Orphan Blocks Extravaganza

My Orphan Block box was overflowing and out of control with stacks of 4 patches that would not fit in the box with the others. 

 

I decided it was time to sort and play one evening while watching TV. It was very amusing because I found several blocks I do not even remember making! And it was obvious to me that it was me doing the making, because they were displaying my fabrics! I guess that proves they have been stored way too long and now is the time to plan repurposing them into a quilt or some kind of project. My mind swims with ideas for little mini projects. 

 I think many of these 4-patch blocks were remainders from the scrappy Vintage Column quilt and my Kitty Korner quilt. (It is time to make another!)

 

These are 7 Thimbleberries blocks from the Quilter's Garden BOM project back in 2001?. The other 6, stacked underneath, are all different. I did not make these. They came from a UFO bin at a LQS years ago. I could finish them for I have the alternate block fabric panel and the pattern in an old Thimbleberries book. A very pretty quilt that I would enjoy finishing! I will be adding this to my UFO list.

 

I don't know how these blocks were designated as orphans. There are 23 of them, and more can be easily made. They are from one of Bonnie Hunter's books so I will be adding these to my UFO list also.

 These were leftover blocks from my Colonial Christmas Quilt that I finished in 2022. I don't think I have anymore red, but there may be a few remnants of that green. Maybe a pillow with cornerstones? 

I need to add a search bar to my blog so I can readily find these old projects.

These are 3 antique blocks ready for hand applique. Actually there are four but I grouped the other into the yellow/pink/green pile (see below). Still thinking about what to do....

I grouped these together because the colors all complimented each other. I recognize a couple of those blocks as remainders from Lessons From Mama quilt project. I still have this book by Terri Atkinson. She has several nice quilt patterns I still like. 

 

These were a few leftover hexagon blocks from a quilt I finished. It is one of my favorites and actually began making more hexies recently. They are like potato chips, always fun to make, and can't stop at one! 

I just grouped these into browns/reds colors. I don't remember making that hexagon star, but those are my fabrics and I think it would be fun to dive in on again. I'll have to dig for the pattern. Ester Alui, maybe?

 Ahh, I am swooning over those mariner stars! I remember making them back in the 1990's! And I still have the fabric from the centers. I love indigos and will be brainstorming a finish for these. Another to put on my UFO list! 

 And more blues! And I am blue because I honestly do not remember where these large blocks came from! The smaller blocks and remnants are mine, but the others I am clueless. Ha! But look at that darling mini bear's paw! I will pull that for a quick mini project soon!

 And two more indigos. I should add these to the mariners, maybe. Lovely blocks that I am again clueless about where they came.

More leftovers from projects that I do recognize! Taking note on where I can plug these in on future projects. Or use those little turkey tracks in the bottom right corner for a table-topper. 

 

Funny how these found themselves in the orphan box. I have a box of bricks waiting to assemble into these "potato chip" blocks. They will be joined again with their parts and added to the UFO list.

 

Leftover siggies from the Dear Jane Siggies exchange that was popular in 2006 - 2102. I participated in that exchange for several years, and these remind me I have a couple of years' collected in the sewing room for more quilts. I must get trimming on them and make another! I finished my siggie collection from 2010 to 2012 here.  I do not know what to do with these extras that came back, other than pick/rip out the centers and resew maybe onto some of those 4 patch leftovers. 

And here are the pinks/greens/yellows that I grouped together. They seem to play nice together and once I get my design wall back up I will begin to play with their arrangement. 

So this has been a fun, and overwhelming time sorting through the orphan block box! I just added to my UFO list. Just when I thought I was nearing the end.

But wait! There are more! 

 

These are leftover blocks that I purposely saved as "patterns".  A lot of favorites in here. Can you spot that tiny courthouse square? It is only 4.5" and is made with 1" strips. That is another UFO I hope to tackle someday. (It will weigh a "ton" when finished!)

I also have 2 "Procrastion" boxes to look through, but that will be for another day. These are "bits and pieces" from quilt projects dating back 20 years, and include things like hundreds, perhaps thousands of leftover HSTs and matching fabric pieces. I just can't get rid of them yet. One day I will stand at the ironing board and press all those HSTs to make an OMGosh quilt! Ha!

 

So they are all sorted. Some are put in their respective UFO piles and project bags, with the rest living here in the orphan box. At least I have record of what is in there for future reference. And my UFO list just grew.

What do you do with your orphan blocks? Maybe I should clarify, these are true leftovers. I often use up extra blocks for labels on the back of my quilts. These orphans of mine have no home. Perhaps I should begin the habit of making an "after quilt" to use up the extras entirely.  

 Happy stitching!