SURPRISE!! I started another quilt. I know, that’s likely not a surprise.
I am not sure what my intention is in making it. I do know that I’ll gift the quilt but don’t have a specific recipient in mind. I have a couple quilts I need to make for graduation presents for May so it might be for that.
Last week I told you I had two quilt tops finished. I didn’t really get any chunks of time over last week to get them on the frame…so what’s a girl to do who doesn’t have anything to piece. GET A PROJECT GOING!!
In my pursuit of trying to come up with ideas for a quilt for a Christmas present for the childcare kiddos, I ran across Bonnie Hunter’s Jewel Box Stars Challenge quilt. Hmm. I figured that would be perfect to make. I could just pull my 2″ bucket over and start sewing the four patches…and that’s exactly what I did. I love quilts that I feel like I don’t have to “cut out”.
I decided to make it and within moments I had the 2″ bucket out and was sewing. I LOVE the scrap user’s system for this very reason.
I sewed strips together for about an hour. The next day during naptime I ironed them and cut them into segments.
In no time at all I have twosies.
Someone once asked me why I make so many Bonnie Hunter quilts. Truth be told…her quilts work so well with my storage. (My storage is her idea so no wonder) But I can get a whim idea to make a quilt and start it before I’ve even had a chance to ask myself, “Is this quilt the quilt you REALLY want to make?”. If it’s a quilt for myself I think it all through a little more but if it’s a quilt that is being gifted…I LOVE that I just jump right in.
One evening Carver was here late and I was busy cutting the half square triangles for the quilt. Oh my word. He loves “twilting” (His was of saying quilting) We had the best time. It’s official, I think he’s already spent more time “twilting” with me than his mother has. Kalissa, Carver’s mom, is not a crafty/sewing girl. She even joked I might have my quilter in Carver. I love it.
I got enough blocks together early in the week to know that I was pretty sure I was going to like this. What do you think??
I’m going to pause a second and tell you that I am limiting myself to pinks, greens, purples and blues. I love scrap quilts but sometimes limiting the colors helps them to not get overwhelming busy. Trust me, I love busyness but this will still be plenty busy.
I got a little ways and could see that I will need more four patches so a half hour of sewing one night and naptime cutting the next day, helped me catch up.
By Friday morning, I was going pretty good. I was this far. As pictured it is 3 x 7. I snapped some pictures and sent them to Connie and Kelli hoping for some advice.
I was aiming for 6 x 7 which would make it 72″ x 84″ 
Do I want to leave it there or add borders…or make more blocks and go 84″ x 96″. Hmm.
It would be easier to make a decision if I knew that it was going to be gifted for.
How do you not smile when you see all that busy fun?
THANKS a million to those of you who have sent your scraps my way. I rarely buy any bright colored fabric but look at all the quilts I’ve been making.
This is unironed. The only thing that was ironed is the four-patch blocks. I typically don’t iron a quilt until it is a full top. Once a quilter pressed or adds starch, the quilt blocks lose their give. I want to be able to be able to push or pull a little to get my seams to match the best they can. So no ironing until I’m finished if I can help it.
Although I only have this many sewn together, more blocks are made. I had to make another batch of four patches as I still sort. Kelli laughs at me that I don’t always count my units. I’m lazy and really don’t care if I have a few left over blocks.
Friday night I hurried up to the sewing room and decided I wasn’t going to go to bed until this was a top. Here it is now….
Then Saturday I ironed it. 
I have fabric picked for the backing. YAHOO!! I’ll need to do a little piecing but that’s entirely okay. More fabric will be up and out of here!
Friday night I finished the top by 8:20 or so. I had decided that Friday night was quilting night so after after some tidying I decided that I wanted to work on something else…so I started the food quilt that Jean sent me.
You might remember that Jean sent me blocks to make the fabric quilt. Oh my word it was so-so organized. I sewed for about an hour and almost have it finished and into a top. Jean thank you so MUCH. I so appreciate it. I just know Vicki is going to love it.
I did errands on Saturday and then wrote blog posts but that evening I loaded a quilt on the frame. I like loading them and machine quilting over the weekend when I have bigger chunks of time. I don’t like stopping and starting. If possible I like to machine quilt the entire thing all in one sitting.
I’ll leave you in suspense as to which quilt I loaded. If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you’ll find out sooner that Friday.
I’m hoping by Friday this will be a finish and I can show it off. I’m on a roll and am loving it!!
You are amazing. I love the quilt. Someday when I get this thing off my foot, I’ll be able to navigate my house and find/get to my fabric. Until then, I’ll live vicariously through you.
Much love
Love that scrappy quilt!! It is so happy!!! Great choice of colors! You are on a roll!
I love those colors! So bright and cheery! Someone is going to love it!
Love and prayers
Love your color palette and the top for Jewel Box Stars.
I love it! You know I like bright colors. You are on a roll and several people will enjoy the warmth of your living hands due to these quilts.
Beautiful quilt !
I love Carver helping you “twilt.”
All things bright and beautiful! Its great to be on a roll!
I love the colors you chose and this is such a quick, easy quilt. Thanks for sharing. I do have one question, do you press seams open or to one side? Or does it depend on the project?
Hi Paula..I press whatever is easiest which means RARELY ever do I press seams open.
very pretty qult Beautiful colors. If this is a gift I would opt for smaller. Most people much prefer a lap quilt rather than a bed size.. Much more versatile.
I love the quilt and you are so fast!! You are right to not to think about them so long before starting.
Blessings to you and family
Love the quilt. I actually did it as a leade/ender project last year with Bonnie. I haven’t sewed it together yet. I like how you limit yourself to a few colors on a scrap quilt. I will have to aim for that next time. I am trying to finish up some UFO’s. But I did start a mystery quilt with Alycia’s Quilts!!! So much for the UFO’s!! I do need to plan my leader/ender project while doing Bonnie’s mystery this year.
Wow! Beautiful quilt! Carver is so adorable.
Absolutely love your colorful, busy “twilt”❤
And I thought I was the only one who was a “Smash It All Flat” girl when the top is done. I love your reasoning on waiting to iron.
What a wonderful quilt top!! That’s going to make a lovely gift, Jo.
Beautiful Jo! I’m working on my 7-year-old granddaughter who is interested in sewing and quilting. She has already pieced a small quilt for herself and I quilted it for her.
I love that you limited your range of colors,
Such pretty colors and boy, are you fast. I know Bonnie’s pattern is for setting it with the blocks edge to edge, but I think if I ever get around to making it I’ll use sashing & cornerstones to tone down the busyness a little. I’m that way with quit a few patterns.
I think your scrappy quilt is beautiful and Carver is so cute I love that he calls it twilting.
HI Jo… I really like this quilt – the limited palette scrappy is a great idea – it really sparkles
Wow Jo! I am amazed and impressed with how fast you can pull together a lovely scrappy quilt with Bonnie’s Scrap User system! You inspire me to start organizing my scraps- after the holidays! Thanks so much for all you share with us.
Nice, quick work on the Jewel Box. It turned out so well. I wanted to do this pattern but just never got to it this year. Maybe next!!! I moved a year ago and I am washing, ironing, and folding all my fabric to the same size for storage. I had sewing stuff in so many places and some of it had been in storage what seems like forever. I haven’t been in the mood to quilt since the move so am working on organizing my first sewing room. Since I have fabric almost done, I think I will work on scraps next. So far I have pre cuts organized, a bunch of patterns or fabrics kitted, and yardage mostly organized. Wait, I forgot the fat quarters…. Can’t wait to see what you stitch next.
Your quilt is so pretty! It’s great to use scraps
I love that quilt. It’s such a happy one. Your Grands are so cute Carver with his scissors helping , what a love. I like quilts that come together fast. Thanks for telling about the leader and ender sewing I did a piano keys border in less than three days using leader and enders. When I get the top sewn I’ll take a picture of it.
Love the quilt. Where did you find the Bonnie Hunter design — her site or in one of her books?
Nancy it is on her site in the free patterns. IT was a leader ender project.
I love scraps and this one is great. I give away the more organized quilts and make myself quilts from all the scraps. By doing this I can look and remember the other quilts and who I gave them to. Sort of a memory quilt for me.
Jo, Do your 2″ strips then finish at 1 1/2″? I can’t tell by looking and I have a lot of 2 1/2″ strips that I could use up this way.