Friday, January 30, 2015

Playing with Scraps


After finishing my Modern Farmer's Wife, such a large project, is it any wonder that my next project would be a mini quilt?  It was so satisfying to make this mini start to finish in one afternoon.

I had been saving all the scraps from my Big Red Project since I finished it last year.


After I cut all the five inch strips from my string sections, I trimmed down whatever was left to the same width.


The mini sections ranged from 1.25 to 2 inches wide.  As it was my first time experimenting with improv piecing, I just sewed pieces together until I had about a five inch square.  Then I added strings around the sides like a log cabin.  I think it looks really neat, but Cheetah has let me know (more than once) that he doesn't like it at all.  It is much too random and not symmetrical enough for him.  ;)


Once I had used up all my little pieces, I used some larger scraps to add borders.  The first border finishes at one half inch, and the outer border finishes at 1.75 inches.

I have always wanted to try matchstick quilting, and thought this mini would be the perfect place to give it a shot.  I totally love the texture, although it makes it very stiff!  I quilted it on my small Pfaff using red Aurifil thread.


I just went up one row and down the next about an eighth of an inch apart.


It even looks really cool on a solid backing.  (Some random red fat quarter from my stash.  Probably left over from a pirate bandanna.)


The only thing I had to cut from yardage was the Kona Chinese Red binding.


The outer border was already a little bit of a tone on tone stripe, so the matchstick quilting blends in quite nicely.

Quilt Stats
Quilt Name:  Little Red
Pattern: Improv with strips of crumbs
Fabric:  Red scraps and Kona Chinese Red for binding
Amount Used: .75 yards
Batting: Frankensteined Warm and White
Size: About 16 x 19 inches
Date Finished: January 2015
What I learned:
  • I can do improv if I have a plan.
  • Matchstick quilting takes a long time (75 minutes for a mini!)
  • I can use tiny scraps (as long as they are already sewn together into strips)
All in all, this was a fun little project which I am now using as a small table topper.  Finished just in time for Valentine's Day.

XX,
Jasmine

P.S.  I am linking up with Finish it up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts and Oh Scrap at Quilting is More Fun than Housework.

17 comments:

  1. I think improv must be done with a bit of a plan in mind...a strategy or way of putting things together that is consistent throughout. Even if someone thinks they are winging it, I believe they are using some internal "rules" to guide their choices, even if they don't know it!

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  2. Beautiful red tones and good use of scraps. Your mini red looks fantastic!

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  3. What a way to use up some leftovers! Love the matchsticks!

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  4. Improv with a plan is what works for me, too. Or at least a goal. Matchstick quilting does take a whirl, I made a mini I will blog about on Tuesday and it took me 3 hours to do all the quilting on it!

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  5. I'm normally with Cheetah, but I think this looks pretty nice for improv! :) A great way to use up scraps and make something a little different and lovely for the holiday.

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  6. I'm not sure improv is my kind of piecing - I like that you had a plan in mind. Love the quilting, it just looks so cool. And yes, it takes a while but is definitely worth it! Your mini looks so cute!

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  7. Quite a contrast indeed! I'm more of a pattern person too but I would love to push myself more. I love what you've made.

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  8. Love the texture that all that quilting provides. Cute quilt for Valentine's Day!

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  9. Wow! That is so striking! I love the reds and purples together. Enjoyed seeing your Big Red project, too.

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  10. Oh WOW! All that red is just stunning, I love it! (And I have quite a bit of assorted red fabric... hmmm....!) :D

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  11. Gotta say that part of me agrees with Cheetah, so I guess that shows me (and I guess I knew it but didn't really? if that makes sense) that I, too, love symmetry. Having said that, however, I LOVE the way my eye roves over the quilt top comparing and marveling at the variety in tones, shades, textures. And THEN, I LOVE matchstick quilting, and oh yeah, does it ever take hours. Did it on an inside (I know, duh, inside?) pocket of an Amy Butler bag I made last winter. Gorgeous but time-consuming. And stiff. This is perfect for Valentine's Day!

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  12. I love the matchstick quilting! Lovely work.

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  13. There is so much yummy colors in this quilt! And the quilting really fit the piece. Nice job Jasmine! And thanks for sharing with Oh Scrap!

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  14. I love the look of the matchstick quilting on your mini - makes it a real work of Modern Art!
    Kathy T. in Tampa

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  15. Matchstick quilting looks brilliant on this - love how you made your own fabric really!

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  16. Jasmine, I just love all the red quilts you have there. Your mini with the matchstick quilting is fantastic!

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  17. I like that you tell us what you learned. You are a good teacher.
    LeeAnna

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