Category Archives: Bonnie Hunter

Ask Jo: Cutting Up Scraps

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A while ago I did a little blurb about how I was cutting up scraps.  It was just something simple in the middle of a post about my sewing room.  I was surprised when I got so many comments and questions about it.  Today I’m expanding and writing more.  Hopefully in the writing I will answer all the comments that came my way.

Before I get started I do want to say that I use Bonnie Hunter’s Scrap User’s System for keep my scraps.  You can learn more about that here.

Here is the tote that needs to get trimmed into usable pieces.


In no real order I garb pieces and I stack them like this.  The largest on the bottom, graduated smaller pieces on the tops.  I layer about 6-8 to a cut.
For the example above the longer bottom pieces aren’t folded, the top two are.

I’ve been wanting to add to my 2″ bucket.  For me, I use 2″ and 2 1/2″ strips most often.  Today when given a choice, I plan to cut more 2″ strips than any other size.

I do an edge cut to start so all the edges are even.
Next I made the 2″ cut….


I reposition my ruler and make another 2″ cut.

Now, the top purple fabric is used up.  I measure the top piece.  It’s not 4″ so I can’t make two 2″ cuts.  
I end up opting to take two 1 1/2″ cuts.  It was the best use of the fabric as I only had less than 3 1/2″ I was working with…because remember, I only cut according to the top piece of fabric.

Now the top piece of fabric is gone.  The best way to use up this last bit is to make a 2″ cut…and I do.
I’ll do another batch so you get the hang of it…

I have graduated layers ready to cut.


I square up the edge and start thinking about what the best cuts are.  I start by measuring the top piece.
It’s looks to be about 4 1/2″.  I take two 2″ cuts.  
I pull the leftover scrap off.
Lucky me…I can squeeze a 1 1/2″ stip off next.  
…and another 1 1/2″ cut.  That made the best use of the fabric.Now hmmm.  What do I want to do with this next cut.  The top fabric is 3 1/2″ wide.  I could make a 3 1/2″ cut or I could or I could make a 2″ cut and then an 1 1/2″ cut.  It doesn’t matter.

The top piece is gone and I’m left with this…I ended up stripping this into 2″ pieces but I could have done anything with it.  I opted for 2″ as remember, that was the size I was focusing on.
The next piece in the box was this… Continue reading →

Ask Jo: Kelli’s Cheddar Bow Tie

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Every so often questions and comments come from readers that I think others would like to hear my response to.  That’s when I feature them on the blog.  This is one of those days.

Last week I showed you Kelli’s Cheddar Bow Tie quilt.

Following that I got several people wondering about the layout and more about the quilt.  I thought I’d write a little more about it.

First off, this quilt started as a Bonnie Hunter Challenge quilt.  Each year Bonnie does a challenge quilt starting in the summer and ending the next summer.  She encourages people to construct a quilt as a leader and ender project.  You can read more about leaders and enders here.

In 2011 her challenge was the bow tie block.  You can read more about the challenge and get the instructions on how to make the bow time block HERE.

Kelli and I both jumped on board to make the cute little bow tie blocks.  Kelli opted to use many different cheddar colored fabrics to make her quilt.  Me, I used all the same cheddar color.

To make this quilt, she made 1024 cheddar bow tie blocks.  Oh my.

After Kelli got the individual bow ties made she sewed them into blocks like the one you see below.  You would need 256 of the blocks below.


From there, she sewed them into a larger block.  This is the setting she used…. Continue reading →

A Quilt Finish: Cheddar Bow Ties

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In my war on truly catching up in the sewing room I’ve been tackling the pile of flimsy quilt tops.  On the pile was a quilt of Kelli’s, Cheddar Bow Ties.  This quilt has been a top for a long time.  Now it’s finished.


This started as Bonnie Hunter’s 2011 Leader and Ender Challenge.  More info on that HERE.

Kelli didn’t follow the suggestion and use one solid cheddar fabric.  She used many cheddar printed fabrics.  The quilt is comprised of Civil War prints.


I think the color selection makes the quilt look like it’s dancing.

I don’t ever think of a bow tie block as anything special at all but just look… Continue reading →