Thursday, January 17, 2008

Hopes, dreams and WIP Wednesday + 1

At last, I've finally managed to get the side to side webbing done on this double 4 patch. It comes out at 40" X 46" and I think I'll add red borders.Then it can be off to a child somewhere...*VBS* It felt really good to get that VIP out of my stash, as well as making use of the odds and ends of 2.5" squares already cut.
I've had a stack of these, 4.5" HST's laying around for years now. I finally decided to sew them into these long rows until I had the width needed for a donation quilt and call it good! But with all those 4 patches from mismatched pieces....
I wondered about doing this instead...what do you think?? A row of HST's and then a row of 4 patches? Right now the rows are 48" wide.
I came across another rubbermaid type with tons cut 2.5" squares, and I spent an hour this a.m. getting them sewn into 4 patches. I'm past 400 finished 4 patches now, and I think it's easily 3 quilts worth. The VIP double 4 patch above, another one similar to Gypsy Quilter's Kitchen Sink, and maybe some of them going into the triangles quilt top. The end is in site tho, surely there can't be many more than the 1600 I've sewn up. And by the way....I didn't need to cut any to have that many...LOL. I've sewn up the odd strips(then cut pairs)and all the odds and ends of squares. While I was at it, I sorted other strips into sizes, putting larger scraps to one side to cut up.
My hope for 2008 is to finally get on TOP of my scraps, and have them in a more manageable form.
My dream would be to get them all into use, but I doubt that will happen in 12 months. And,actually, I don't want them ALL gone, altho I'm tired of seeing the same fabrics over and over.
I've never been a quilter who starts a quilt and takes it all the way through unless it's a "planned" quilt with limited number of fabrics. And I intensely dislike making that "type" of quilt.
As a scrappy quilter, I might work on a log cabin(shown as last weeks WIP)until I've exhausted my selection of 1.5" strips. Then I set it aside until the strip bin is fuller again. Same with 9 patches, or most anything else I make. If I find I have a tub full of pastel 2.5" squares(which I do right now) I'll make a baby quilt...9 patches using muslin and the pastels.
It's not that I can't "pull" enough fabrics from stash to complete a certain quilt, but I dislike ironing the piece and cutting a couple of shapes from it. I'd rather wait til I have more scraps cut up *VBS* Maybe that doesn't make sense to you, but it works perfectly for me *VBS*
Right now my stash is waaaaaay ahead of me and I've gotta get with the program and do some serious stash busting!! That's ONE resolution....LOL, there are more.

16 comments:

Norma said...

The entire idea of all those little pieces makes me dizzy! I would be at a job like that forever because I don't think I would stick with it very long. How can you part with something that has sooooo much work in it? You are a good lady Finn! I love the quilt...what fun to revisit all those fabrics.

atet said...

Love those four patches! And your system sounds like it works better than mine -- save the scraps because you can't stand the thought of throwing them away, but shove 'em in a bag and rarely look at them, let alone USE them! I think I need to do some organization a la Bonnie this year!

Gypsy Quilter said...

Wooohoooo, look at you. What great progress you've made! A very lucky child will enjoy that quilt.

Anonymous said...

hi Finn, love your style & am also trying to use my stash in'08. your blogs motivate me to keep trying & no buying!
K.

Anonymous said...

How about putting all the HST around the entire 4 patch top? Love scrap quilting myself....

Liz

Terry said...

Love the scrappiness of these quilts. Very good that you are using stash. That is my goal this year, to shop the stash first. Thanks for the inspiration, Terry

Quilting Memories said...

What a smart lady you are!! I am pea-green with envy!!! I'm sure you will stick with this resolution because you are doing what you like to do!! Keep up the good work. J

Linda C said...

Thanks for running by my place, Finn. I am sooo far behind on reading again. Can you tell? LOL.

How about 4 patch rows in the center, a plain border around that and then hst's on the outside?? Did someone already say that--I didnt read the comments ahead of me.

I love the one at top---the double four patches. It looks just like a Finn scrappy top. I can understand wanting a new mix when you are sick of looking at the same pieces over and over though.

Sounds like you are in the midst of some pretty nasty cold temps right now--hope you and Ebby stay nice and cozy. They thought we might even have some measurable snow overnight last night but either it missed us and went further south or all we got was a bit of rain. I'm not disappointed by that but some around here will be.

Cher said...

I like your approach and attitude Finn, no big surprise huh? while it is different than mine, I too share the vision of taming my scraps! maybe this year I will get closer to that reality...at least my plan is to sew up a lot more of them! way to go with those four patches to that wip...I like that look!

Henrietta said...

I think I would use an unpieced strip in-between the pieced rows & as the border, a true strippy quilt and a great opportunity to showcase a novelty fabric. Plus the added bonuses of making the quilt go faster, using more of stash and offering a place to show off the quilting.

The four-patch top is lovely, very San in mood.

Did you get my email? I have blocks to mail to you for the train.

Anonymous said...

Finn .. what about setting the HST as if they were flying geese and have the geese flying between rows of 4 patch squares? The geese could fly back and forth.

Soooo many choices ...

Best wishes, Dear friend!

Cindy B.
cindyquiltsOR

meggie said...

You seem to be doing very well on your stash busting mission.
I like the second version, HST's mixed with 4patches.

Drucilla's Stitches said...

Enjoy your fun blog! Found it by way of Angie. I'm new to quilting and blogging and I'm still learning the language, what is VBS you refer to on your blog? Look forward to visiting again, stop by my blog and say hello!

Magpie Sue said...

I had the same idea Cindy did: put the HST's back-to-back so they make flying geese and alternate columns of them with columns of 4-patches. Keep that sewing machine humming so you'll stay warm!

sophie said...

I'm sure I'm not the first, but I'd like to pass on this award.

Kucki68 said...

Have you seen quiltville's mystery quilt? Sooo much scrappy fun!