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Sunday, August 18, 2013

Houston, We Have a (Scrap) Problem

Do y'all remember the shot of my scrap baskets I posted last week in my Full Stash Disclosure?  I've been saving my scraps to someday be able to make a perfectly beautiful scrappy quilt.  I love scrappy quilts, especially when they are filled with cherished bits and pieces of fabrics you love.  Anyway, if you missed them last week, here's a picture of them, with scraps divided into warm, cool, and neutral baskets.  Remember, this is the "before" shot.


Divided into neat little baskets, I thought, "hmmm... these are totally manageable, and I probably have enough for a nice sized scrap quilt now."  I can probably bust these scrap baskets in a few hours.  Yeah.  Riiight.

Last night, I started sewing improv style (or slab style) and making 12.5 inch blocks.  And I kept sewing...and sewing...and sewing.  I've now finished up 32 blocks!


I've really grown to love sewing this way, and it's such a natural way to use scraps!  So, are you ready to see my scrap baskets after all of that sewing?  Here they are!


Yeah.  Almost completely full.  Still!  I don't really know how that's possible (I'm convinced they're reproducing when my back is turned), but I'm coming to realize that I may have enough scraps in these baskets for a couple of quilts, or maybe one gigantic one with an awesomely pieced backing.  

Y'all know me- I'm a one project at a time kind of girl, so I'm just going to keep at it until these baskets are empty (or almost empty).  

I laid out four of the blocks so you can get a bit of an idea of how the quilt will look.  I really love the whole fabric explosion look, and I love that I can look at the fabrics and see little bits of the quilts I've made and loved, that have gone on to new homes.


44 comments:

  1. I am really struggling with how to organize my scraps and when a piece qualifies as a scrap, is too be to be a scrap, or too small. I hate to throw any pieces away but some are too small that I'll never use.

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    Replies
    1. you can use the pieces that really are too small and use them for stuffing in pillows, dog beds, etc.... So you don't have to throw away any :)

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  2. Somehow they all fit together. Amazing! :)

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  3. At least you have your scraps organized. I wish that I could say as much! Good job!

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  4. I adore scrappy quilts! This one looks great. Keep it up!

    I'm giggling at the thought of my scraps reproducing... Do they come to life like the toys on Toy Story?

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Sarah! I tell you- I just don't know how I still have so many after all of those blocks! There must be some kind of scrap magic going on!

      :) Kelly

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  5. Holy crap girl! These look fantastic.
    And 32 blocks already?! I see the quilt gnomes arrive safely in the mail ;)
    I'm terrified of making a scrap quilt... somehow i know that my scraps wouldn't play together nearly as nice!

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  6. You are a quilting machine!! What fantastic colorful quilt squares. How big is you quilt going to be? You amaze me.

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  7. Kudos to you for doing one project at a time! I always have a million things going at once :)


    Hilary
    www.youngtexanmama.com

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  8. Whoah, you are powering through these blocks! Looks great so far! I'm excited that I'm finally starting to accumulate enough scraps to make a quilt. I'm sure it won't be long til my scraps start reproducing too.

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  9. Your blocks look great! I need to try this idea! I'm happy to take some of those scraps off your hands Kelly...haha...just sayin' :/

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  10. That´s just the look I love!
    Put all the fabrics that you like together and then when you look at your finished quilt there´s a lot to think and talk about.
    Go Kelly!

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  11. I love scrappy quilts. This is so beautiful, and I'm looking forward to see your giant quilt, both top and back side.

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  12. I love scraps and have managed to use around half of my collection, I made 3 sewing machine covers, a stack of cushion covers from improv slabs. I also cut sheets of copier paper in half longways and have covered a stack of those. They are sitting in a tub and when it is full they will become a window quilt with some dark grey to tame the colours a little.

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    Replies
    1. Would you explain covering sheets of copy paper, please. Do you mean like aper piecing?
      Thanks

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  13. Fun scrappy blocks. I'm convinced that scraps multiply when you turn your back!

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  14. I'm so in love with scrap quilts right now. And it is so true that it seems impossible to ever use them all LOL.

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  15. I had just decided my scraps were like Bunnies in how they multiply. I am interested in this slab method it looks great. I am trying to delete some of my stash now with a Bonnie Hunter pattern.

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    Replies
    1. It is surprising to me how much a basket of scraps can make! I am planning a little tutorial on this method soon!

      :) Kelly
      ps- you're showing up as a no-reply blogger, so I'm responding here!

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  16. I look forward to your tutorial. I have done the same with strips and found that I still couldn't close the "strip drawer." But I love the look of these scrap quilts and they are great for kids and/or picnic quilts.

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  17. Shhhhhhhhh! Here's a heads-up about the scraps. Late night, say 3:18ish, the scraps multiply....LOL
    Your blocks are fantastic. I love that scrappy look. Good luck making a dent in your baskets!!

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  18. What great looking blocks Kelly and I think you are having just a little bit too much fun! I think most of us will agree that scrap baskets.......never seem to get empty.

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  19. Hey Kelly, added a link from my blog to yours in regards to this project!! lol I have been making a quilt as you go with my scraps and couldn't agree with you more about the scraps multiplying!!! How does that happen!!!

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  20. They look great! I agree about the scraps multiplying when we aren't looking. I made a huge log cabin quilt and my strips bin is still overflowing!

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  21. Scappy quilts have always been my favorite!

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  22. I know that feeling. I used a bunch of scraps and it seems my bin was still overflowing! Your blocks are gorgeous and oh so colorful! This quilt will be so vibrant! Also, your new green buttons are fab, very fresh!

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  23. Wow...I think they did reproduce! Can't wait to see this come together.

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  24. So lovely! I like your quilt. Wish I had such a lot of scraps! Love to see them all finished.

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  25. That quilt is going to be amazing! I have been going to do exactly that with my scraps once I catch up, I am just a bit behind on a couple of QALs atm.

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  26. I got a chuckle out of this post. Seems the scraps just never dwindle, even after so many projects! Have fun!

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  27. I've been collecting scraps for a while. Mine are bigger than yours, but I also want to learn improvisational piecing. Not sure if I'm ready for a fabric explosion, but I know I like yours.

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  28. Love it! :-). I really need to organize my scraps in some way. A few months ago, I started cutting them into 2, 3 and 5" squares thinking I might actually use them if they were already cut. But they got put of control again soon after that and now they just pile up and up and up! I like the idea of improv piecing with them though. I might give it a shot.

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  29. I love this!! I LOVE a good scrappy quilt!

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  30. I love scrappy quilts! Good luck getting them under control. Yesterday I noticed I have four large Target bags filled to the brim with scraps, so I'll be joining you shortly. I appreciate the inspiration!

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  31. This will be such a lovely scrappy quilt. It's looking great already!

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  32. You're much braver than I, creating a scrappy quilt! I feel like I can't get a good combination of scraps together and can't seem to ignore all the rules.

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    1. Thank you so much! I'm glad you like it. It is a little scary to just start putting fabric together and not try to match it, and there are blocks that I look at and think- ugh. BUT, the beauty of a scrappy quilt isn't really appreciated until it's all put together, so I hope even those blocks that I like less will look at home in the quilt. I am planning a tutorial on improv piecing soon. Maybe having some guidelines or a method will help you feel more at ease. Thanks so much for your kind comment and for visiting!

      :) Kelly

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  33. Nice work! I'd love to try this some day but don't really have enough scraps as I'm new to quilting.

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  34. What a fun project. Gonna look great. Gotta clean those bins out so you can fill 'em up again!

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  35. I'm coming to the end of my second scrap quilt (I've been doing nothing else by scrap quilts) and my scrap stash is BIGGER! I agree that they are Gremlins and reproduce at the sight of thread :)

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  36. ~ I thought this was a "Quilt As You Go" type of quilting?

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    1. Nope! my improv method is not quilt as you go. Just regular piecing.

      :) Kelly

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    2. I searched it on another site (sorry I can't remember which one), but it was listed as a QAYG. That's the only reason I asked.
      Do you have any QAYG tutorials/videos?
      Thank you.

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    3. no problem! I actually have never done QAYG. Most I've seen require hand finishing the quilt to join the squares, and I'm just not a fan of hand sewing. Good luck in finding one!

      :) Kelly

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Thanks so much for your comment and for visiting! I read and appreciate every single comment, and I reply to each one as soon as I can. If you don't hear back from me, you might be a no-reply blogger. :)

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