Orphan Blocks

It works out this way sometimes - I make too many blocks for a quilt top! Maybe I counted wrong in the first place, which is not unusual for me! Or, I’ve decided after-the-fact to make wider border(s) rather than another complete row of blocks. But, now I have orphan blocks! What to do? I can’t waste the fabric, or the time involved to make the blocks. I just can’t do it.

I also like to “play” with different designs with the scraps, but they end up differing sizes. That’s not a problem. I simply add a “sashing” around the smaller one(s) to get them all the same size. That’s what I did to make this banner….

Sorry it's a fuzzy photo! But you get the idea!

One day while playing around, I used one inch scraps to make a couple of braided star blocks...

I may make more, someday. Every now and then, I glance over and see them, and think, what can I do with them?

I’m thinking “out loud” here…

Maybe coasters? My sewing machine sits on an oak desk. I will not place a coffee cup, or an Iced Tea glass down on the wood without protection. Right now I’m using an up side down tin lid! Tacky, I know! A quilted block with extra protection from liquids will be just the thing to spruce up my sewing room!

Maybe a pincushion? Momma came up with a great suggestion! She thinks I ought to make a pincushion to hang from my neck to use while I’m loading a quilt top on the long arm frame! I have it on my “to-do” list!

Maybe a placemat? We have an antique repurposed library table with a glass top sitting between our recliners. I use an old yucky placemat now for our Iced Tea glasses (and my wine glass). I do believe a quilted orphan block with a nice border around it would be lovely there!

In fact, I made a wall hanging for our living room…

This picture was taken shortly after I made it! It is not hanging here permanently!

I have a much better spot, but don't have a picture of it right now.
This was a quilt-as-you go technique I was attempting to learn!

And have two blocks left over (as the wall hanging was long enough!) and they would make the perfect “placemat” for the coffee table! Where's my to-do list I started?

Maybe potholders for smaller, say 6 inch block leftovers… I have the insulated stuff needed for heat protection!

Which reminds me – I need something that when taking my iron to a sew-in gathering, that I have a bag large enough to carry a hot iron back home! Again, I have the heat insulation stuff needed! A couple of orphan blocks would be a perfect thing to use!

Then there are table runners. I wouldn’t mind a new quilted one for my oak buffet!

What else?

Oh, totes! Of course! Set your timer so you don’t lose track of time, then check out Pinterest for all the wonderful ideas!

  

Some folks are into pillows… I personally am not… but ~ again ~ Pinterest is full of ideas on quilted pillows!

What do you do with orphan blocks?

Christmas Sewing

Retail stores are beginning to put out Halloween items. Some Most are starting to move things around, getting ready for Christmas displays. For me, it’s time to start thinking about what handmade items I want to create! 

I’ve already talked about some possible gifts – pincushions and shopping bags, and maybe a few water bottles, but what else could I make?

What about decorating my home? I would like some new things. It’s been years since I’ve taken the time to make any actual decorations.

Maybe I should make a tree skirt? I’ve never had one! I have simply used a bit of white fabric and fluffed it around the base – my version of “snow”!!! We don’t put gifts under the tree at our country home… they are taken/sent elsewhere. So, I’m thinking, a skirt would show up nicely and bring an extra bit of cheer throughout the season.

š  Incorporating a bit of patchwork, this would be nice. I think I would need more time than a couple of months, however, to get it done!

š  I found this rag skirt pinned on Pinterest, but the website wouldn’t come up to give them proper credit!

š  I like the scalloped edging on this one. 

Then on to other places about the house…

š  Oh, I like this Mr.Santaman Wall or Door Hanging! Shellye incorporates card crafting and sewing! Clever idea!

š  Lace Bunting, another clever idea! I have many of these … 

Angels are a great inspiration for me. I love having angels sitting about the house, in the least expected places! It’s especially wonderful during Christmas time. I would like to add to my collection so I went on a mission…

I found this site with great pictures – which is a good thing, because the tutorial is in Russian! I couldn’t get Google Chrome to translate! Oh, well! I still like the "Tilda" doll shape, and think I can figure out how to make this angel based on the pictures she provided! Around the web, I’ve seen this same style angel “dressed” in different outfits, for different seasons/occasions. 

I found a Pinterest site, collected by Joanne, with lots of Tilda type dolls!

What’s on your Christmas Projects to-do list?

Sudoku Mini Quilt Wall Hanging

Somewhere, several months ago, I ran across a Sudoku quilt someone had created putting several puzzles together to make a full size quilt. I thought I had pinned it, but can’t find it now! Suffice it to say, it was lovely and inspired me to create a simple wall hanging based on the Sudoku pattern.

What is Sudoku?

Wikipedia describes it as a “logic-based, combinational number-placement puzzle. The objective is to fill a 9x9 gird with digits so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3x3 sub-grids that compose the grid (also called “boxes”, “blocks”, “regions”, or “sub-squares”) contains all of the digits from 1 to 9.”

When creating this simple Sudoku Mini Quilt Wall Hanging, I encountered a few challenges: 

• Selecting nine coordinating colors for the actual puzzle! Fortunately, I had my mother with me, an artist with a keen sense of color! The “tenth” color – I used a dark brown print - for the dark bold line separating the “sub-squares”.
• I purchased 1/4 yard each. I decided to use one of the colors as the backing, so that color I purchased a full yard. (I’m thinking with this size wall hanging, fat quarters would have worked just as well – but don’t forget about the binding, too!)
• Finding small prints to show up within the finished 1.5” square (the size I wanted)
• Keeping the “number” color separate/identified

I began by drawing out the puzzle on a piece of paper, then color coding the squares to represent numbers 1 – 9.

Using “snack” size baggies, I marked a number on each baggie, to keep the individual nine cut squares – per color - separate. Then I began cutting out my squares!

What size individual squares do you want finished?

Whatever that is, add a half inch (for your quarter inch seam allowance!)

Following the diagram closely, I positioned each “sub-square” together,

then stitched the pieces together.

The three rows then went to the ironing board.

On each sub-square, I pressed the center row toward the center square. The two outside rows, press away from the center square.

Two sub-squares received the strip of dark brown, the “bold” line, on the bottom.

I learned quickly to immediately sew the strip on the appropriate line.

Always, always, always, as you go, check the placement before sewing the sub-squares together… I had to rip out twice when I placed a row up-side-down, which invalidated the puzzle!

Press Press Press (DO NOT IRON) - What's the difference? Read about it here!  

Clip away all dangling threads

Once the “top” is stitched together, and the puzzle complete/accurate, sandwich the batting between the top (right side up) and backing (facing down). 

I started out machine quilting (3.5 stitch length) simply around the sub-square. It didn’t quilt it enough for me, so I continued with a “stitch in the ditch” technique within each nine square.

I never can remember how to miter corners when binding. I now have saved the .pdf document HeatherBailey so generously provided showing/explaining the amazing directions!

Then I went in search how to prepare the quilt for hanging and found this delightful tutorial at PatchworkPottery. I did make my corners larger (7”) than what she suggested.

Ta-Da!

Happy Creating!