Tuesday 22 January 2013

Scrappy Challenge

After seeing Stina's beautiful scrappy Trip Around The World blocks resisting became futile. Deciding that the weather forecast looked too unpredictable I chose to stay home and not go to my sewing group today and sew here instead.

Yesterday I cut enough strips to make four blocks and so began the task of sewing them all together. It took some effort and some gnashing of teeth and a bit of unpicking, well, more than a bit of unpicking before block one was declared done. Maybe stopping for lunch would restore energy levels and concentration


No sign of the predicted snow but oh did it rain! It washed all the snow away and it was so dark and gloomy and cold.

Energy levels restored and back to some sewing. In the time that it took me to do one block before lunch I managed to make another three.  This project is addictive and if you think you might like to join in then I guarantee you won't want to stop. You can find the tutorial here. There is also lots of inspiration and lots of other free patterns to tempt you to use up those scraps.  I am thinking that 36 blocks will be enough. We shall see. I am also challenging myself to use only what I have and no repeats of fabric.


As I had cut strips there were bits left over and you know how I like leftovers. Hmmm, what to do with them! With the addition of a cream centre the scraps have become nine patch blocks of 6" and I managed 5 from what I had. I can keep adding to these as I make the other blocks. Apologies for the shadows and lack of editing.


Now I had a growing pile of much smaller pieces. I just sewed them together into a strip. Even the selvages got sewn in. I am sure that I shall find a use for some scrappy strips at some point.


This is what I was eventually left with - what I call scraps. You textile artists out there will find a use even for them but in this case they have gone into the doggy pillows. Believe me, those scraps are small.

 
Whilst I was on a roll and still in the sewing mood I thought I would have a rummage in the bag of scraps that Pat gave me and challenge myself to do something with what was in there. I also had another fabulous challenge from Lori to have a go at. I have changed it a little and this is what I have come up with so far. The only fabric that came out of my own stash was the pink spotty. The next set of instructions come on Thursday so there is plenty of time to join in or even for me to TRY and make another one. I am thinking that this one may be the start of a medallion. Don't yet know. This block so far measures 8.5".

 
I shall leave you with a snowy garden scene from the weekend. By this afternoon it had virtually all gone but at 4pm it suddenly started to snow and at 8.30pm it is still snowing. Mick went out today for a meeting and still is not home. Hopefully he will be stuck at a Travelodge and not on the motorway.


Happy Stitching

Shirley.




23 comments:

  1. I keep seeing this trip around the world, everyone seems to be doing it. So far I have resisted the temptation, too much else to do, but I am dying to have a go! Can't believe the snow is back again today, we have had to cancel our Jelly Roll Workshop tomorrow! Love Joan

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  2. Wow you have been busy. I will look forward to seeing how all those projects grow. Our weather isn't too bad at the moment I intend to get some sewing done today.

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  3. Fun fun fun playing with scraps!!! Nothing better---and such lovely blocks!! Love how you just kept on sewing until you ran out of fabric!!! I love Lori's block too. Beautiful snow pic.

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  4. Your blocks look great and a good way to use up the stash too. The snow looks so pretty.

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  5. love your scrappy blocks and how you have kept reusing the scraps along the way. you got a lot done!
    Hope the gloominess lifts for you.

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  6. My fingers have been itching to play along with the "trip around the world" blocks. They are so effective! I love your blocks; are you going to make more? Love your snow too. I hope it will stay a while ;).

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  7. I really don't know what you mean about textile artists and scraps. What are you implying?? :-,

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  8. those scrappy strips keep making them I made a quilt with them and its one of my favorite little quilts I have made! adorable
    tatw is growing on me I may have to make one seeing it all over blogland is just so tempting! no snow here just VERY COLD
    kathie

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  9. Love the Trip Around the World blocks.....
    Very pretty !!!!!
    I'm making mine out of pinks but I would love to make a scrappy coloured one.
    And the star looks great too.
    I hope hubby is safe from the snow...

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  10. The Scrappy trip around the world quilt is very addictive....I resist, I resist...Beautiful start.
    I have made Lori's block (entirely) and think to add borders to enlarge it !

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  11. I have a very long time UFO "Trip Around the World" and you have inspired me to dig it out. It was for a sister's big O birthday and I think she has even passed the next big O and the quilt is half done. Working with scraps is fun and the only fabric I toss are very very tiny pieces. Take care.

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  12. Good start to the New Year Shirley. I love scrap quilts and this will be a fun project.
    Hope DH made it home safe and sound. I heard lots of people were stuck in the snow in Somerset.
    I am resisiting Lori's latest temptaion even though it's small

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  13. Hope your DH made it home safely.

    You certainly haven't let the weather slow you down. Wow so many pretty things on the go!

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  14. You did all that today??? Hope Mick gets home safely, or stays somewhere warm. I'm a textile artist and any scraps have to be at least a fat quarter!

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  15. The snow is so picturesque. You've had a huge sewing day. The Trip Around the World blocks are lovely and I like your goals for this quilt with no fabric repeats and using up all those leftovers. I haven't given in to this temptation yet but am VERY tempted. Maybe after The Wedding ...

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  16. You certainly had a productive day at the sewing machine. I'm wondering why these scrappy trips are all the rage all of a sudden. Bonnie sure does offer some good scrap quilt patterns. I may have to join in. Hope Mick got home safely. We are expecting a little snow here, too.

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  17. What a nice block you made.I love your scrappy blocks too. I look forward to see the next blocks.

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  18. I love that Scrappy Trip Around the World project but have resisted it so far. Lots of lovely fabrics in there and good to see the pink family well represented. I don't know that I am going to be able to resist Lori's project. It's only little isn't it.
    You have used your scraps almost to the last thread. Great work.

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  19. Love love everything!!!!:0)))
    kviltstina at gmail dot com

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  20. I haven't been blogging or reading blogs as my days are being spent in the sunshine here in the panhandle of Florida. Ok. those little squares look about an inch wide. Never will be in my stash pile Shirley. Just too too small for my fingers. Which is better the rain or the snow? I cannot make up my mind since I don't have to worry about it...sic.

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  21. I love all of it. And the scrappy strip will surely be just what you want at some point. It is so fascinating to see how ideas grow and become beautiful quilts!

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  22. Thanks for the link to the Trip Around the World. I'm seeing it all over as well and didn't know where it started. Your blocks look so pretty together.
    You had a good day--finished blocks, scraps turned into more blocks and strips, and all that's left goes into dog pillows. That's a successful day. LOVE your fabric choices for Lori's Abundance project.

    No snow to speak of around here. It all washed away with an ugly, thick sheet or two of ice on Sunday. I dislike the gloomy, foggy, rainy days in between the snowy days. Thank goodness we have our quilting to brighten our mood.

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  23. I see you succumbed to the Scrappy Trip around the world too! lol I keep looking at the pattern & am so so tempted, have managed to resist so far. Do you still have snow where you are?

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