Saturday, August 22, 2015

Scrap Quilt in Progress

First, I want to say thanks for all the encouragement and well wishes during my blogging break.  We had a lot of fun spending time together at the end of summer with less time on the computer.  My boys are now back in school and we are trying to settle into our routine.  I am looking forward to blogging as part of my routine.  :)


I have been saving up my scraps of light 2.5 inch strips for a few years.  The plan for these scraps has changed many times.  Some ideas included a string quilt, a granny square quilt, a scrappy trip quilt, and a jelly roll race.  At first I wasn't going to do a jelly roll race, because I already made one with some of these fabrics.   However, I just felt like doing some simple sewing and using up all these scraps in one project.

So I fluffed up my strips and set them by my sewing machine.  (They took up less than half the tub when they were laid nice and flat.)


I just randomly sewed them all end to end in one great big long strip.


I found the two ends, matched them up, and started sewing... and sewing... and sewing...

I measured the strip after the first seam and it was about 55 yards (1,980 inches).   I had to change the brand new bobbin of 50 weight Auriful partway through the seam.  Evidently I can't fit 55 yards of Aurifil thread on one bobbin.  This was the longest continuous seam I have ever sewn.  Previously my longest seam was about 800 inches for a jelly roll race (22 yards).  Before that my longest seam was only 114 (3+ yards) inches for a large border.  Please note that is one seam, not chain piecing.  Ironing a 55 yard strip was not nearly as much fun as piecing it.  ;)

Once I knew how long my first seam was, I used my calculations for jelly roll race variations to figure out how big my quilt would end up.  I decided to continue sewing until I had a 16 strip wide section.  Then I divided it in thirds, and used my design floor to determine the placement for the last three sections.


In one day I had a simply pieced full size quilt (about 80 x 96 inches).  Totally love it!


One of the most fun things about this quilt was thinking of all the other quilts whose leftovers I was using.  There is even one scrap from my very first quilt.  It is the light pink calico near the bottom left corner in the picture below.


I used some larger scraps plus yardage for the backing.


I can't decide if I like the back or the front best.

Here is the quilt basted and ready to quilt.  :D


Monkey had a lot of fun watching me baste this quilt.  Once I finished I asked him what he thought.  He said, "It's cool.  I like it.  What's it for?"

I told him it was just for fun.  There's nothing wrong with making a quilt just because you already have the fabric and it sounds like fun, right?

XX,
Jasmine

P.S.  I will be linking up with some of the fun parties on my sidebar.  Check them out to see what other quilts have been doing.

P.P.S.  I'm sorry if anyone is receiving this twice.  I had a small operator error.  :)

25 comments:

  1. What a great quilt Jasmine. It is hard to believe that big quilt was in that little tub!

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    1. ...and thanks for linking your quilt up with Oh Scrap! This is a great idea for those scrappy strips.

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  2. Wow, that is a beautiful quilt, Jasmine - and a 55 yard seam?!?! I bet ironing it was not the most fun, but it seems like it really came together quickly for you. I really like that you were able to spend time remembering previous quilts (and even your first!) while working on it. I hope that you are all settling in well to a new routine, welcome back to blogging, and have a great weekend. :)

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  3. I love using scraps to make a new quilt....it kinda reminds me of all the previous made quilts. Can't believe summer is over and we are all back in school...time flys too fast sometimes. Glad you enjoyed yours!

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  4. I've done the standard jelly roll and hated the ironing. I can't imagine a 55 yard seam. It is a wonderful finish and a terrific use of your scraps. Very pretty scraps by the way.

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  5. I love this quilt. This is such a fun a beautiful idea. The colors and fabrics all go together so well.

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  6. Jasmine, it turned out beautifully! 55 yards? Wowsers! I can imagine that ironing a seam that long would take a little time. . . and patience! :) Not a thing wrong with using up those strips with such a beautiful result! Swirls? Feathers? Can't wait to see it all quilted up :)

    Happy to hear you had a good break and are getting back into the routine of school and all of the hustle and bustle that brings! Welcome back!

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  7. This is beautiful! It makes me want to make one!

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  8. Welcome back, Jasmine! It's good to see you posting again. This was a lovely way to get going again and it turned out beautiful!.

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  9. Glad you had a wonderful break from blogging. Some days are just like that-we wantta sew but nothing detailed. It is great to accomplish it all in a day :-) So did you use all the scraps up??

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  10. So beautiful and love your scraps fabric combo.How are you going to quilting it?Machine or handsewing quilting?

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  11. I love your design floor! I have one, too! Your light colored strips turned into a beautiful quilt. I've made one jelly roll race quilt and found that type of sewing such a hoot! Chasing all those long strips around the house raises your heart rate!

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  12. What a great project. I can't imagine sewing that many yards of fabric together in one go!

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  13. Pretty! Great job using up those scraps!

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  14. Such a very pretty finish! I love all those soft light fabrics all together like that! And I too, had a little laugh at your 'design floor' comment... I think we all have one of those!

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  15. Great sandwich! Thanks for the whole story of how this lovely romantic quilt got made! Can't wait to see how you quilt it.

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  16. a 55 yard seam is beyond my comprehension! But the results are good. knitnkwilt.wordpress.com

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  17. Wow - I can't even imagine a 55 yard seam! Great looking quilt - I like all the soft colors used together.

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  18. That's a great idea for a scrap quilt! I always see scrap quilts that are made with such tiny pieces. They're beautiful, of course, but a bit commitment! I think saving your scraps as strips was brilliant - and you made a beautiful quick quilt!!

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  19. Its beautiful , love the softness to it!

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  20. Ha, what Cynthia said. That big quilt in that little tub. I have a set of leftover strips I am saving, thinking about doing a string quilt, but I really like this idea. Whoa, whoa! on the 1980-inch seam!! Isn't that a year, not a seam? lol And YES! You are right to make a quilt just for fun, just for you, just because, etc. Going to tell my friend to read this post, who told me last week about her sister saying, "What do you DO with all these quilts?" (I've had that said to me too) We don't have to have a reason other than making us happy, right?

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  21. So glad you're back to blogland! I am glad though you spent quality time with your family....know you've been missed. Love the jelly roll quilt...haven't made one...but yours just may be the inspiration I need.

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  22. You know something? None of those fabrics (by themeslves) are attractive/inviting to me. But then in your hands they come together with the simplest pattern and make magic. You are a quilting sorceress.
    I too make quilts just because I have to...and then the recepient magically appears :-)

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  23. This is such a sweet quilt Jasmine, I love the softness of the colors. I agree, I can't believe that big quilt came out of that small tub. :) Welcome back - I hope you enjoyed your break!

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  24. I absolutely LOVE this quilt, both the front and the back!!! Great use of 'scraps'!

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