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This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and quilting message board “Sew What’s New,” which was retired in August 2007. It is being provided by “Sew What’s Up,” which serves as the new home for many members of “Sew What’s New.”
From: akire
Date: 03-18-2005, 07:36 AM (1 of 15)
Well, they are not all scraps technically...but I have two flat containers sitting under my craft table with lots of various materials that I've had forever. I want to use them up and get rid of them! I think I'm in need of a cleansing...lol. My friend runs a B&B and said if I make some quilts she'll put them in her shop to sell, so that's my motivation. Now, I need some good ideas for quilts that call for all sorts of fabrics...Can anyone recommend a pattern? Or is crazy quilting the best to use up everything? I've never done crazy quilting stitches, so that might be a snag...I don't really want to learn something new right now, just want to use up the old, to make way for new inspiration..know what I mean? The stuff I have now is totally taunting me.

I need some ideas!!!!

Ok...and I guess just to be difficult I should also say, although I did use the word pattern, I'm not really a pattern person, I prefer to just do 'whatever'...so maybe I should have said technique rather than pattern...but if you do suggest a pattern, just make sure it's got room for some 'ad libbing'!

Thanks gang...I know I can count on you to throw some good ideas my way.
User: akire
Member since: 03-06-2001
Total posts: 61
From: grandmasue
Date: 03-18-2005, 09:18 AM (2 of 15)
Just a couple of quick ideas for your fabric.
You could divide the fabrics into lights and darks and make Log Cabin blocks, or do strip quilted blocks that shade from lights to darks, Those always make for a beautiful design layout.
Another idea for selling is to make a lapquilt size quilt and a matching 12" pillow. Fold up the lapquit and lay pillow on top and tie together with a pretty ribbon. Makes for a pretty package display.
Grandma Sue

------------
At the end I am not showing up at my grave all pretty and well preserved...I am coming in sliding, yelling "What a ride!"
User: grandmasue
Member since: 10-26-2004
Total posts: 138
From: Susy
Date: 03-18-2005, 09:24 AM (3 of 15)
There is kind of a neat looking quilt called "striptease" on the net you could look at, sounds basic and looks neat. Just go to:

http://www.geocities.com/quiltfrenzy_archives/striptease.html
User: Susy
Member since: 02-05-2005
Total posts: 39
From: shirleyp
Date: 03-18-2005, 12:09 PM (4 of 15)
Just type in scrap quilt in your search and you can find all kinds of quilts.
Here is ne site with some free patterns. Just look at the right side of the screen. It can give you some good ideas.
http://www.scrapquilts.com/
User: shirleyp
Member since: 02-12-2002
Total posts: 352
From: carman
Date: 03-18-2005, 12:46 PM (5 of 15)
log cabin scrap quilts are great, there is NO wrong color matching (very exhilerating :bluewink: ) as long as the material read a dark and a light its ok. i have done several and it is amazing how great they look, and there are may ways to put them together to gert varoius looking patterns from them.
User: carman
Member since: 04-17-2000
Total posts: 692
From: HeyJudee
Date: 03-18-2005, 07:21 PM (6 of 15)
A reversible quilt or two-sided quilt is what I want to try someday. It would be good to use up the scraps.

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/shows_qlt/article/0,,HGTV_3876_1727368,00.html
TTFN from
Judy
User: HeyJudee
Member since: 01-25-2005
Total posts: 1366
From: Bama
Date: 03-19-2005, 05:04 PM (7 of 15)
My VERY first quilt was a string quilt. We used it til it fell apart.

On one of my early quilts I cut out light colored squares from scraps and appliqued darker colored hearts on them. It's still one of my favorite quilts.

A good friend of mine is soon getting her first grandson. She gave me a bag of baby clothes that her son (the new dad) wore, to make a baby quilt for them. I'm planning to do an overall Sam quilt using the baby clothes to "dress" Sam. Maybe I'll make a patchwork border with the leftover scraps.
She loved the idea. :bluesmile
User: Bama
Member since: 03-21-2000
Total posts: 2116
From: Julia's Nana
Date: 03-19-2005, 08:26 PM (8 of 15)
A braid quilt is a good way to use scraps.......Quilter's Cache.com has one listed in their quilt blocks. It goes fast, one side is light, one dark and makes a strip, then you sew the strips together. It is great to just work on when you have a little time, and soon you have a whole quilt.

Scrap quilts are my favorite. They are the true quilt to me going back to when women made them from what ever they had to put on the bed to keep their families warm. Some of these ladies would shutter to see us buy all this new fabric for our quilts.

Norma
User: Julia's Nana
Member since: 08-28-2001
Total posts: 361
From: Bama
Date: 03-20-2005, 06:05 PM (9 of 15)
A friend of mine used the braid pattern to make a border for a sampler quilt. It turned out nice. :smile:

I dug out some scraps yesterday and started making yo-yos while we watched a movie.
User: Bama
Member since: 03-21-2000
Total posts: 2116
From: Julia's Nana
Date: 03-20-2005, 07:18 PM (10 of 15)
Bama.

My braids turned into 6 1/2 blocks that I sewed together going alternate directions. It was a case of a certain quilter not paying attention to what she was doing but...........I love the end result. I will make another braid quilt someday and I will pay more attention to the bias edges so the thing doesn't stretch! It was a learning experience. I do love the idea of using it for a border though.........will save that idea.

Don't want to discourage anyone though.........the braid is really easy and the problem was ME and the way I handled the thing.

So what are you going to use the yoyos for?

Norma
User: Julia's Nana
Member since: 08-28-2001
Total posts: 361
From: Auntie Punk
Date: 03-21-2005, 12:18 AM (11 of 15)
String quilts are wonderful. I have used them in a number of ways. My first one I cut 8 inch squares out of old sheets. Then I cut strips of left over flannel in what ever sizes the scrap was. The smallest that works well for me is 1" wide and up to 3" wide. Any wider and you distracts from a good visual presentation. I started sewing from corner to corner. You can sew 2 strips, press and sew on 2 more until the square is filled in. When this is done, you'll need to square the piece. The use you imagination. I've done them with solids and made half square squares: made them into 4 patch. I've also made baby strippy quilts, piecing the strings in one long strip. The possibilities are endless.
User: Auntie Punk
Member since: 03-20-2005
Total posts: 1
From: akire
Date: 03-22-2005, 08:42 AM (12 of 15)
Hey Grandmasue...I haven't made a pillow before...do you think its better to make the whole pillow, or make a pillow cover? Personally I would rather makethe pillow (as in buy the pillow form and sew it up completely)...but just wondered what you thought, because that set sounds like a great idea.

Thank you everyone for all the ideas...great stuff!!!
User: akire
Member since: 03-06-2001
Total posts: 61
From: Bama
Date: 03-24-2005, 03:12 PM (13 of 15)
Hi Norma,
sorry, I just noticed your post. I'm making a small quilt with the yo-yos. I'm planning to sew the left overs onto a chennile pillow top. I made way too many. :bg:
It's been a great project to take along while waiting at ds's karate classes.

I found that there can be problems with the bias with yo-yos as well. It worked out better for me to make sure the straight of grain was lined up when joining them. Then it won't stretch as much as the quilt grows.
User: Bama
Member since: 03-21-2000
Total posts: 2116
From: grandmasue
Date: 03-25-2005, 04:22 AM (14 of 15)
I definately feel you would have to complete the pillow in order to make a nice presentation. A nice soft pillow to go with your quilts, just makes me want to curl up and read a good book.
I am pretty sure every quilt I have ever made had a pillow to go with it.. (just because there has always been one block that came out too small or too big to work into the quilt!)
Grandma Sue

------------
At the end I am not showing up at my grave all pretty and well preserved...I am coming in sliding, yelling "What a ride!"
User: grandmasue
Member since: 10-26-2004
Total posts: 138
From: Julia's Nana
Date: 03-25-2005, 04:56 AM (15 of 15)
Bama,

Sounds like fun!

Norma
User: Julia's Nana
Member since: 08-28-2001
Total posts: 361
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