What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

 Many Hands and Many Hearts is still working on finding a place we can call its own.  But I am hopeful it will happen by the end of the year.  So I have been working on some projects to make the move a little easier.

I tackled the scraps this week.

We did have someone donate a bunch of small fabric cuts (less than a fat quarter) stored in some plastic tubs to us.  They were already sorted by color.  I decided to start there but add in all our other scraps.  I started with one tub for reds and ...

I am frustrated with the scrap piles again. A little bit here and a little bit there, can really add up over time. I have let a lot of time pass since the last time I have been sitting to cut scraps. I dumped all the bits into a container, and started cutting. This time, I  made a hit list. I have several projects, that I still need pieces cut to finish. When I pick up a scrap, I check to see if I could use the color in any of the projects. If so, I start cutting the sizes ...

This has been an eclectic scrap bucket.   Sorting this scrap bucket, I have found some fun surprises. I obviously just threw everything I wanted to clean up into the bucket at one point. I really like old blocks and feel a real urgency to rescue them. But, I don't know what to do with them. So, with indecision, they were doomed to a scoop and tidy. 

aren't these wonderful vintage fabrics?

 My 5 quilts progress report.

1. Rainbow scrap challenge - color red -candy is finished. I am sorting through the red strips and cutting for the next rsc project. These are the 2 1/2 inch strips. I want to clean up the bag and set a minimum of 12 inches in length to keep in the bag. Anything smaller will be sewn into 4 patches.

less than 12 inches

2. full stop quilt that Angela is doing for the rainbow scrap challenge at so ...

 My favorite tool for taming my scraps is my creative grids stripology ruler. I have the strip dies for the accuquilt and I use them a lot. But, when I have odd sized smaller pieces of scrap that I plan on using to add variety to my bins, I like to use the template. I have both sizes. I use the original template with a larger scrap, and, the smaller one for ( wait for it) smaller scraps.

This is a scrap print that never ...

I have added a new word to my rsc project. I had forgotten how much I like to make letters. I use Lori Holt's alphabet book.

I am trying to prepare for next year and a new rainbow scrap challenge at so scrappy project. I want to do strings and crumbs by color so I have started sorting the big bucket into colors. I was afraid  I wouldn't find enough of each color, but, alas, I have plenty. And some have already been sorted into baggies. If I do a little every day, I may have it sorted ...

I cut and pieced the second clue of rhododendron mystery quilt this week. It doesn't look like much, but it was a lot of cutting and piecing. And I was off with my numbers and didn't have enough to finish the opposite colorway.

I have been cutting scraps again. I can't take much of a break from scraps or they will overpower me.

I have a few ideas for the rainbow scrap challenge at so scrappy next year that will use strings and crumbs.

10 inch -1 pound 4 ...

 For the past couple of weeks, I have been sharing some of my methods of storing and using my scraps.  Today I thought I would share another of my secret weapons and that is my "specialty bins"

As I shared in my first post, I sort my scraps by color.  I do this immediately as I make them right at my cutting table.  And because I have a lot of scraps, sorting through big piles to find certain fabrics can take a lot of time.  So a couple years ago, I started creating what I call my "specialty bins" that ...

 Last week, I shared the first steps I take at taming my scraps.  For many quilters, setting up an initial scrap system will be all that is needed.  I think just being disciplined to organize scraps as they are made and having them as accessible as possible will help to ensure you use them and that they don't become a chore.

But I have a LOT of scraps.

So I have some additional storage areas that I keep my scraps organized in.

 I was recently asked if I would talk a bit about how I store my scraps.  It has been years since I shared any information around scrap management so I thought I would write a few posts over the next couple weeks.

First, I think it is important to give some thought as to how you use your scraps.  In other words, are you someone who always uses patterns that call for standard sizes like mini charms, charm squares or  strips.  If so, you may want look at how Bonnie Hunter stores her scraps.  She pre-cuts all of her scraps ...

 I found a big bag of green scraps that I wanted to sort and decide. It was a nearly full 2 gallon ziplock bag. I spent 2 evenings folding and cutting. green is the  color for March for the rainbow scrap challenge at so scrappy.

It's a new month, but, I still have yellow to finish from February. These are the quote marks from the full stop quilt that Angela is doing. I have a few bonus 2 inch  HSTS - ( half square triangles ) I chose the easy example of quote marks that Angela offered. 

I am still taming the scraps this week by cutting 10 inch squares.  3 pounds 5 ounces = 9 1/4 yards = 95.00 worth of fabric. I counted 52 squares = 4 packs of layer cakes = 160.00 

My worry is that I won't use them. Since I haven't ...

We are melting snow around here.

The scraps are taking over. I have been working on finishing this year, and, that in itself makes scraps. But, since I am not really starting anything new, I am not using scraps much. If it were not for the rainbow scrap challenge at so scrappy, I wouldn't be using my scraps at all.

I spent some time cutting scraps into 2 inch strips. I knew my neutrals were getting low, and I had a few pieces not much bigger than that to cut.

I made shirt strings a while back aiming for a string x quilt for leftover pieces of shirts. This weekend I spent some time cutting fabric for the sides.

I cut the strips 1 1/2 x 10 1/2. I am making a 7 x 9 setting.

It was time to sort through my 2 1/2 inch strip drawer. The color of the month for the rainbow scrap challenge at so scrappy is yellow. I wanted to make 16 patches in yellow 16 patch blocks for the Debby Brown color blocks quilt along, but, I only had 5- 2 1/2 inch squares to be found. I pulled out the shortest strips and cut squares. I really didn't count.

I found this free quilt along ...

Even with an extra Saturday in January, I did not get all my pink projects finished for the rainbow scrap challenge at so scrappy. I am using my 2 1/2 inch squares to make 16 patch blocks for the Debbie Brown color blocks quilt along. I am making the blocks each month with the rainbow colors, and, then, deciding which blocks for which quilt at the end of the year. I wonder if a person can ever empty the 2 1/2 inch square bin.

Pink is the color of the month  at the rainbow scrap challenge at so scrappy.

I have been keeping pink and red scraps together, thinking, I didn't have enough pink to warrant their own bag or drawer. I was wrong. I spent some time in January sorting them and deciding what I have. These are the 2 inch and 1 1/2 inch bags.

2 inch strips

1 1/2 in strips

 I had a box of recycled shirts that I wanted to cut for quilt patterns I am hoping to make. I had already taken the shirts apart, so, I made a box for each size I wanted to cut, 10 inch, 5 inch, 2 1/2, 3 1/2, 2. I decided to cut largest to smallest, so, that, the leftovers can be fed into the smaller sizes. I cut 10 inches. I used the front of the shirt without the pocket for 10 inch squares. The front with the pocket, I put in the box for 5 inch squares ...

I have tried to set some goals for scrap management. Scraps are everywhere, and, are taking over my quilting life. I enjoy cutting scraps, but, when it comes to putting them away, I realize I have no more room for them. I need to use out of what is already cut and ready to go, so there will be room for more. 

1.That is why a few boxes just need to go to the attic, and wait for a better time.

2. when this basket is full I have to deal with it. It is about 14 inches across ...