Mindless Sewing Break

{A Picture Heavy Post}

After I finished all my blocks for the Modernized Farmer's Wife quilt, I needed a little break from the intensity for some mindless sewing.  I decided to go through the fabric my neighbor gave me last week.  She gave me three big bags full of fabric.  I pulled out anything that was not 100% cotton, and decided not to keep it.  Then I separated all the baby flannel, and added it to my flannel stash.  (I like to make baby gifts with it.)  Then I decided what else I wanted to keep.  The rest will go to family, friends, and goodwill.

I didn't want to add the fabric to my general stash, because not all of it was quilt shop quality.  However, I knew the fabric would be perfect for some baby quilts to practice free motion quilting and then donate.  For my sewing break, I separated out the fabric that I didn't want to use in baby quilts.

I looked through all the rest and noticed that there were many fat quarters with chunks missing, and yardage pieces with chunks missing.  I believe that a lot of those chunks must have been used for applique (because I could see little bits of the Heat-n-Bond type product).  There were also some pieces ranging from an eighth of a yard to a quarter of a yard.  After thinking about what would be the best use of fabric and my time, I decided to make some simple stripe quilts and what I call short and chunky race quilts.

I went through the large stack of fabrics (probably more than 40 yards) piece by piece.  Anything that was not the full 42 inches width of fabric, I cut into four inch strips.  Anything larger than a third of a yard, I put in the yardage pile.  I cut narrow pieces into strips ranging from 4 to 6.5 inches wide.  Everything else I put in a bag to give to my friend's daughter.

I separated the four inch strips into a girl pile and a boy pile.  I separated the boy pile into brights and soft colors.  (I wish I took a picture of the piles.)  Once the strips were separated, I decided that I only wanted to use pieces that ranged in size from 16 to 21 inches long.  Anything bigger than that I cut in half.  Anything smaller went in the little scrap bag.  However, each quilt starts with one piece that was about 4 x 8 inches to get the staggered effect.  Then I sewed each quilt kit* together just like a jelly roll race.  I made five of those and they all finish about 42 x 56 inches.

The strips that were the full width of fabric, I separated into three piles for baby quilts.  These all finish about 42 x 55 inches.  Evidently I needed to make some somewhat symmetrical quilts after all the chaotic piecing of the race quilts.

This was exactly the break I needed.  Instead of spending 45-60 minutes on one block for the Modern Farmer's Wife, I could sew and press a whole top for a baby quilt in less than 60 minutes!  I was going to make just one quilt top, but once I got going I couldn't stop.  LOL.  I made eight quilt tops in a couple days.  I got extra sewing time by my hubby working from home one day and staying up late another.

Once all the tops were made, I went through the yardage pieces I separated to make backings and bindings.  There was only one piece large enough (1 2/3 yard) for a simple backing.

Some backings only required three pieces.

I had a couple big stripe pieces, but I decided to break up the stripe with inserts.

I tried to get the best use out of the fabric.  The backing for the light colored boy quilt has one blue section along the lengthwise grain, and one section along the crosswise grain.  I added some yellow fabric for length and to make the different directions less noticeable.

Others I had to get more creative on.

I was running out of girl fabric, but I was able to make it work.

I was able to make all eight quilt sets out of the fabric in the bags from my friend.  How awesome is that?  All I had to add was thread and time (and now batting).  Now all I have left after making the backings and bindings is this little pile.

I am going to hold on to it for now, but I may decide to let someone else play with it.

So now I have eight tops...

And eight backs...

Plus their bindings.  All waiting for me on this quilt rack I borrowed from the family room (so I don't have to press them again).

I estimate that there are 32 yards of fabric on the rack  (four yards per quilt set).  Feel free to give me a hard time for going against my norm.  I went from two WIPs to ten in less than a week.  ;)  I can totally justify it by saying that it feels like one project because it was one stack of fabric, but what's the point?

I am excited to play with the quilting on all of these, and plan on using some as part of my Feather Boot Camp.  And I'm now ready to get back to the Modern Farmer's Wife.

*On Monday I will be sharing how I calculated the number of pieces I needed for each quilt.  Calculations to make variations of the jelly roll race can now be found here.

XX,
Jasmine

P.S.  Eight flimsies counts as a finish, right?

P.P.S.  I will be linking up with Can I Get a Whoop Whoop, Finish it up Friday, Oh Scrap and Let's Bee Social.  (Buttons on sidebar)