Monday, December 15, 2014

My effort to empty a few boxes of scraps continues.  The piecing on this project

came to a halt whenever all the black fabric had been used.   I have 190 blocks pieced and will need several more.  So I ordered more black fabric and while waiting for it, I drafted a pattern for a 6" x 9" Flying Geese unit, printed the pattern onto paper, pulled out the scraps again, and began paper piecing these:


I try to piece five units each day; there are 75 finished ones.  One usually thinks there is a lot of waste when paper piecing because she cuts the pieces a little over sized, but not this time:

As I trim a unit I flick the trimmings off onto the floor rather than take the time to hit the waste basket; I have a broom and dust pan in the sewing room and sweep up the mess as I finish for the day.  This is the layout for the finished blocks, minus a connecting strip between rows:


Did this make a dent in the scraps?  Hardly!  And look what's left when the units are trimmed; a large stack of pretty triangles!



 Sew these to white triangles, trim to 2 1/2 inch squares, and you have the makings for another quilt!

Why not throw them away, you ask?  All I can say is, when you're raised by parents who lived through the depression and made-do with what they had, and every penny was pinched until it screamed, that frugal characteristic lives on.

Charlotte




15 comments:

  1. You got it all down on the quilting. That's the way I was raised too. They never wasted one little piece. That's going to be a beautiful quilt. Hugs, xo

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  2. Waste not, want not! Your quilts will be beautiful! Nancy

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  3. Enjoy seeing what you are working on. You will have a wonderful quilt. I too love to keep every little scrap of fabric.

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  4. I too have so many scraps and it never feels right to throw any piece away that is big enough to use! You do foundation piecing so well - I really need to try it out again and use up more of my scraps even if I never seem to put much of a dent in them. Your scrap quilts are going to be gorgeous!

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  5. How I enjoy these little impromptu visits into your sewing room to see what's going on. Of course, you are the queen of scrappy quilts, so you know right off it's going to be good. Even the "flicks" on the floor...

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  6. I look forward to seeing how you set the blocks with the black fabric together. I have lots of blocks that my mother made just before she passed away, they look just like yours. I told her I would finish the quilt for her, but don't really know how she planned to set the blocks together. I was raised to make do also!!

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  7. Scrap quilts are the best. Anxious to see your finished pieces!

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  8. I always love to see what you're working on. Yes, my parents lived through the Depression also; in fact I was born not too long until things got better. You and I are the same age. My dad was in the Navy and gone much of the time until my oldest brother and I were 10 and 11.

    Have a blessed day!

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  9. Absolutely. My grandma had a poultry farm and got chicken mash in flowered cloth bags--which my mother cut and sewed into cute little summer dresses for me. We still have stuff my great grandparents had because...they never threw anything away.

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  10. Wow, you've been busy! They all look great, Charlotte. I look forward to seeing all the finished pieces.

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  11. Love your blocks! I have never paper pieced and should try it some time. I love saving my scraps and trying to figure out what I can create. Soooo much fun. Happy Holidays.

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  12. The first set of blocks are going to make a lovely quilt.
    Your scraps are making a gorgeous flying geese quilt. That's a really good pattern to use for the odd scraps too.
    Wishing you joy and happiness this holiday season. Merry Christmas. :)

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  13. I bet you've got a lot done on this one by now unless you're busy getting ready for Christmas. Merry Christmas from my home to your. hugs, xo

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  14. I love your blocks. The colors and fabrics are very pretty. This reminds me of the scrap box my mama used when she quilted. I look forward to seeing your completed scraps in quilts.

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