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Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Without a machine

Once a year I have to drop off my viking sewing machine at the dealer for service, I know each year what week I will be doing it approximately.  I say I know this but will literally sew right up until the last minute before its time to bring the rolling case out of storage and get in the car.  She's a great machine and all she ask is for a little service, fresh oil and a good cleaning inside.  (When you own a Viking you do not ever oil it, its only done at service)  Since I sew every day I have to plot this time frame out with each WIP and then plan what I will be doing while she's gone.



So my WIP this week is a project that will take some time, rumor has it I need about 4,000 pieces.  Yep I will be cutting up all those scraps that have been stuffed into a box for the last six months.  At first I was tossing out anything less than three inches or so, that is until I saw a beautiful quilt a fellow guild member Robi made with small squares. Her quilt is so awsome and can be found on the WNY MQG site.  At first I was saving them to give away, I am not keen on working with little pieces.  As the box got filled with such beautiful colors, ones I loved enough to put into quilts I decided why not.  I am cutting them into 2 1/2" and 1 1/2" squares, so far they are sorted by colors we'll see how long that last.  



While saving the scraps I also started saving salvages just because I thought the colored dots and designers name were interesting, have not decided what to do with them yet.



Do you save your scraps for yourself or someone else?  Have you ever made a quilt with all small squares?   Did you use a pattern or wing it? Love to hear from you


Wish I was sewing,
Pam


11 comments:

  1. 4,000 squares? Wow. I just started a similar project with tiny pieces, no scraps though. Maybe I should start organizing my scraps by size, right now they're all stuffed in a box together and they don't get much use.

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    1. Kate let me know when you share your project on line, im looking for the best way to do this
      Thanks for stopping by

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  2. I just can't imagine myself having the patience to do a quilt needing that many pieces that you can't production piece. I admire your fortitude! Good luck.
    I have never done anything with my selvedges. I just don't see any beauty in them.

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    1. I was told there is a trick way to do it, I'm intregued. I dont do well with small pieces but hate to throw away. I have used salvages one at a time in thhe lable but i have a lot

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  3. Wow, just cutting up that many pieces seems overwhelming to me! I do keep scraps, but mostly in strips (I use a lot of 2.5" and 3.5" strips, so they will always come in handy), but I tend to throw out smaller things. Your colors and scraps are definitely beautiful and I look forward to seeing what you create!

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    1. I will share once its done, I promise

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    2. Yea! I love love love scraps and cannot throw them away, no matter how small. Please share!!

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  4. That project of yours is one of patience!
    I keep all scraps that are 2" or more. I usually use them for appliqués or hexagones, though sometimes I use 2" squares for borders or for making stripes to sew between blocks.
    It's interesting to read everyone's answers...

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  5. I had some for applique but dont do much now
    Love your blog, my first visit

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  6. I have a lot of trouble throwing away even the smallest scraps. I save them and use them to make doll quilts when I just need to do a small, fun project once in a while. I do not save selvages though. I use right up to the edges. Yours seem to have enough of the print left to make something pretty with them though. Have fun!

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    1. With the cost of quilt fabrics I want to use as much as I can. Some of the salvages are wide becauce I started cutting my pattern from the other side and didnt have enough for another row.

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