Thursday 3 April 2014

Scrappy Strippy Quilt

As you know, I love scrap quilts, and I love even more using up fabrics I have had for a while.  How much more must I love a quilt recipe which also uses up the long strips of wadding/batting which you invariably have left over when laying out other quilts?  You know the strips I mean, too narrow to be used for bags or baby quilts, even table runners, or anything but the smallest purses or mug rugs.

So when a friend gave me the pattern, more an outline of what to do really, I started cutting my scraps of fabric and wadding into 4 1/2" strips and hoarding them - in an organised and purposeful way, you understand?  Back in April I had a piecing frenzy, and in the process bust my walking foot (as mentioned a while ago), so the shine went off this project rather and I put it to one side.

A new walking foot, and subsequently a new sewing machine, came to pass, and I finished off quite a few other quilts over the intervening months.  But slowly this project worked its way back to the top of the pile, literally, and I decided to finish it.  Finishing involved not much more than quilting it with variegated Guterman thread in long lines parallel to the seam lines, and adding a scrappy binding: I didn't mark the quilting lines but 'eyeballed' them, as I think the 'freehand with a slight wobble' look is more relaxed and appropriate to this particular quilt.




In fact, I am really pleased with the texture the ribbed lines give, and I have started liking this quilt again, after definitely falling out of love with it last year.  It is not perfect by any means, and the fabrics are maybe a little old-fashioned now in colour palette and style, including many Debbie Mumm novelties, but I would like it to go to a good home.  I hope it might appeal to a child and for this reason I am planning to donate it to Siblings Together, a charity I first heard of on Lynne Goldsworthy's great blog, to which I am linking today.





I have to do a bit more research about the charity before I can grab the quilt ambassador button, but my intention is to make another quilt by this method (tweaked a bit to avoid my mistakes!) very soon, and then I will post a tutorial and some more information.

For now, however, enjoy making your quilts, whoever they are for.




6 comments:

  1. Organic straight lines! my favorite! You did a great job. Love the scrappiness of your quilt, even in the binding.

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    1. Thanks so much for your kind comments - appreciate it. Alison

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  2. Love the quilt. The colours and straight line quilting Are fabulous.

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    1. Thank you, Pam, for visiting my site and leaving a comment - much appreciated. Alison

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  3. I think it looks great and love the idea of using those strips of batting. Just wondering a bit more about the process with the batting strips.... is this a quilt as you go project? Did you make each 4 1/2 strip first with fabric and batting then add to other strips? Thanks for sharing . I think it would also be cute to use up a few strips of scraps sewn in little blocks here and there by sewing across the 4 1/2 strip. Hope to try the process soon. Janita

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    1. Hi Janita,
      Yes it is a sort of 'quilt as you go' once you have pieced the long strips of fabric together. I think the idea of adding a few mini-blocks into the 4 1/2" strips is great. I will try and put up a tutorial soon: it's a great way to use up scrap wadding! Alison

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