Making Quilt Squares out of More Scraps

This is not a new project, but a continuation of one started about two years ago.  If I were to finish everything I have started, the world would probably be covered by quilts!  I just love starting new projects.

This is from a class taught to our guild by Claire Witherspoon.  The class was called "Scrap Strategies."  It was a fun day of learning different ways to use our scraps.  We all shared our scraps, piling them onto one big table, then helping ourselves.  

In this square I sew several pieces of either red or blue fabric scraps together (because it's going to be a Quilt of Valor), then use a template to cut out the center shape.

Yes, this one has both red and blue fabrics in it!  I know!  I'll explain later.

This is the paper template (very high-tech, right!!) used to cut out the red or blue "pieced pieces."  It has rolled-up painters tape on it to help keep it from wiggling when cutting out the pieces.  Obviously, a ruler gets placed on top of the paper template when making the cut.

And these are the templates which are used to cut out the white pieces.  (Actually, only one is needed.)

Here are some of the scraps I used for these squares.  These particular pieces are leftovers from another quilting project (not sure which one), a pattern where I was trimming off corners.

And you can see at the bottom of the photo a red/light blue triangle.  That's where the red and blue pieces came from!  These pieces are about 4" to 7" at the longest.  I don't usually have pieced triangles left over, but I just happened to have some that day.

The photo below shows how I pieced together lots of these little leftover triangles.

The next photo shows some very, very tiny pieces which are the result of piecing together lots of small  pieces and trimming.  Looks like I did some very intricate piecing, doesn't it!!

  You can see that for two of these finished blocks, I had some quite large scraps to start with.  As far as scraps go, I rarely keep anything really tiny.  If I can't fold it up into a smaller square, I usually throw it away, I mean, put it in a bag for making pet beds.

This is how the blocks will get arranged, so that white-ish squares are formed at the intersections of the blocks.

Knitting

I am continuing with my knitting, learning as I go.  I still go to the Loft when I need help, and they are always happy to help me get out of the mess I've made!  

(And I still make messes quite frequently!)

My "alleged" scarf is getting a little bit longer all the time.  Here's a current photo.  I decided to "spice it up" and throw in a few rows of contrasting purl stitches on the knit side of the scarf, just to add some variety.

And I still cling to the notion that there is "texture" to my scarf, rather than just uneven stitches!  After all, who wants a perfectly smooth scarf? That would look so store-bought!

KittyStitches likes to help with some of my projects.  After all, she is a domestic shorthair cat!

English Paper Piecing Class

In March I taught an English Paper Piecing (EPP) class.  This was in anticipation of a class we had scheduled for Diane Miller, who was teaching a class that used EPP.  We had a class of 15, which is a very nice size of group.  

I learned most of my English Paper Piecing either from reading things on my own,or from SisterStitches, who teaches EPP at her quilt shop in Minnesota.  It seems like she's always working on an EPP project.  

One of the table groups for the class.

To prepare for the class I did some EPP and took lots of photos of the process.  Then I chose photos, made them black and white, and put them into a many-paged handout for the students.  Above is one of the photos.

I put together the above hexagons and put them onto this green background before making it into a pot holder.  Strange, but I can't find a photo of the finished pot holder!  This was the project everyone worked on.  

* * * * *

The photo below shows some more complicated EPP that I did for a class I took five years ago.  You can see the post here.  In this class (which I took via snail mail) we used smaller shapes to build larger hexagons.  

Here is a close-up of some of these hexagons.  One can tell from the above photo that this is an unfinished project.  I still need to make a few more "engineered" hexagons, then make "fill-in" pieces for the sides.

We had a good time during our class.  I showed them how to baste the fabric to the paper shapes with needle and thread, and also how to do it using fabric glue.  Different methods appeal to different people.

Here I am demonstrating the stitching to a student.

The students really enjoyed learning this method, and everyone was very successful.  People were especially happy about how portable this sewing method is.  So it can be easily taken when traveling or when going to a weekly quilting get-together.

Since then, we have formed an EPP interest group which will meet monthly.  That way we can share what we are doing, exchange ideas, and learn from each other.

I'll share some photos of their wonderful work in another post.

Pet Beds

In the name of cleaning up in my studio a little bit I sewed some pet beds recently.  That at least got rid of two pairs of jeans lying around in my studio and a few bags of fabric scraps.

 Two of them were made from some wild pink knit fabric.  I recognize it as coming from my The Loft, my LQS (local quilt store).

I got three beds made today.  The plaid one is from MisterStitches old jeans.  They were the warm kind, lined with flannel.  I thought that might make a comfy pet bed.  The bed isn't square because, as you know, pant legs are usually tapered.  But I don't think that will bother the pets!

 The pink fabric was given to me last week by someone who said it is for my pet beds.  I wasn't sure if it was to be the outsides of the beds, or just get put inside, but I chose to make some beds out of it.  There is still over a yard left, and all my fabric scraps are gone now.  I might save some of this pink fabric to make some leggings for GranddaughterStitches when she comes this summer.  In fact, I think I may have made her some leggings out of this very fabric a few years ago.