Oh crumbs!

I would love a pineapple quilt, but I know all that paper piecing isn't for me.

 I have lots of crumbs cut down for the 1/2" crazy diamonds English paper pieced quilt already.
















So, what to do with the latest bunch?  I can't face trimming them and I'm tired of looking at them.  I cut some strips of mixed fibre neutrals and had a play, using up some polyester thread that has been hanging about for years.  No shape trimming, just applied to each side of the strips as it comes out of the box.   A bit of mindless sewing that requires no accuracy that can be picked up and dropped is just what the doctor ordered.









The idea is that the strips are joined (and maybe sub-cut, not sure yet), the whole thing is randomly quilted quite heavily and as it's washed, it becomes frayed and tactile.   I was going to do a small test piece, but nothing too drastic will be lost by going for it.  If nothing else it can be the car quilt, for chilly rides and summer picnics and the beach.   I will try to finish up the box of scraps that is here and if more is needed I will keep a strip by the machine to add to as crumbs appear.

 I just remembered these- half a box of paired crumbs











that I used to make these

 and these!

Now I know what I can use them for, this will add variety and intensity!


So, its win/win with regard to using it up

• crumbs 
• applied to random mixed fibre strips that wouldn't normally go into a quilt
• with polyester thread that is  over 20 years old but still strong, which I wouldn't use on cotton fabric (my mum was a seamstress, so it's from her working days)
• previously paired orphan crumbs, strips, blocks
• the wadding will use up pieces
• the backing will be some ugly dark mixed fibre curtains that I was given, perfect for an outdoor blanket!

Happy days, using it up  instead of throwing it out. 

Indulgence

I played some more, there are about a dozen of these done now.  I have had to order more oranges to play with the other blue blocks and explore curves. 

I decided against black and white to go with this as I found this busy blue fabric for the smaller block pieces in the stash. Perfect. 

At the weekend I hope to be able to piece a couple of 12" blocks in blue and white, with the larger components cut from the blocks above and the smaller components cut from the blue fabric opposite, all on the white background.

Juicy

I kept sewing and sewing and slashing and sewing: I have made about 20 pieces of 'fabric'  of various sizes by pulling blue out of the bin and stitching whatever came out next.  There weren't as many border traffic lights as I though there were.

Last night I chose my accent fabric. Tonight I will be slashing and stitching some more with the orange, experimenting with thickness and lines.

I have been looking at blocks to make with the made fabric that don't need too many small pieces.  I can't make up my mind if I should use black and white for the smaller pieces, or just white. More thinking needed, whist I squeeze in the oranges.

Serendipity

Of course, I always intended to put a sundae border on the backing................

I didn't get to do my mindless string piecing on Friday, as I began to machine quilt this one.  I was trying to do 'in the ditch' with gold thread, but it kept breaking!  I need to unpick, then try another brand.

***************************************** 

I looked at the rain this morning, then went for the green and blue string bin...............

and the too big to cut for 1/2 inch diamond bin.......................

 and started making 'fabric' as I had read this brilliant blog.

No more feeling of time wasting if I just need to machine without thinking too much.

I'm doing my best to include all the fabric borders.  I may call the project   "Timeless Treasure".  At the moment its just a relaxation tool.

Back to it!
And back to work tomorrow (:~[