As if I didn’t already have enough projects, I started two new quilts this week. As usual, I have created my own busyness. Thankfully, however, I find this type of busyness very stress relieving rather than stress causing.
First I picked up this stash of fabric from a member of my guild. She had cleaned out her stash over the holidays and her request was that if you take any, then you use it to make a charity quilt. Our guild makes and donates charity quilts to the foster care program in the county. So I took what ended up being approximately 4 yards of fabric, and decided to make a lap quilt. Some of these are already made blocks, some are smaller than a fat quarter, and there are two pieces that are just over 1 yard in length. I also decided that I have to make it right now or I may never get around to it!
So, I cut the fabric into strips…
I decided to make the quilt using a bento box pattern. This is where you sew the strips into a large square and then cut the squares into fourths, mix them all up, and sew them back together again. I didn’t have enough of the fabric that I picked up for all the strips I would need, so I have been using fabric from my scrap box to fill in where needed. I love that I’m able to use some of the scraps I’ve been saving! I would love to make an entire quilt with scraps. Maybe one day… so far I’ve only been able to fit them into projects here and there. Edit: I remembered that I have made a quilt with all scraps. I made a wonky star last year. I just have so many scraps, and I keep adding to it, so it doesn’t look like I’ve even put a dent in it. So my goal is to make another quilt with just scraps. 🙂
I just finished piecing all the squares last night… today after work I’ll trim them up, cut them into fourths and lay them out to determine how I want to rearrange them. Hopefully I’ll be sharing another finished quilt with you next week.
I haven’t gotten as far on the second quilt I started. I picked up two charm packs last fall during a shop hop, which gives me four 5-inch squares of each of these fabrics.
Well, that in itself isn’t enough to make a lap quilt. So I either need to add a neutral, such as cream or white, or more fabric. I have decided to follow what Aspen Hill did here with her charm pack. This means I need to add both white AND more fabric. So I went through my stash and found fabric that I think matches and cut an additional 74 5-inch squares.
So that’s where I am with this quilt. I have 154 5″ squares cut out and ready. I still need to cut the white strips. My plan is to do that and start piecing once I get the other quilt finished. I probably won’t provide many updates on this quilt since it is for a friend that may read this blog. But, know I’ll be working on it and will share it with you when I can…
Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday.
Wow, that’s a lot of cutting! The bento box looks great so far. Love that pattern!
Thanks! I am loving it so far too
Nice blocks.
Thanks!
I’m impressed at the quick progress you’re making! I must be REALLY slow at sewing and cutting! 🙂
I doubt you’re slow. I like to sew like I drive — with the pedal to the metal. And we did have a 3-day weekend so I was able to get more done than usual.
You have lovely fabrics in you stash.