A Back for Sweet Tooth--post five

Auditioning for the binding

Goal number five on my July list was to figure out the back and binding for the Sweet Tooth mystery. I started with figuring out the binding. I laid out scraps and when I got to the chocolate scrap, Gertie said that is the one. I agreed! Gertie is my inner squirrel. I will need to purchase it.

Binding choice

Then I spent a lot of time stitching more of my small bits together. I like to work with the small stuff first. The small bits make good strings and can provide good visual interest. It also gives me time to think about what to do with the bigger chunks!

All the parts

Gertie was right about these small bits becoming their own quilt. I did make the "Sweet Additions" blocks that Bill and Weeks added to our mystery each week. I didn't make the blocks until after I had finished my top. I used the small scraps to make the blocks. When I finished making blocks, I made at least five blocks of each addition. It was fu to play a little more with transparency. I made the process more challenging because I limited myself to working with the small scraps!

The scraps after piecing the small bits

When I had finished with the block and bit piecing, I took a photo of the remaining scraps. It is amazing how little was left! Then I tackled cutting the chunks into useable segments. In this mystery, we cut small segments. If you cut strips and then sub cut into segments, you would run out of fabric. 

More bits!

Trimming the chunks created a whole bunch more small bits! Goodness!!! Gertie was happy. I will use them in the new project. . . Gertie is on board with this plan!

First section

I started piecing the vertical chunks first. I didn't layout the pieces. Instead, I randomly selected two pieces to stitch together. I did cut the fabrics to the same length so it was easier to keep the pieces straight. I wanted to place the "recipe" section next. 

Adding the "recipe"

I sewed even larger chunks together. I created a horizontal grouping of fabrics.

Horizontal section added

I thought that I needed about 14 more inches, so I went back to the remaining scraps and started piecing. My little bits pile continued to grow as my larger chunk pile diminished.

Then I discovered that I needed a couple more inches. Back to the scraps I went. It wasn't much to piece that last section!

More vertical strips and one more horizontal strip

I laid the top on the backing and discovered that I made the top too wide. No worries. I cut the excess off with the rotary cutter. I added the excess back to the scrap pile!

Oops, the backing is too large

It took me hours to cut and sew this back. But, it was a great way to use a lot of the leftover fabrics from the mystery. It could be a two sided quilt!

Most of the remaining scraps

I do have more little bits, some pieces and a couple chunks for leftovers. Maybe those cut off fabrics will find their way on the next back. I'm happy that the top and backing are ready to go to the longarmer. Perhaps, I can get it dropped off next week!

Ready for the longarmer

Linking to Oh Scrap!