Pretty Pouf Can be a Stash Buster Too

I found this free pattern to make this pretty pouf ottoman on the Better Homes and Gardens site here. You can download a copy and make one of these for your home. They are not complicated and they make pretty additional seating or a foot rest. And they have the bonus of being a great stash buster.

Why is it a stash buster, you may ask? Besides using up the 2+ yards of decorator fabric I had stored, I stuffed it with my many scraps and leftovers from previous projects.

Can you see inside there?

Yep! It is stuffed with all those trimmings, thread ends, and narrow batting pieces you would normally throw away. Do you recognize anything from my previous projects in there? I also stuffed it with some small scrap pieces that were old and/or ugly. Sometimes you just have to let go, right? I even heard someone mention on another list that they stuffed theirs with old clothing and rags but I wanted to keep it designated for scraps. It has taken me some time to fill it, but it is getting close to the final closing seams. 

I lined each piece with heavy interfacing and batting to help keep it from becoming lumpy. And did I mention it was heavy? (but not too heavy)

I'll have to cut out another one from my decorator fabric stash and begin filling again. Someone on Santa's list may find it under the tree this year! In the meantime, I can feel good about not adding more trash to our land fills...even if  it is just a little bit from my sewing room!



 

Buffalo Check is My Favorite

I ordered this fabric for making drapes in the dining room and matching valance in the kitchen months ago at fabric.com. Because I wanted them to hang nicely without puckers (due to iffy tension on my machine) I did all the side hems and bottom hems with a hand slip stitch. They turned out perfectly and I love the finished look! 

I chose a cotton lining also so they look as nice from  outside the window as they do inside. 

And they did not take very long to make - just a few evenings sewing hems and then assembling at the top to make the rod pocket. 

This was a goal to finish this 2nd quarter of 2019 as listed here on my list, and I can not check it off as done!

 

Boston Commons

This quilt is actually a copy of a pattern from an old issue of American Quilts named Frank Stella Quilt. I made mine using 2" squares (1.5" finished size) with 3" (finished size) sashing/borders between  each section. The original quilt was made using 1" squares - a true postage stamp quilt. I had a box full of little 2" squares cut and ready for use so I decided go with those. It has been fun to sew them together into units. Isn't that the big drive to the joy of making scrap quilts? Lots of memories are recorded in this one for sure as I remember previous projects made with these fabrics.

My only regret with this project is that I did not make it larger. Hmmm...Just completing my Blue Ridge Beauty, I was cautious of not getting carried away again.(see previous post) Hindsight now tells me I could have added another outside row and it would have been fine. But it is finished now - quilted, binding on, signed and dated. And I am so happy with its completion. She makes a perfect throw over the bed.

Total measurement is 80" square and I used up 15 yards of stash.  

Here is the math I used to compute the total yardage used in this quilt:

There are a total of (2,304) 2" unfinished size squares. 20 squares can be cut per 40" width of fabric. This gives a total of 116 2" strips. (divided 2304 by 20)

2" x 116 strips = 232".  232" divided by 36" equals 6.5 yards.

White background fabric: 
(13) 3" width of fabric strips = 1 1/3 yards
plus
(9) 6" width of fabric strips for final border = 1.5 yards

Binding = 1/2 yard
Backing = 5 yards

6 1/2 yards (squares) + 2 7/8 yards (background) + 1/2 yard (binding) + 5 yards (backing) = 15 yards (averaged up from 14.875)

If you find an error in my computings, please let me know. Who said there wasn't any math in quilting?

This dear quilt makes another finish completed in my 2nd quarter goals for 2019.  

2019 Finish-A-Long

Blue Ridge Beauty Busts 19.5 Yards

This quilt project has been in the works for over a year. I would run a few pieces through the machine as I felt like it, until it picked up momentum. Finally, it reached the time to sew the blocks together into rows. (there is the momentum!)

And there were so many blocks. I think I counted 224 total. That makes a total of 2,688 pieces. (12 pieces/block X 224 blocks) I love quilts that have many, many pieces, don't you? For more ideas with quilts using many small pieces, check out Bonnie Hunter's books and website at quiltville.com.


So, it is no wonder it grew to be so large! And the borders contributed even more to its size, but I trimmed them down to be slightly narrower than Bonnie's pattern called for. This picture shows how it won't even fit on my design wall.


Once the ordered backing arrived it went off to my long arm quilter. She does such nice work and I am always happy (and anxious) to get it back quilted and ready for binding. 

I really like the quilted design chosen for this quilt. It filled the entire area with lots and lots of swirls. 

The finished size measures 97" x 108" and it fits a queen size bed beautifully. It is quite heavy too. I used Quilter's Dream 70/30 cotton batting. 

If I ever make another quilt this large, I think I will try the new bamboo quilt batting. I've heard it is lighter and would work well for large project. Do you have experience using this recycled material in your quilts?

This Blue Ridge Beauty if ready for covering our bed now for warm and toasty comfort and sweet dreams. I am so happy to report its finish!

A Reluctant Shop Hopper

I told myself I was not participating in this year's Spring Fling Scrap Happy Shop Hop...but then I ran out of a background fabric for a little project I was working on. So off I went to my local quilt shop for more. The shop was open and passports to the shop hop were only $5. Each shop stamps your passport, and if you spend $5 you are entered into the store basket drawing for prizes! Well, I had to buy my background anyway, so why not add the passport and I can enter the drawing, and maybe attend some more shops. Well indeed I did! (It's a slippery slope)

Each shop gives all hop participants little bags of 2 1/2" squares along with the instructions/patterns for a little scrappy project. Well these bumped up my goal list and now I have several gifts finished and ready for giving. It has been a nice little break.

The first thing I made was this little pouch/cover for glasses. Using little scraps given with kitty prints I sewed in rows, layered with batting and backing, and quilted by hand. It was then folded in half and I used binding to finish the edges instead of having seams on the inside. A little button at the loop finished it off nicely.

Another project was this little pillow. Using the 2 1/2" squares that were given and 8 half square triangles, the base was completed. I added a little from my scrap bin for the stem and leaves, and the backing. It was sewn on three sides (after quilting), stuffed with leftover trimmings and bits of batting (from my sewing room trash bin) and it is complete. 

The next project were little squares of batiks. I had to use my own stash for the bottom, lining, and handles but not much. This finished into a little gift bag for stuffing with goodies. A fast and easy project. I'll be making more of these in the future. Instead of handles though, I am thinking of finishing like a Komebukuro.



Again, using the 2 1/2" squares from another shop I made this little table topper. So pretty and soft. And easy too using the disappearing nine patch technique. Can you see it? Jenny Doan has many videos explaining this easy technique if you would like to try one for yourself. I added the center yellow sashing just to use up the scraps. This piece was hand quilted, and is now ready for gifting.

I fell in love with this little project. And although it was a free project along with the bag of scraps, I purchased the kit to make it a spring-time accent. It is now completed and sandwiched for quilting as I work on it in the evenings. Can you spot my needle? It will surely bring some color and cheer to the table! I may have to "live" with this one for a year or two before giving it away. Do you do that too?


There are 2 other really cute projects that I accumulated on the shop hop and are waiting for my attention. A watermelon mat, and a fish shaped rice bag. I will post pictures once they are finished.  They are sitting on my cutting table to remind me to get to it.

Oh how I love these quick finishes! They are a nice interlude between the big projects but I must get back to the main goal list. Maybe I'll see you on the next shop hop in August. Perhaps my sharing the fun you can have will encourage you to buy your passport. The proceeds go to a local food bank so you are helping the community too. 

Happy stitches!

April Showers Bring May Finishes

I hope! Because I have not ONE official finish to check off my first quarter list! But I did have a finish that wasn't listed on the Finish-A-Long.

Sweet Tea finished at 67"x70", 11 yards of stash used up.

I fell in love with this pattern at first sight, and was able to use up nearly all the fabrics leftover from my Be My Neighbor .  The quilting pattern I chose is a long curly design and is "musical" to my eye. Sweet Tea is a bright and cheerful quilt for springtime. It was a fast finish too, so it's a good project for a needed gift in a hurry.  

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Now for my second quarter finish-a-long list :

I have been sewing like crazy to get my Blue Ridge Beauty completed into a flimsy. It is presently at my long-arm quilter's being quilted. This project grew to be a large quilt and I used up 19 yards of stash! I am anxious for it to arrive back to me as the binding is pressed and ready to be applied. This will definitely be checked off as a finish this spring quarter!


Finished Here!






Don't you love participating in a quilt-along? They have the same motivating drive as a mystery, but with "safer" results because you know what it looks like at the beginning. I also love quilts of many pieces so the Sew Many Strips quilt along at APQ really got my attention. So far, I have been keeping up and have all my pieces cut and small units sewn together. I am not sure if I will have it completed in the same time frame as the quilt along, but I am aiming to have it done during this quarter!  Just look at all those pieces! Each brick is 1.5"x2.5" and includes lots of "ugly" fabrics. (Bonnie Hunter quote: "if your fabric is still ugly, cut it smaller")

My youngest, darling grandson loves Minecraft and since moving up to his big boy bed, he has no quilt large enough to cover it. This project really got his approval! Seriously, I think it needs stitches (don't you love that name?) offers a series of block patterns for a Minecraft quilt. So fun! So simple! I have the Steve block completed and Judah is helping me pick the rest of the blocks...including the dragon! This is an easy project but not really a fast one because of all the various custom cutting. 

Oh, another multi-thousand pieced quilt! I started this project years ago and pulled it out a few weeks ago for some easy, mindless sewing. I've picked up momentum and now I hope to have it ready for the long arm quilter later this week. I first saw this quilt in an old Great American Quilts book (remember those?) It was made by Ruth Yarbrough and is titled, Frank Stella Quilt I. Ruth made hers using 1.5" squares, but I used 2" squares (unfinished size). I have only the final outside rows to sew on and she will graduate to a flimsy.

Finished Here!

The down side to making scrap quilts, is that they produce MORE scraps! Have you noticed that? I found a great cheat for using up old scraps along with thread trimmings and other scraps that go in my little trash bucket by my machine. I am making a Pretty Pouf Ottoman and stuffing it with those remnants!  You know the kind - sewing trimmings that would ordinarily be thrown away...and even some old scraps and batting pieces that I just don't want to see anymore. Not only am I busting some stash, but I am recycling too!  This is a free pattern at BH&G. I cut thick interfacing for each section so it does not look lumpy when stuffed. I think the pattern recommended burlap but this is what I am using. I will probably have enough "scraps" for 2 or 3 of these. A great Christmas gift idea.  
Nearly Finished Here!
 





I am in love with black buffalo plaid. I ordered some in drapery weight and am making lined curtains for the dining room. I have often found that curtains punch up on the sides if the tension is too tight on the machine so I have hand-sewn these. The header and rod pocket will be machine sewn though. I have enough leftover material to make a valance for over the kitchen window so these two rooms will have some unity. 

Finished Here!






Country Bride quilt has been trimmed and squared and the backing is pressed and ready for the quilter. This is a project that is long overdue!




I am slowly making headway on the Patches in Blue quilt along with Edyta Sitar. I've stalled because of the applique handwork. Once I get over that hump I will be assembling the blocks together and making the borders.

Its not too late to make your list and post it at The Thistle Thicket Studio's Finish Along. You might even win some great prizes!

Its Warm in the Sewing Room

but it is s-o-o-o very cold outside! I hope you are wrapping yourself in layers and staying warm. It is dangerously cold, so do take caution if going outside.

It has been a productive time in the sewing room this month. No complete finishes but I am making progress! 

My hexagon flowers are adding up as I continue to applique them onto their backings. They all look so cheerful as I couldn't resist laying them out to see how they will look together. You can begin your own hexagon flower project by visiting here.

And if you like English Paper Piecing (epp), check out this new project! Sign ups begin tomorrow (Friday, February 1st) through the 14th. Oh my, so many temptations to begin something new, right?

I've also been working on Edyta Sitar's block of the month, Patches in Blue. I completed 2 more blocks and cut many more triangle pieces for the border. These are all stacked by my machine for some quick mindless sewing. The sleigh block has been started and I decided upon hand applique since I have not ordered Edita's kit of snowflakes and branches.

I noticed she has birds on the branches but they are not included in her book so I will have to draft my own version. I simply cannot exclude these little creatures!




And I did get my Sweet Tea quilt done into the flimsy stage. It is all ready with its backing to go to my long arm quilter. I will be using a white Quilter's Dream batting for a nice, soft and cuddly, throw-size quilt. 


So let us keep working towards those finishes. Yes, yes, I love the process too, but it is such a great feeling to take that last stitch. What keeps you motivated? Please comment below.