What I’m Working On…

You call might remember I’ve been working on the Frolic Leftovers.  I was to the point my block were done.  It was time for me to come up with a design.  I decided to focus on these white background blocks first.


I was tempted to do these at the same time but told myself I’d be best off to focus on just one of the blocks.  I grabbed one of the white background blocks and headed to the computer.  I use EQ8, Electric Quilt 8 computer program, for designing.


As I was grabbing one of the blocks, this basket of leftovers also caught my eye.

Oh, those four patches.  Maybe they could make a chain block…I had all of that in mind as I headed to the computer…A short 20 minutes later, this is what I came up with…Oh my…I had nothing in mind when I sat down but WOW.  I loved this.

Here it is after I erased the lines.  YEP.  I really do love it.  So this is going to use some of the white background blocks and some of the aqua background blocks.


I was actually impressed with myself.  Below is the block that I ended up coming up with to act as the chain block.


I made up a few blocks to make sure they would work and then I cut them all out over the course of two naptimes.

I already know that I’ll need to make a few more four patches.

I almost backed off and didn’t go with the design as now I have weird numbers of blocks left over from both the white background blocks and the aqua background blocks…but then I love the quilt enough that I didn’t care.  In the end, I guess I’ll just have to design a different quilt with the leftovers.

The other thing I worked on this week was to finish tackling that big pile of scraps.  Here is one of three piles of trimmings that accumulated over the course of getting the blocks under control.


Here is the treasure trove of strips I got out of it all.  The postage box in the back is overflowing with 2 1/2″ strips.  The bag is 1 1/2″ strips.  The lower right is 1 1/2″ strips.  Next to them are 3 1/2″ strips.  There are 10″ squares, 5″ squares, and two fat quarters that came out of it all.


It took a long time but was totally worth it.  As I said in a previous post, all of this was sent from blog readers.  The pieces were all odd shapes and sizes…most smaller than fat quarters.  Charity groups don’t like messing with it.  Me, I do.  So I kept this and over the course of a week, I tackled it all and put it into my scrap bins.  These will likely be used in fundraiser quilts that I make for our local community.

Remember me saying that I needed to make more four patches for the Frolic leftover quilt??  Well, how great was it that I could dig in the bag of strips I just cut and immediately started sewing?  I think AWESOME.


That ease is EXACTLY why I keep strip bins of fabric strips sorted by size.   It might be a pain to cut them all but the ease comes later when I can easily grab a few pieces and start sewing.

This week the plan is to finish up making the chain blocks for the Frolic quilt.  I have to make 64 but already have 12 done.  Then I’ll start assembling.  I’m so excited about this quilt.   Who knew that a but of leftovers could turn into a great quilt?

27 thoughts on “What I’m Working On…”

  1. What a lovely quilt, can’t wait to see it done. With the remaining blocks perhaps the same quilt but with the colours reversed?

  2. This is going to be gorgeous! That computer program can come up with some beautiful ideas!
    Looking forward to your big finish!
    Love and prayers

  3. Love the colors you are using and the quilt. No one would ever know thaat it was made from scraps. I love a scrappy quilt.

  4. I love the quilt design! I’m sheaths intrigued by how other quilters organize scraps. I had tons after making many quilts a few years ago. My initial solution was to make a large strip quilt which I love. Now that I find I have many scraps built up again, I want to try a more comprehensive method to organize them. I’m off to find your post about your scrap system. Blessings!

  5. Judith Fairchild

    Oh my stars and garters. From not knowing to blowing us out of the water. The pattern looks absolutely lovely. Jo you could probably make beautiful quilts out of gunny sacks. Way to go girl.

  6. Love your new design…very clever. Now I’m curious to know if you plan to use the 2 sets of blue blocks in different sections or intermingle in a scrappy way. Suppose I could wait and see but more fun to ask

  7. Signe Burgen Vaughan

    I can’t wait to see your quilt made from the Frolic Quilt scraps. The drawing is wonderful and I am sure the quilt will be also! Have fun!

  8. BEVERLY CARDER CUSTER

    Jo~~ What an incredible quilt—it will be a stunner—and I am in awe of your talent! Send it to a magazine—it could be on the cover…can’t wait to see it—and made from scraps from another quilt…? Isn’t this an amazing hobby!?
    Bev

  9. I love the design- can’t wait to see the quilt!! I wonder what you will call it!?? Absolutely amazing-20 minutes to come up with design and to think it is from leftovers from other quilts. Awesome!!
    Anne

  10. This looks fantastic. You made it look so easy! Thank you for sharing so many nuggets of the ideas and assembly.
    Anne

  11. Susan the Farm Quilter

    Gorgeous quilt made from shared magic!! Love scrappy quilts!! Makes me want to invest in EQ but I like the quilting part of the process so much that piecing is just a vehicle to get to the quilting! This would make a beautiful quilt for a magazine cover for spring!

  12. OMG, Jo!!! That design is phenomenal and the ease of being able to pull pieces and parts from the scrap USER’s system is why I sort my scraps, too. (It saved my tail when I forgot about prepping for a class once and the morning of, all I had to do was pull the relevant drawer before heading out the door!)

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