need a few more categories (like purple, whites, and novelty prints) I just don't have enough room to let my scraps take over another set of bins.

I tend to work in the blues and reds a lot so that is what I had the largest scrap selection of and those are the colors I started with. I am going to try to stay in the same color family and get a less scrappy look.
I started assembling the scraps completely randomly. I don't think it is the best way of doing it, but since I didn't have a rotary cutter I couldn't really square the pieces up. Instead I used the scissors to make semi straight edges on which I attached additional pieces of fabric.

Because I am going to cut down the pieces for applique, I ended up with wonky shaped pieces. (I think wonky is going to be a word I use a lot in this project!) :D


I must admit, I didn't really make a big dent in my stash, but it feels so good to be quilting again! Stay tuned for the big project I decided to tackle now that I have my scrappy fabric.

4 comments:

Victoria Findlay Wolfe said...

Nice start! I don't think there is a right or wrong way to make these blocks... Have fun, let loose...
as for scraps I keep mine in big plastic clear bins so I can see what is hiding at the bottom...sadly, I have about 6 large bins (the big ones) of scraps... solids, batiks, blues greens reds pinks etc..

WoolenSails said...

I love whonky, seems most of my quilts end up that way;)
I use a basket for my scraps, but it is getting out of hand, this challenge is a good way to start using them up.

Debbie

Michele said...

I love where you're going. And I really admire your resourcefulness. We can all learn from that.

What Comes Next? said...

love the "rooles" you've set for yourself! Ypur blocks are turning our great - I love the hearts you've already made from them. I've got to plastic bins and 2 large bags of scraps, plus a whole new pile accumulating in my sewing room floor! Must get organized...