Leaders and Enders and Vortex Quilt

I recently found more strips and scraps in my basket next to my machine. These are what Bonnie Hunter might describe as "crumbs".  And I love her idea of leaders and enders so...why not use these crumbs as my leaders and enders but instead of being a four-square block, they are just random shapes. 

I have them laid out here on the ironing board. Many different sizes, but I won't trim them just yet. I grouped them in pairs, sewed them together, and grouped them again.

 Can you see more possibilities? These little darlings are addictive! The little block in the top left corner only measures 3.5" by 6.5". I will continue to group these together until they are close to 12" square. How long will it take to finish an entire quilt like this? Who knows but it is a nice diversion. I have started a box for these to work on as time permits and it will sit by my machine for "leaders and enders". Feeding these through the machine saves a lot of thread too! 

You can read more about making your own Vortex Scrap Quilt at Crazy Mom Quilts. She just had a Quilt-Along this last June. 

"Walk with The King today, and be a blessing!"

Strings and strips

I feel like I opened Pandora's box. I've been saving 1" to 1 1/2" strips for some time now and because I picked up several yards of lightweight interfacing from a local rummage sale for 25 cents, I thought I would try a few string blocks using the interfacing as the foundation. Well a "few blocks" turned into 36! Oh what fun! Oh what a mess! I just could not stop!

There is even more of the same on the machine table where I work - they had to spread out to the floor. I guess there is no other way to work with these. These string blocks really are fun to make even though they are messy. The foundations are 12 1/2" so they will finish at 12". I am thinking of maybe adding some sashes...but will think on that some more. I found a nice black print I will definitely use for a 3 or 4" border. Because the design wall is full of blocks that I am presently sewing into rows, these are actually laying on the floor.

They all have a black print for the diagonal centers. This is a great project for using up some of those older, loose weave fabrics since the interfacing foundation gives it a little extra body and support. At least I think it will! I have never made these before so hopefully they will not give me grief when I machine quilt them. The interfacing is very sheer but I think I may iron the seams open when joining the blocks together so there is not a big bump.

So what do you do when you are finished? How do you store these skinny strings without them turning into a jumbled mess? I surely do not want to have to press them all when I decide to use them again so just tossing them back in the box is not an option. Good thing we like to fondle our stash, right? I spent some time stacking strips and laying these bundles in the box. I also sorted some of the shorter lengths as I went. A Pineapple quilt is on my wish list and these "shorties" will go first.

There is a little box of really really skinny strips. I have not idea what I will do with these other than perhaps make a few "promise stitches" pictures for gifts.

Any tips or comments you want to share? I'd love to hear from you! Thanks for visiting. 

"Walk with The King today, and be a blessing!"