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.

More On My Large Hand-Sewing Project

I've been making good progress on my large hand-sewing scrap quilt project which I showed you here.

Part of the job for this project is cutting many squares, 

and

many corresponding circles of fabric.

Then I have the job of pressing under the edges for hand appliquéing.

 I cut a finished-size template from heat-resistant template plastic.  Then I put some spray starch in the starch can lid, and use a small paint brush (or, in a pinch, a Q-tip) to get a good press on the ironed-over edges of the circles.

After that comes the job of deciding which circle should go with which square of fabric.  

This is the fun part!

Not enough contrast.

Not enough contrast, plus two busy prints together (no!)

Better contrast.

A good combination.

I iron the squares in half once, 

and then once again so that they are in little folded-over squares.  

This shows me the centers of each side of the squares.

At this point I can appliqué the circle to the square.  I fold the circle in half and finger press the very edges, then turn and do it again to make fold marks which can be matched up with the fold marks on the fabric squares.  (Did that make sense!?!)  I use a fair number of those nice smaller appliqué pins to secure everything while I'm hand sewing.  The pins are only 3/4" long, so they don't get in my way as much as longer pins do.

I'm actually making pretty good progress on this quilt.  I still have many circles to appliqué, but I've already done A Lot Of Them.  So I can almost see the end!