Rainbow Scrap Challenge Aqua--post 8

Scraps and leftover chunks

Angela, the creator of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge color, chose aqua as the color for July. I didn't have many strings of aqua so I looked through Martha's scrap bag. I added a few. Then I pulled the chunks I had remaining from past projects.

Piecing the aqua

To have enough fabric, I needed to throw in a few teal and turquoise strings to have enough string material to piece all the rectangles. I believe I managed an aqua vibe to the block! 

Strings leftover

I had few strings remaining, which is great! It makes me so happy to be using instead of collecting!

One block

Then it was on to piecing the gray and black bits to the blocks. Gosh, my table gets to be such a jumbled mess as I work through the blocks! 

Four blocks sewn into one big block equals two big blocks

I spent a day piecing the aqua part of the block. I spent a day and a half piecing the grey/black part of the block and piecing the sections together. Matching the intersections has improved since I began gluing the center string.

I need four more blocks. Gertie is thinking that for two of the blocks, I piece one additional big block of green and an additional big block of yellow. She is likely right; but, I'll piece purple next and then decide! It is shaping up to be 60 x 96 inches. I've asked Gertie to think about ideas for getting it to 72 inches wide. She said she would appreciate suggestions from you. She is such a cheeky squirrel!

Blocks so far

To answer a question I've received about the foundation that I use to sew the strings--it is newsprint. Weekly grocery circulars and the voter's pamphlet from the May primary are my current sources since it is "free." I use a short stitch length--12 to 15 stitches per inches or 1.5- 2.0 setting when I'm stitching the strings to the paper. I do try to back stitch at the beginning and end of the seam. Removing the paper is easy, although it is messy. I tend to remove the paper when I'm ready to sew a big block together. I do take a victory lap around each big block to discourage any seam from "unsewing" itself!  Piecing the aqua strings was goal number two on my July list.

Linking to Finished or Not Friday, Patchwork and Quilts, Rainbow Scrap Challenge and Oh Scrap.

Rainbow Scrap Challenge Pastels--post 7

First a shout out to Chantal over at "The Corner of Scraps and Quilts" who mentioned my scrap organization in her post as she was sharing sewing small scraps into fabric. Her posts inspire me to dig into my scraps and use them. 

Second, a shout out to Linda at "Texas Quilt Gal." She e-mailed me for permission to use a statement I had made to her as well as a photo from my Triple Treat post in her upcoming blog post. I said YES to both requests. To make it easy for her, I e-mailed her the photo.

Many quilters have assisted and continue to assist me on my quilting journey. I've smiled from ear to ear as their requests are two examples of giving back to my quilting community. I am humbled and honored that two fellow bloggers, whom I respect and follow, would share my thoughts! I believe sharing your knowledge with others makes the world a better place. Thank you Chantal and Linda, my heart is full of gratitude!

Yellow strings

Goal number seven on my June list was to make the Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC) blocks in the color of the month. This month, Angela at Scrap Happy picked pastels as the color for the RSC. Don't misinterpret me, pastels are great. I've used some lighter values of the color in my block. I thought, "this is going to be a challenge." Gertie, my inner squirrel, agreed. It was. I pulled pinks that were pastel and when I stood back and looked, it was blah. I pulled blues and had the same result.

Beginning the piecing

What to do? Gertie, my always busy and always at the ready with an opinion "friend," replied, "No problem. Choose yellow." So that was what I did. Next month or in a few months, yellow could be the color picked. When that happens, I'll have to figure out a different color!

Rectangles pieced

It took me a couple sewing sessions to finish piecing the yellow part of the block. I've found that piecing the color of the block first works best in my sewing space. I sew four rectangles at a time. I clip these together. This group will eventually become a block.

Leftover strings

I used a lot of strings; but, I still had strings leftover! Still, I had less than when I began!

One block finished

After I added the gray and black sections. I trimmed the rectangles. I sewed the group of four rectangles to make a block. Finishing each block is like mini reveal. 

Auditioning which four blocks to stitch together

I placed the blocks on the design wall. I determined which four blocks I wanted to combine. Then I stitched the blocks together ending up with two super blocks!

View of the blocks

I added the blocks to most of the other blocks on the design wall. I didn't mix the yellow blocks with the other blocks. I like the addition. I like the interest that the gray/black sections of the blocks provide. This project has outgrown my design wall. Future block additions will be photographed from my floor!

Linking to Finished or Not Friday, Patchwork and Quilts, Rainbow Scrap Challenge.

Orange Strings--post six

Strings left over from Good Fortune

This month, Angela at SoScrappy, chose orange to be the color of scraps for May. Lucky for me, I pulled a bunch of strings as I emptied the Good Fortune project bin. 

Leftover chunks waiting in the wings

There were also some chunks remaining which I put to one side to cut strings as I needed.

Strings gleaned from past projects

Finally, I pulled the orange string bag. There were some strings that for his project I decided weren't orange. I put those in a different container!

Piecing orange

At last, I started the piecing rectangles. I sew sixteen uphill and sixteen downhill rectangles into two blocks.

One section

Eventually, I pieced enough rectangles to sew them into a section.

One block

Four sections made a block. I stitched together two blocks. This time, I used a stick of Elmer's School glue to anchor the first fabric. I had a much easier time matching the centers.

View of most of the blocks pieced

I have space on the design wall for two more blocks. 

Orange string bag after piecing 

Cleaning up, I found more orange strings! The bag is about as full as it was when I started; but, I did use a lot of strings! Piecing the blocks was goal number two on my May list. Linking to Finished or Not Friday, So Scrappy and Patchwork and Quilts.

Pink Strings--post five

The pink scrap bag

Gertie, my inner squirrel, is happily chortling and prancing about the studio after receiving your kind comments after our last post. She has been pushing me to begin working with the pink strings. Pink is the Rainbow Scrap Challenge color this month. I prepared the newsprint foundation papers and began. Again, I pieced the pink centers first.

Piecing the pink strings progress

Piecing the centers first means I can put the pink away once I'm finished. Working with the black and gray scraps still makes a mess; but, it is more controlled. . .as if it is possible to control a mess!

Leftovers uncovered from a previous project

Approaching the end of piecing the blocks, I uncovered left over string parts in the bag. I almost returned them to the bag. Gertie, my inner squirrel, convinced me to stitch them into bigger parts. I plan to add borders and move the small triangles to the sides of the body. Perhaps, it will become a placemat or a a small wall hanging. I will admit I had fun channeling Chantal (At the Corner of Scraps and Quilts) for her ability to reduce a scrap bag and Diann (Little Penguin Quilts) who turns the bits into mug rugs, table and placemats! 

Auditioning bigger parts

Gertie is thinking it might be fun for me to add some embroidery so it could become a "special" placemat. She thinks Happy Day should be the words. I see her point. Birthdays, an anniversary, Valentine's Day. . .hmm. . .I really don't need another project! For now, it can marinate!

Pink string bag after piecing blocks

After I had pieced the centers, I took a photo of the pink string bag. There are still a lot of strings; but, less than before!

Gray and black string process

I moved on to adding the gray and black corners. I will need to cut more gray and black strings to piece the May blocks!

Pink string diamonds

Sewing the rectangles together is the reveal. I continue to smile at how interesting each color is when the rectangles are stitched into the diamond shape.

The two "blocks"

Beginning with the pink, I sewed four diamonds together to make the block. It was a little tricky to match the constant fabric. I decided to match the constant fabric and let the seams fall where they would. Working with these giant blocks will make piecing the top faster! The giant block finishes at 24 by 16 inches. This could be a bigger quilt than I was anticipating!

All the blocks 

After stitching four diamonds together to create a block, I added the blocks to the wall. I like what I see. Soon, I'll be out of wall space! Sewing the pink string blocks was goal number four on my April list.

Linking to Finished or not Friday, Patchwork and Quilts, So Scrappy and Oh Scrap!

Red Strings--A Little Late--post 4

Red Strings

Angela chose red as the Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC) color last month. I was out of town so I didn't get more than piecing the red portions of the block sewn. Usually, I remember to photograph the string bag before I begin; but, I forgot. I'll blame jet lag on the omission! 

Rectangles and leftovers 

I did remember to photograph the bag after I had pieced all of the rectangles. That bag was stuffed before I began! Previously, I pieced the entire rectangle. This time I pieced the red section of all the rectangles. Then I pieced the black and gray corners. Piecing this way created less of a mess. 

Blue, red and green blocks

When I had four blocks completely pieced, I was curious what the blocks would look like together. I put four green and four blue blocks on the design wall. I liked the layout of four blocks in a color way. I wondered what more blocks would look like. I added the remaining blocks to the design wall.

All the blocks

Gertie, my inner squirrel, likes the plan. She wants me to sew four blocks of each color together. I agree with her! Eventually, I'll stitch the blocks. First, I want to catch up with pink as that is the color Angela has chosen as the RSC color for April.

Linking up with So Scrappy, Oh Scrap and Faith Trust and Breast Cancer.

A Little More Green for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge--post 3

 

Oops! 

I did piece a few more Rainbow Scrap Challenge green string blocks. Gertie, my inner squirrel, agreed that the horizontal orientation of the block was more interesting. Maybe next month, I'll get an idea of the layout in this orientation. 

As we were discussing the pros to that orientation, she pointed out that I had mis-stitched the constant strip on one of the rectangles. I thanked Gertie for pointing out the error and said I would leave it. She replied that she doubted I could do it. Sigh. . .she was correct. I ended up piecing another green rectangle with the constant fabric in the correct spot!

Eight completed diamonds

I thought the blue blocks were dynamic. When I stepped back from the design wall, I thought, WOW! These blocks are just as awesome as the blue blocks were! What do you think?

The remains

The best part of finishing the green diamonds was the amount of strings that were remaining. Not many! Chantal at The Corner of Scraps and Quilts is masterful at using scraps. I'm inspired at the containers after she has spent time piecing the contents. She inspires me every day.

Linking to Scrap Happy, Oh Scrap and Sew & Tell.

RSC--The Color Is Green--post 2

Green scrap assortment

I had a small bag of green strings. I picked up more green strings at my Mavens sew day at the beginning of the month. I prewashed the pieces to ensure that they don't leave behind any surprises for me at the end of the project. I'm glad I picked up more scraps. The plastic bag contained a lot of the same fabric and some strings that were "filed" incorrectly. There were teal scraps in the green bag! 

Starting the piecing

My friend, Wendy, is moving. She gifted me some black and gray chunks of fabric to add to the strings. She is moving about half an hour from me which is only a ten minute longer drive than I have now. I miss her already!

First block

This might be a project that I carry into next year or maybe I'll have enough --whether that is enough blocks or experiencing the journey--by the end the year. Time will tell. My thought is to make seven blocks which is 28 rectangles.

Three green blocks in a vertical orientation

In one sewing session I pieced three blocks and had a fourth mostly pieced. 

Three green blocks in a horizontal orientation 

Hm m m . . .What if I flipped the blocks? Would the horizontal orientation be more interesting to the eye? Gertie, my inner squirrel, and I plan to play with layouts.

Regarding the strings, I attempt to use the fabric strips as they will fill the space. I keep the small bits visible so I can incorporate those into the next rectangles. Using as I go, helps me not end up with a pile of small bits.  String piecing is messy; yet, I enjoy the magic that happens when sewing the rectangles together. This project is especially messy because I have gray and black strings in the mix along with the color of the month strips.

What my sewing area looks like

Tomorrow, I'll finish piecing blocks. Making blocks was goal number two on my February list. Linking to Finished or Not Friday, Patchwork and Quilts and Scrap Happy.

2025 Rainbow Scrap Challenge (Hidden Seven) Is Finished--post 21

View of the back

The quilting on the 2025 Rainbow Scrap Challege (RSC) is a design with crayons. When I saw the pantograph design, I knew it would be perfect for this project! The crayons are about six inches long by 7/8 inches wide. The design is stitched with green thread so it blends well with the background.  My friend, Tomme, quilted it on her longarm. The quilting is terrific!

Quilting on the front

I made a label. This one has been hanging around for a long time. I'm gifting this quilt to a kind, generous and supportive couple in the U.K. Ali is a vibrant person and she would like the contrast of all the colors! Maybe when the quilt is gifted, they will allow me to post them with their quilt.

The quilt measurers 60 by 70 inches. 

Label

I sewed the binding on the 2025 Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I wrote a lot of posts as I documented my progress with Angela at So Scrappy. In 2024, I wrote the posts as I made the selvage squares. Block Sample (1); Green Selvages (2); Red Selvages (3); Purple Selvages (4); Yellow Selvages (5); Pink Selvages (6); Blue Selvages (7); Aqua Selvages (8); Orange Selvages (9) and Brown Selvages (10).

View of the back

In 2025, I stitched the color of the selvage square as Angela released the color of the month. I posted my progress: Pink and Blue blocks (11); Yellow blocks (12): Red blocks (13); Green blocks (14); Orange blocks (15); Purple blocks (16); Aqua blocks (17); Green and Orange blocks (18);  Brown and Black blocks (19) and Piecing the back (20). 

Finish

Hmmm. . .after looking back at that list, it reminded me of a Tootsie Pop commercial of a kid asking a wise old owl how many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop. The owl takes a Tootsie Pop. He counts as he licks.. . One, two, THREE! At that point, he bites the hard candy outside to get to the gooey center. 

My question, though, was how long does it take to make a quilt? Just 21 blog posts. LOL!!!! I added the sleeve and presto. . .a FINISH!!! Thank you, Angela for hosting the RSC. I used up some selvages for this project!

Finishing it was project number 2u on my annual goal list and goal number six on my January list. I used 12 yards of stash to complete this project. Earlier this month, I bought 11 yards of fabric so I have a net loss of 1 yard!

Linking to Oh Scrap, Scrap Happy and Sew & Tell.

2025 RSC Blocks--post 1

Sorting the blue strings

Goal number four on my January list was to piece a few blocks in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC) color of the month. I have pondered the block for the RSC for months. A few leftover gray string blocks along with a lot of leftover gray fabrics from the Grassy Creek project had me thinking about using string blocks as my RSC. Since my bag of strings is packed so tightly that it can't hold more, string blocks seemed the obvious answer!

Constant fabric

Often, I will make a sample block before the year begins. Sample block making didn't happen this year. My little inner squirrel Gertie, kept coming up with options and what if questions! She is such a busy little squirrel!!! 

First four pieced rectangles

We had many, many consulting conferences. She wanted me to search my stash for a constant fabric to use in the blocks. I rebelled. She talked some more, I relented. I wanted to add black to the outer edge of half the blocks. Right away, Gertie loved this idea. She also let me know that I could have been more supportive of her idea to use the constant fabric! 

Four rectangles stitched together into a diamond shape

This week, I pulled out the newspaper and began cutting the 4.5 x 6.5 inch foundation papers for the blocks. I cut some strips of the constant fabric. I decided I would cut these strips at one and one quarter inch. After I stitched one edge into the block, it looked too wide so I trimmed the strips to an inch. The idea behind that constant fabric is for it to act as a stopper between the color and the dark fabric at the outer edge. For example, if I had a dark blue strip next to a black strip, the contrast would not be enough for the eye to see a difference.

Strings remaining

Using the color of the month, blue and to test my plan, I stitched eight string rectangles. I liked the effect that the one constant fabric provides. I stitched four rectangles together making the diamond pattern. I stitched a second crop of four rectangles together so I could get an idea of how the grey and black strings would play together. I liked what I saw.

The remaining blue strings; more black and gray strings

What I learned was that I need to make four rectangles at a time so that I can be sure that I have the orientations as I planned. Those orientations being two uphill rectangles and two downhill rectangles with the gray and black strings alternating. To not confuse myself, I marked on the paper the sides for the gray and black strings! 

Eight blue diamond blocks.

I stitched enough rectangles to make eight blocks. After I finished the block, I stitched around the perimeter to ensure none of the seams unsew! It took me a while to clean up. First I organized the blue strings which are no longer crammed and spilling out of the top of the bag. I've room to add strings to the bag again! I didn't not use the dark blue strips. I'll save those for another project.

I organized the black strings too. A lot of these strings, I had shoved into the bag. I took time to trim to a string size. I will need to dig into my chunks to cut more strings; but, I have enough to start blocks next month. I cut more gray strings and more foundation papers. I am ready to work on whatever color Angela chooses for February.

Making the blue RSC blocks was goal number four on my January list. I do enjoy stitching with strings even though it is a messy endeavor!  Linking to Rainbow Scrap Challenge, Oh Scrap, Sew & Tell, To Do Tuesday.