cut list progress

I decided to make a cutting hit list for scrap management. You can read about it here. It has been a month. and, I am surprised at how much I have gotten done. I made a list of what I would need to cut for a few quilts in my ufo and maybe someday lists. With a pile of scraps, I move down the list and cut what I can to fill the need for these quilts.

It went from neat and tidy stacks to zip lock bags as I cut more and more. I am not worried about numbers yet. If when I am ready to make these quilts, and I have cut too many, I can always feed the extras into the scrap users system I have used for years.

Diffusion is a quilted twins free pattern that is simple 9 patches. I am cutting in fall colors with 2 inch strips. If the scrap is not fall color, I go to another quilt on the list. I have a gallon zip lock bag full of strips. 

Suzies snowball is a a great quilt to cut with 2 inch squares when that is all that is left. The bag is full, too. At this point I could retire this one. And pick another quilt to cut. - undecided

I cut red, blue and aqua rectangles for quiltville unity quilt round 5. I need 2 inch neutral strips for a variety for the borders. I have the rectangles for the geese cut and many 2 inch strips. I can move on to cutting round 6.

Strip weave is a new small quilt that I will probably use next year for the rainbow scrap challenge. I need to cut 2 1/2 x 10 1/2 x 3 of the same size and I have a few of those cut. I am concerned about random choices.

I have a color block quilt that I am putting scraps bigger than 4 1/2 inches in black red or white  for triangles in an hour glass alternate block. I have a few of those.

 

And another new one for next years rainbow scrap challenge using a hollow nine block. I am cutting 3 1/2 inch squares. I have a big bag of them.

My overall opinion is very positive for how this is working for me. I am still enjoying the cutting, and feel more like I am moving goals forward, than, if, I just cut the usual sizes to fill the drawers. I have one or two that I am worried about, that I might not like them so scrappy when it comes to making the quilt. I like that it has added a puzzle challenge to the mundane task of cutting scraps.

I think I can say I have cut enough for unity clue 5, and, will retire that until I have a chance to sew that clue.

I am sure I have enough cut for Suzie's snowball so it will go back to the ufo list.

The rest are still active, but, I need to add some projects to the cut list.

I  am linking to:

midweek makers  

wednesday wait loss

stitch and sew

My quilt infatuation

oh scrap sunday

quilt hit list

I am frustrated with the scrap piles again. A little bit here and a little bit there, can really add up over time. I have let a lot of time pass since the last time I have been sitting to cut scraps. I dumped all the bits into a container, and started cutting. This time, I  made a hit list. I have several projects, that I still need pieces cut to finish. When I pick up a scrap, I check to see if I could use the color in any of the projects. If so, I start cutting the sizes I need. If there is anything leftover, I cut the usual sizes, 3 1/2, 2 1/2, 2, 1 1/2 and so on. So far, There isn't much I can't use in the hit list quilts. I enjoyed the process and we will see if it confuses me too much LOL

Most of the time, I just cut biggest scrap saver sizes to smallest, and, then, I have to have to find a home for them. Most of those homes are full. This way, I am actually moving projects along. True, I probably have enough already cut in the scrap saver system, to do each quilt, but, they are already in their home, and happy, and aren't going anywhere, if I need them. I am trying to clean up the new accumulated scraps, not pulling for each quilt.

The inspiration came from a discussion at open sew about taming the scraps. My quilting friend said that she had a pile on her table that she decided was getting cut and made into patches, into a quilt, until it is all gone. I didn't want to cut to just start a new quilt, when I have so many I still want to make or finish. So, I looked through what I had and needed, and am doing the same thing. When the pile is gone, we will see if it worked and they are truly gone.

It is okra time. We tried some purple okra this year and they were yummy.

I am linking to:

TGIFF

TGIFF different     here  and here

creations

peacock party

from bolt to beauty

put your foot down

oh scrap sunday

patchwork and quilts

rhododendron and scraps

I cut and pieced the second clue of rhododendron mystery quilt this week. It doesn't look like much, but it was a lot of cutting and piecing. And I was off with my numbers and didn't have enough to finish the opposite colorway.

I did cut the rest of the wings.

I have been cutting scraps again. I can't take much of a break from scraps or they will overpower me.

I have a few ideas for the rainbow scrap challenge at so scrappy next year that will use strings and crumbs.

10 inch -1 pound 4 ounces

2 inch and 1 1/2 in - 4 ounces

5 inch -1 pound 5 ounces

2 1/2 in -9 ounces and 3 1//2 in - 6 ounces

3 pounds and 3 ounces = 9 yards  = 90.00 dollars Well worth saving the scraps.

I am linking to:

TGIFF

TGIFF different     here  and here

Whoop Whoop

creations

peacock party

from bolt to beauty

put your foot down

oh scrap sunday

top of the green

 I found a big bag of green scraps that I wanted to sort and decide. It was a nearly full 2 gallon ziplock bag. I spent 2 evenings folding and cutting. green is the  color for March for the rainbow scrap challenge at so scrappy.

By the time I emptied the bag, I had a tray full of new additions to my scrap user's system. These weighed 2 pounds = 6 yards of fabric= at least 60.00

Now to see if the new pieces will fit in my drawers. 5 inch size is a new addition this year to the cutting process. I haven't found the way I want to store them yet. I really haven't used 5 inch very much.

I also worked in my 1 1/2 inch strip bin. I needed green waffle stamp pieces cut for the month and any short pieces I found, I sewed with a neutral piece to use later. no plan, I just knew I didn't want them in the bag any longer.

I had a few additional green cut, so I made quite a few this month. It looks like most of the previous cut ones are blue.

This time I needed to make more strips of 5- 1 1/2 inch squares. I didn't have any left from the last time I made them. Hopefully these will last through next month's color of the month.

My rainbow projects for 2021 with links:

tiny houses

postage stamp psp20/21

ice cream

waffle stamp blocks

green ufos

Christmas sparkle

epp stars

squedge table runner

yellow ufos

yellow boxy star and here and here and here

florabunda

pink ufos

love pillowcases

2 pink flannel baby quilts and here

I am linking to:

rsc21 super saturday
oh scrap
UFO busting

put your foot down

quote marks quilt

It's a new month, but, I still have yellow to finish from February. These are the quote marks from the full stop quilt that Angela is doing. I have a few bonus 2 inch  HSTS - ( half square triangles ) I chose the easy example of quote marks that Angela offered. 

I am still taming the scraps this week by cutting 10 inch squares.  3 pounds 5 ounces = 9 1/4 yards = 95.00 worth of fabric. I counted 52 squares = 4 packs of layer cakes = 160.00 

My worry is that I won't use them. Since I haven't used a layer cake yet in my quilting.

I am linking to:

midweek makers  

boms away 
Oh scrap

I am linking to:

boms away 

needle and thread Thursdays

rainbow scrap challenge

to do: 2 inch scraps

We are melting snow around here.

The scraps are taking over. I have been working on finishing this year, and, that in itself makes scraps. But, since I am not really starting anything new, I am not using scraps much. If it were not for the rainbow scrap challenge at so scrappy, I wouldn't be using my scraps at all.

I spent some time cutting scraps into 2 inch strips. I knew my neutrals were getting low, and I had a few pieces not much bigger than that to cut.

I weighed these at 1 pound 14 ounces. Quilted twins keeps track of her cutting this way, and, it is a good reminder of how much even our scraps are worth.

5 yards of fabric @ 10.00 =$50.00. and, it is fun to see everything all nice and cut and ready to be used.

Tonight is quilt guild and I am not sure I am ready for that. We can't meet in our usual location, so I have no idea if the place will be nice or not. If I can see or hear or feel the distances are enough.

I am linking to:

to do tuesday

chameleon color linky _

oh scrap

boms away 

needle and thread Thursdays

pink dresdens

Last week, I had a decision to make about adding a another project to my rainbow scrap challenge plans, an old ufo with pink dresdens.
I was worried I wouldn't keep all the plates in the air.
I was grateful for bloggie support and decided to do both, but, with a better mind set.

I spent only one evening sorting the scrap bucket and cutting what I would normally need. Then, I put it all away for another time. It looks neat and tidy.... for a minute.

I cut strips in 3 1/2, 2 1/2, 2, and 1 1/2. I have an accuquilt, but, I like to cut with a creative grids stripology ruler, when I am cutting multiple sizes from a single piece of fabric.

It wasn't as much as I planned to do, but, it was good enough. So that, then, I could work on the pink dresden for the month. Instead of working to finish it, I am using the dresdens as leader and enders while working on my quilt projects I want to finish. I will see how far that gets me. Any progress will be progress, and I can think about my sweet baby girl, every day.

This was how far I got the first three days. Not bad for an after thought.

My rainbow projects for 2020 with links:
 Irish chain
Shine
row by row
scraptastic star
country road

I am linking to:

rsc20 super saturday
oh scrap

UFO busting

A new challenge

I've been a Bonnie of Quiltville  fan for many years, and have participated in the leader/ender challenge every year. She has announced a new challenge for the coming year. I have no real opinion of the block itself. It looks doable. But, more importantly, I had most of the units already in my scrap user's system.

I had 300 of the 2 inch 4 patches in a drawer. I need 280.

I had almost 60 pairs of 3 1/2 inch HSTs in a drawer. I need 140. So, I can start putting blocks together and cut a few more triangles and I am all set. And I use up little bits I have been saving for just this opportunity.

While I was cutting 3 1/2 inch strips, I remembered I wanted to cut blue strips for Pinwheel fancy.

Also A bonnie pattern from her book Addicted to scraps. It occurred to me that I might also have the 2 inch HST for this quilt. I had all but 30. I saved these as bonus triangles from another quilt. I still have a lot of cutting to do, but this moves me along.

If I hadn't been cleaning up the studio, I wouldn't have remembered I had the pieces to use them. Win -  win.
I am linking to:

WOW

midweek makers

Jo's Country Junction UFO
Bee Social
Silly Mama WIP

Oh Scrap

almost finished

I am excited- I only have this little bit left to finish on my rug. I am thinking after my rug hooking meeting today, I will be able to start the finishing.
And that means, I can start the dreaming of the next rug. Such fun!

I am still working on little piles of scraps hanging around my work area. These are pieces that I cut from and didn't need all of it.

So I cut triangles and put them away for later.

I am linking to:

Fiber Tuesday - 

Free Motion by the River

to do tuesday

too cute tuesday

another clue done

All of these are done for On ringo lake mystery quilt

And I had to try one...

Lynette asked how I had altered my quiltville mystery quilt expectations so that I had enjoyed it more this year.
I have worked on the older mysteries over the years after the fact. In other words, all the clues were available but the quilt was revealed. I enjoyed them so much better. I asked myself why. It wasn't that I needed to see the quilt first. It was that all the information about the colors was available at once. I could pick one scrap of a color, cut it till it was gone, pull another, cut until it was gone, etc. I didn't have to pull all the fabric I had in that color to be sure I had enough.

Bonnie is big on saying the more variety, the better. I have decided, I want to follow that idea to a point. I have been to several of her workshops, and I have seen many of her quilts made by others, and I have decided that there is a talent to what Bonnie does. She makes it seem like she is every woman and every quilter, but I don't think so. There is a talent to making a variety look good. I feel better about the variety in mine if variety is limited to just a few. And then there is SO much less mess and SO much less time.  There is still a place for scrappy pieces, but it is so much easier to use bigger chunks of fabric when cutting for a big quilt.

This year, I kept every clue in a separate container. I also hate having to sort through a big tub to get all of a piece, or thinking that I am short when a few pieces have migrated into other sections. I was afraid I would lose a whole container but so far, I haven't.

I enjoyed using starch on my fabric and feel like it helped me be more accurate with less effort. Another reason I prefer bigger chunks of fabric, it is easier to starch bigger pieces.

I also used other tools that I like better for different methods. I feel like I should be put in a corner for saying that I can't get the great results Bonnie does using her tools all the time. What kind of fan says that? I was really thrilled with the wing clipper for flying geese. But I am good on the essential triangle tool / easy angle for bigger triangles. And I like the square and rectangle method for for small sew and flip corners. I prefer the corner pop for bigger ones. I didn't get good results with the new simple folded corners ruler. Since it has to be tweaked for each change to the quarter inch seam, and I don't want anything called a booty ruler. But I love the accuquilt.

I am linking (links in the sidebar) to:
needle and thread thursdays
oh scrap

It's a win

Susan at quiltfabrication had a blog anniversary and a giveaway. I won the opportunity to pick one of her quilt patterns. I enjoy her blog and her work, so I was very excited.

I decided I would choose

this would be a perfect quilt for a a Grandson. So so cute. I think next year, it will be time to make each of my Grandchildren a new quilt. It has been long enough and I want to concentrate on them next year. There just wasn't enough Grandchildren time this year.

Besides Christmas, I have barely had any quilting time, and I have been focusing on the quiltville mystery quilt. A new clue came out today, but I have been up to date with the other clues. I am doing a much better job of avoiding the usual chaotic mess of a scrappy mystery. I am not using the scrap user system, and instead just reaching for the yardage. I am using one coral and just a few browns and aqua.I have a bin of scrappy neutrals that I can pull out when I need them.
I used the flip corner method for clue #3. I didn't mark the diagonal, instead I used quarter inch tape on the machine bed.

I sewed them all and then sat and cut the corners with scissors while I watched the Santa Clause

And I gave myself permission to throw away the triangles

I am linking to:

TGIFF

Finished or Not Fridays   

Whoop Whoop

crazy mom quilts

red, white, blue

I have let my 2 1/2 inch strip bins get overfull. I can't close the drawers  they are in by color. Blue and red are the fullest. No problem,  I'll just cut a quick red, white, and blue donation quilt.

I decided on boxy stars, since it is quick and easy and I could just grab a bunch of strips and cut 2 1/2 in squares and 4 1/2 inch rectangles, and 6 1/2 inch rectangles.  There was no appreciable difference in the drawers of strips sigh...
This was just a group I used to cut, there is more in the drawer....

 After I had 80 small blockscut  to make 20 big blocks, I was reading somewhere about a blogger with bleeding fabric issues in her quilt. Oh Oh... both red and blue are notorious for bleeding. No problem. I'll just dunk them in water being careful not to agitate the strips and cause ravelies.
 Bummer ... The blue water was very blue, and the red water was very red. I am glad I caught that before it was a quilt, but will that be good enough? I am a scrappy quilter. This poses a problem.

I gave the washed quilt pieces some fan time on the dining room table. So much for quick and mindless.

They were keeping marigold blossoms company. These were drying for dyeing wool, but that's another story.

Boxy stars is a free pattern that can be found here.

I am linking to:

WOW

midweek makers

Jo's Country Junction UFO
Bee Social
Silly Mama WIP

WIPs with friends

Sew,stitch,snap,share