Scraptastic Tuesday (a little late) - Leader/Ender Challenge

A few weeks ago, I finished up my leader/ender project for the last year or so. It's a split nine-patch and I absolutely love it!!  Here's a pic of the finished top.  (Nelson says Hi!!)

 

I love it!!  It is huge, finishing at about 90 x 96.  I really want to back it in a lightweight denim and use it as a picnic quilt.  

But.....that meant I needed another leader/ender project.  For those of you unfamiliar with the concept of leaders/enders,  I'll try to explain.  When you sew, and you come to the end of what you're working on, you have to stop the sewing, pull the project out, and cut the threads.  When you use a leader/ender, you keep a stack of fabric next to the machine.  When you come to the end of what you are sewing, instead of pulling the project out and cutting the threads, you follow through your project with a couple of the pieces you've kept next to the machine to "end" the chain piecing, leaving the "ender" under the needle, then trim the threads between the main project and the "ender."  The "ender" becomes the "leader" when you come back to the machine to start working on your project again.  This is a slow process, however, after some time, you've got a "free" quilt made completely out of your leader/enders.

I sat down and started playing with a design idea.  I love pinwheels, but I also have an overflowing box of 1-1/2" pieces/strips.  So this is what I came up with...

 

I love it.  I'm calling it patches and pinwheels.  It's very basic.  The "patches" are made out of 1-1/2" squares and the "pinwheels" are made using my 3-1/2" strips.  I want it to be a controlled palette so I'm going to use blues/greens/yellows with my neutrals.  Here is the first set of blocks...

 

 

I'm really enjoying this process for my leaders/enders.  I'm laying out one set at a time and making quite a bit of progress so far.  The pinwheels block is cut using the EZ Quilting Easy Angle Ruler Sharon Hultgren 6.5 Inch.  I love this tool because it's easy to know what size strip to start with.  I needed my HST's to be 3-1/2" so I know I start with 3-1/2" strips.  For those of you unfamiliar with this tool, I thought I'd share a quick picture tutorial.

First, you take your two strips (in my case a neutral and a blue) and place them on your cutting mat, right sides together.

 

I even out the edge...

 

 

Next, you take your easy angle ruler and line up the edge of the fabric with the marking on the ruler for the size of strip/HST's you're using, in this case, 3-1/2".

 

 

Then you cut along the edge of the ruler.  As you can see, the tail is already cut off so there is no fabric waste.  

 

Then you flip the ruler over, and line it up again.  As you can see, we are still using the 3-1/2" line, but at the bottom, we're lining up the edge of the black triangle with the bottom edge of the fabric.  Then we cut again.

 

It's a very simple tool to use and makes working with scraps so easy.

Now you may have noticed that I called this post a leader/ender challenge.  So let's get to the challenge part.  I would love to get more people taking advantage of leaders/enders.  I think they are such a great tool and a fun way to use up scraps.  So I'm thinking that a monthly linky party would be fun.  We'll start next Tuesday and do the third Tuesday of the month.  If you don't have a current leader/ender, you are welcome to use the same one I'm doing. 

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<a href="http://aquiltingchick.blogspot.com" title="A Quilting Chick" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghl5ugFNY3GXFl5r17VbnZWiY236HeXEHtdd7Qtwr34jY38dnI7dByAXqmqAyKbpHrBiKkvA8e5XzamGrNGoREtAdRzBgT4_KkYYdZqTykmk3NhMglVQDwcjM7B0qDt0_j75azKJ9zxAhV/s1600/leader+ender+button.jpg" alt="A Quilting Chick" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

So grab a button and play along!  It will be so much fun to see what everyone else is working on!!

Linking up with She Can Quilt.

Split Nine Patch Finished!

I love this finish!  Every time I hang it up for pics, I just stare at it.  It's absolutely beautiful!!

Nelson says, "Hi!"

There are so many pieces involved.  One-hundred eighty-two blocks.  Twelve pieces per block.   For a grand total of 2,184 pieces.  I started piecing it as my leader/ender project in July, 2013.  I believe it's final measurements are 102" x 108".  I seem to see it with a lightweight denim backing because it screams, "old-fashioned" quilt to me, which of course means it needs to go on picnics at the park.  I see a lot of sunny, fun family days in it's future!

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts and Quilt Story and Jo's Country Junction and My Quilt Infatuation.  Also with Val's Quilting Studio for Tuesday Archives.

Sagittarius Done!

Now that I finished up the Split Nine Patch, I was able to work on the Zodiac Stars again last night. I managed to finish up Sagittarius....

 

I can be such a perfectionist!  That one side doesn't quite match up so I'm seriously considering ripping it out and doing it again.  But overall, i really love it, so for now, it can stay.  Hopefully tonight I can do the three little starlets out of these blues and then move on to the next block.

Also, I finished up my sample blocks for my new leader/ender project, Patches and Pinwheels.  Read more about it here.

 

 

Each block measures 6-1/2".  I seriously love these little blocks.  The pinwheel goes together so fast compared to the 36-patch!  It makes a nice break before the next patch block. 

What are y'all working on this week???  Come see everyone's projects over at Freshly Pieced.

Pink Scrap Quilt

Here's another quilt that I made a few years ago and have been wanting to share with yall. And the Blogger's Quilt Festival is the perfect excuse for pulling it out and taking pics.  I made this quilt for my daughter, Cassidy, a few years back.  

There is a pattern that I picked up called Cake Mix, by Cozy Quilt Design.  I decided I could use up the scraps that I had from making a quilt for my niece in using this pattern.  The pinks and purples were perfect for Cassidy.  

As you can see, it is a fairly simple quilt, but the effects of placement are wonderful.  It calls for 10" squares (layer cake), 2-1/2" strips (jelly roll), and a bit of yardage for the matching squares and inner border.  I used up the scraps I had instead and used a bunch of smaller squares for the border.

Isn't it awesome how using just one cohesive fabric makes a scrappy quilt really pop??

At the time, my daughter was really into peace symbols so I quilted it with an all-over design of daisies and peace symbols.

It remains one of my favorite patterns and I've made it up in several different ways.  But this one remains a favorite

And best of all, the then 12-year old little girl loved it!!!  :)

Linking up with Amy's Creative Side for the Blogger's Quilt Festival.

Split Nine Patch Center

Yay!! I got all the blocks together for my split nine-patch!!

 

It may not look like it, but there are 182 blocks there, 6-1/2" squares.  Each block has 12 pieces in it.  For a grand total of 2,184 pieces!!  I do love using up my scraps.

 

Here's a closer shot of the pinwheel and a look at the blocks.  Each block has (6) 2-1/2" squares and (3) 2-1/2" HST's.  The design is all about the placement of the blocks.  This was my leader/ender project over the last year.  All that I have left are the borders and I'm hoping to get those on it tonight.  

 

I've started a new leader/ender project and I'll share more about that tomorrow for Scraptastic Tuesday.  Linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times and Quilt Story.

Also linking up for the Challenge Update with Jo at Jo's Country Junction.

Split Nine Patch Progress

I got four more rows added to my split nine patch last night!!

 

You can really see the design now.  That's eight rows down and only six to go.  I really want this finished by the weekend.  We'll see!!

 

Leaders/Enders - Scraptastic Tuesday

Hi y'all!  I love scraps.  In all the years I've been sewing, I've never been able to get rid of any leftover fabric if I felt it was big enough to use in something else.  That being said, I have a TON of scraps.  And until about a year ago, those scraps sat in bins.  Waiting.  Just waiting.

 

Sound familiar???  So since She Can Quilt and Mrs. Sew and Sow have started this fabulous new linky called Scraptastic Tuesdays, I was inspired to stat sharing how I've started to wrangle the scrap monster.

Step One:  Admit that you have a problem!  I know, I know, sounds cliche' right?  But it's true.  You can be a scrap hoarder or a scrap user.  But you have to admit to yourself that you've been just collecting scraps before you can get yourself to start USING them!!

Step Two:  Start cutting your scraps into usable sizes.  This step held me up for a long time.  What size should I trip them to?  What if I cut something down and later needed it a bigger piece?  But the simple fact is, you haven't been using it because it's in the dreaded scrap bin.  If you have it sorted and cut into usable sizes, you may actually use it!!!  

So what's a usable size?  Depends on the quilts you make.  I cut mine in half-inch increments from 1-1/2" - 3-1/2".  Smaller pieces get cut into squares.  Anything longer than 10" gets cut into strips.  Then it all gets sorted into plastic bins like this:

 

Step Three:  USE THEM!!

Once I started getting my scraps cut into usable sizes, I was at a loss as to what to do with them.  I stumbled across Bonnie Hunter and read about her scrap system and just about the time I was starting to tackle my scrap problem, she was starting a leader/ender challenge.  I took that as a sign that I was supposed to start there.

The basic premise of a leader/ender is that when you are doing your regular sewing, you end your stitching with sewing two pieces of fabric together (like 2 - 2" squares) and leave it under your presser foot.  You start your next sewing session by feeding it directly behind this piece, like chain piecing.  Then when you end, you feed another set of scraps through.  Thus the scraps become your leaders and enders when stitching.  You use less thread and are sewing a project in between all your normal stitching.

The first leader/ender project I tackled was a split nine patch.  I just finished the last block that I needed over the weekend.

 

Here's the stack, all 182 of them.  They finish at 6-1/2" and it's enough for a queen size top.  There are so many different layouts you can do with this block.  Think of them as giant half square triangles.  I started assembling rows and here is a glimpse at the first four rows together...

 

 I've learned quite a bit working through this leader/ender project and have already started another one.  My 1-1/2" box was overflowing so I decided I'm going to do some 36 patch blocks.  This first leader/ender was "anything goes" as that is the way Bonnie teaches it.  I discovered that I really prefer a more controlled scrappy look, like I used in my Scrap Jar Stars quilt.  So this new leader/ender is going to be a more controlled palate.  

Simple.  Scrappy.  My favorite!  :)

Design Wall Monday 10/20/14

I have been so busy this last week! Here's a look at everything I have had going this week.

First up, I got all the piecing done on my Rotaries in Bloom.  All that's left is the handwork.  These are for the Quilter's Garden Row Swap being hosted by Deana at Dreamworthy Quilts.  I'll be keeping this one...

 

Swapping this one....

 

 

And keeping these three...

 

I finished these blocks for my niece's graduation quilt, Zodiac Stars.  

 

 

I finished the last of my split nine patch leaders/enders project.  All 182 of them.  Assembling the rows on that one now so I should have that top finished to show you this week.

 

 

 And I started piecing the Sagittarius block for the Zodiac Quilt.

 

 

See?  Busy, busy week!  What have you been working on?  Go see what everyone has on their design wall over with Judy at Patchwork Times.

Also linking up with Quilt Story for Fabric Tuesday.

   

Scraptastic Tuesday!!!

Have y'all heard about this new linkup?  It's being hosted over at She Can Quilt and Mrs. Sew and Sow.  They have started sharing how they use their scraps and tips on scrap storage.  It's been fun watching and today is the first day of the new linkup!!!  Y'all have to check out these blogs.  They are a lot of fun with great ideas for using up those scraps.

Today, I wanted to share one of my scrap quilts.  I finished it and blogged about it here.  It's called the Scrap Jar Star. 

I love this quilt!  The tutorial was done up by A Little Bit Biased (now known as Gigi's Thimle).  The pattern uses your scrap 2" squares and calls for making half square triangles with 4-1/4" squares, however, I used my 3-1/2" strips and the Easy Angle Ruler.  If you've never used this ruler before, what you need to know is that it is great for scrap piecing.  If you want your HST's to measure 3-1/2", then you use a 3-1/2" strip.  Makes it much easier to figure sizes and use up the smaller strips.

I love the way the corner squares make up another design element when put side by side. 

That's my daughter, Cassidy, forced into child labor in helping mom photograph the quilts.  Couldn't resist adding that one in!!!  

Now y'all go on over and check out this new linkup party and show everyone what you're working on with those fabulous scraps!!!

 

Linking up with Quilt Story for Fabric Tuesday too!

Flimsy Finish Friday!!

I decided that this was the year of UFO's and scrap bustin'.  So far, I think this is my favorite scrap quilt so far!

This is my Scrap Jar Stars Quilt.  The pattern was posted by A Little Bit Biased a while back.

I've really been working on using some of the tons of scraps I've accumulated.  This quilt, although COMPLETELY from my scraps, barely made a dent.  My daughter was helping me get these pics.  Doesn't she look thrilled?  Lol...definitely hit the teenage years here.

Looking forward to sharing more scrap quilts with y'all!!

Cathy

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts and Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Val's Quilting Studio for Tuesday Archives.