Creative Quilt Girl

I’m Making a Scrap Quilt

Aug 1, 2007 Quilting

When I started to quilt five years ago, I thought scrap quilts were for insane people. I mean how was it even possible to have that many scraps that could be put together? (By the way, I now know better) Of course, one could argue all quilts are “scrap” quilts. Personally, I don’t buy that definition. I like well coordinated quilts.

Let’s return to the present. In the same breath I told myself that I need to buy fabric to make another baby quilt and that I have too much fabric. Anybody see the problem? On Saturday, I decided to try to work through the problem. I have to believe that I had enough fabric to make a fun baby quilt. I put together 3-4 different piles of fabric. In the end, I decided to work with my leftover fabric from my Puzzle Quilt. I have a ton of scraps.

So what do I do with a ton of different fabrics? Make a scrap quilt! This is when I eat my words. I’m sure I said at one point or another that I, Rachel, wouldn’t make a scrap quilt. (Sigh) I’ve decided to follow happy things’ example. I love how her scraps come together with the solid. It looks less scrappy.

At first I thought about trying to plan the quilt before I cut. I actually let go of my need to plan. Instead I just cut out all my scraps into strips, 3 different sizes 1″, 1.5″, and 2″. This took FOREVER. Discover #1: Scrap quilt take a lot of time to cut out. See my beautiful strips.

Step #2: Sew stips together. Discover #2: Sewing lots of strips together take even MORE time. I have to say that there is something relaxing about just seing strips of fabric together. I didn’t worry about seam matching or getting the right pieces together. I just went for it.

At this point all my strips are sewn into strips of 3. Now I have the unpleasant task of ironing them. Irons and mid-summer heat don’t go together. I’ll push through this task over the weekend.