One of my 2020 goals this year with regards to quilting is to get my scraps back under control. I know…I have a lot. That happens when you make a lot of quilts. I know I make a lot of SCRAP quilts, but I also created scraps recently with all those backings from charity quilts and cut offs from them. Then I recently made my niece’s quilt, my grand-niece’s quilt and finished that BOM and a few more tops. In doing each of these, I created scraps. By far the majority were created with the backing trimmings from the charity quilts, but I am constantly producing small pieces of fabric that I don’t want to refile on the shelves.

I’ve just been collecting them and not dealing with them. As much as I’d like to cut them up as I go along, sometimes, if not often, I’m on a roll and to stop and deal with scraps would seriously hinder progress. I think you know what I mean. It’s a matter of focus. When one has the idea she/he has to “do” something, every other thing you stop and do first or along the way hinders progress on that particular quest. Whether or not it is right, it is how it is.

All that to say that one of my quilting goals (my main new one for this year) is to work with scraps at least 15 min. a day average - for a total of 3 hours a week (I’ll skip Sunday -other things going on). Then, if possible and I’m not in the middle of something else, the more I can do, the better, so the 15 min. is a minimum. If it takes all year, then it takes all year. I’m hoping that I can get on a roll and get done before the first six months are gone. I guess it’s not a very lofty goal is it? A lofty one would be to deal with it all this month. I’m not doing that to myself, though.

So what’s that go to do with this quilt top?

Well, I went back over to read in Pat Sloan’s group on Facebook - I do occasionally go over and read in other people’s groups. She is having a quilt along with this pattern in January and the goal is to use up scraps.

I thought, “Why not - it looks easy - esp. since we are using 2.5” strips.”

So, the first thing I did when starting to work on my strips was decide that making this quilt top would be a fine thing to try. I decided to do it in brights. So, I quickly picked out some bright pieces and already cut 2.5” strips - some leftover from binding various quilts lately - and made this top.

Note: I first really started designing quilts in 2015 with Pat Sloan’s “Challenges” - it was my jump into this sphere - and I feel a bit of a loyalty and warm fuzzies towards her because of that - even though I doubt she has a clue who I am!

You can get your own copy of her pattern here.

You can download the free download - it’s not coming from OUR website when you do - it’s hers. This is just a link to that place. Take a few minutes and look around while you are there if you like.

I also did make an extra square on the border so that the top would start out 60” wide. I also made it a 3x4 layout and not 3x3 - just to make it a little longer than 56” - which is okay - but longer is better, IMO.

So, it was truly quick and easy - I got it done in a day. True, I used a lot of strips I already had cut or I cut them out of somewhat large pieces. For example, the coral is leftover backing pieces, the red was most already cut into strips. The fluorescent green was already cut, etc. It is also quicker to work with 2.5” strips instead of my normal 2” ones. As a result, this was very quick to do.

I asked my husband to take another picture with his drone for me. (His new toy…oops, Christmas present).

He’s practicing his pilot skills AND his photo taking ability. He really wants to take it on an archaeological dig with him to Israel this summer and get some good pictures while he’s there.

(For those of you who are new here, he’s got a PhD in the Old Testament and often teaches Old Testament - from the Bible - courses to seminary students). I think the camera itself isn’t as good as mine - but I love the fact that he can get a flat photo by hovering over the top of the quilt top!

And that’s it for this one. It’s pretty straight forward, but I like how bright and cheerful it is. Maybe I like it even more because it’s gray and not-so-pretty here in Poland in January!

And that’s it for this quilt top. It finishes a nice lap size. I didn’t see any point in making it a big quilt - I was in the mood for quick and easy.

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So - were you curious which quilts I made as a result of Pat’s 2015 “Challenges”?

In this case, the “challenge” was when she gave a block and you used it to make up your own design using it. This year she’s doing a “quilt along” where she is giving the whole pattern - you just make it as it is already designed.

First of all - all of them were done with upcycleds. That was part of my own challenge to myself - just to make it a bit harder AND I was having a hard time knowing what to attempt to do with only upcycled materials. I was just beginning my quest to use upcycleds for 5-10 quilts a year.

The first one was Hip to be Square (her name of the block) and I made this one - I named it “Feelin’ Blue” - no pattern, as I’ve not figured up how to tell you how to do that border. :)

Then she gave us this long log cabin, which I didn’t particularly like - too big - too hard to make interesting: But that’s where I accepted the challenge. Upcycleds AND make it interesting. No pattern - Don’t like the block enough to work on this one any more than I did. I added the sashings with star points to brighten it up and make it fun.

Then she gave us this other long block which I had the hardest time liking. It was just so big with little half square triangles on the corners - an elongated churn dash block. I almost despaired making this one - still wasn’t thrilled with it. I named it Rectangle Whimsy. No pattern. Never will be. I do not like the block. I added the dark sashing and light cornerstones to give the quilt some point of emphasis.

Then I did two more - they were made from autumn colored pieces - she gave us a mosaic block - so I made this one - Autumn Splendor from it - The block is in EQ and my layout is mine - so someday I will do the pattern. I’m quite pleased with how it turned out!

And she gave us a star block to make something with - so I “reversed it” and made this one: I named this one Autumn Wishes and someday I will write up this one as well. I put mine on point and added a checkerboard border. By reversing the star points - making them light and the backgrounds darker, it changed the look of the quilt compared to how most other people did theirs.

I was hoping for more challenges (by that mean, I mean her giving us a block and we were to make a quilt with it). Alas, I didn’t see anymore. But then I got busy with my own stuff.

And now you know! Have a great day wherever you are reading this!

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But WAIT!

But…the thought has been rumbling around in my brain - would any of you be interested in “challenges” - maybe one every other month - you make the rules as to how many blocks, sashings, layouts - I only give you the block - the size of the pieces and finished block. You then make a top and enter it into a page on the blog and at the end, we have a drawing for a prize from among those who entered a top.

??

Let me know what you think. This is how I really got started designing. I had FUN taking a simple block and trying to make it “interesting” - or at least pretty/fun - with my upcycleds.

Just tell me what you think in the comments - here or on the Facebook group or page. It would NOT be a competition - just a challenge - everyone who enters would have an equal opportunity/chance to win. The idea would be to use up scraps - not necessarily to buy more fabric.

Thanks.

Be sure to check out what my sis has for you in the store!