Sunday, April 29, 2007

Tiny triangles

Well, I didn't accomplish everything I hoped to this weekend but I didn't do too badly. I fixed the two triangles in the bunny garden quilt by opening the long seam of each and taking out the extra fullness. It didn't take me nearly as long as I thought it would - even stitching those two seams back up by hand went quickly. I also made the binding for the quilt so was really on a roll. However, today I decided I just didn't feel like putting it back on the machine and quilting, so I guess I'll take a fat quarter penalty to guild on Thursday after all. That's OK - I have lots of great fat quarters that aren't really to my taste any longer. I could have finished it - I just chose to do something else.

I prepped both "tutorials" for Thursday night - one of string blocks and one of crumb blocks. I illustrated the steps in each one at a time by making a bunch of partial blocks in various stages of completion and pinning them to a piece of batting I can hang on the wall. That way I can demonstrate each step without trying to get everyone crowded around the machine to watch. I hope it works well - I think it will. I'm going to take a couple machines plus lots of strips, strings and crumbs as I hope everyone will have time to make a couple of each block.

I finished the guild program visuals early this afternoon and was once more sucked into the fun of mile a minute blocks. So instead of quilting I took down the plastic shoebox of little bitty triangles I've been slowly adding to over the years. You know the ones - the little trimmings that those of us who are obsessed with fabrics can't bear to throw away. For years I thought I'd use them to piece some little paper pieced blocks - like tiny square in a square blocks. Lately I realized that I just can't be bothered to make something like that as I'm no real fan of paper piecing. So this afternoon I started chaining them through the machine to make tiny half square triangle squares. The smallest measures about 1" unfinished. I don't think I'll trim them for perfect accuracy because they'll be centers of mile-a-minute blocks. I'm happy to report that the box is about 40% less full than when I started. That's a lot of little triangle squares to press! It's a good thing I have a TV in that room - I can put in a good movie and get started.

I know - you don't have to tell me - I'm really obsessed if I'm saving scraps this tiny. But I keep telling myself that I paid just as much for them as for the rest of my fabric, and they'll make a nice warm quilt for a Hotel Hope resident one of these days. I love fabric, and it hurts me to throw even the smallest scraps away.
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Gratitudes:
1. Blooming hawthorns and dogwoods
2. Blue skies and a cool breeze
3. The chance to share with quilty friends
4. Fresh, clean sheets
5. Chocolate caramel coffee creamer
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14 comments:

Silverthimble said...

You aren't the only enthusiastic thrifty quilter! I too can not bear to throw away even the smallest bits! *VBG*

Carole said...

I'm laughing here! Did you want my bag of trimmings? lol I have just that in a drawer of my sewing table. I've been collecting them. What I do is use it as a starters or ender. It's amazing how many can get done on a project! Of course the pile never seens to go down. Happy quilting!

Darlene said...

Often I've thought that I should be saving those little bits and then said NO. LOL. You will make something stunning and I will regret my decision. :-(

Happy Day, Patti.

Nancy said...

More power to you! I toss anything that isn't at least 2" square or 1-1/2" X 6". Anything smaller I just can't deal with. Want me to toss them your way? LOL!

KC Quilter said...

You are such a stitch!!! Picturing you saving those bitty-bitty scraps is cracking me up. But you'll have the last laugh when a wonderful creation is made of them!!! Have a terrific week.

Libby said...

You are making me wish I had saved all those bits to make something wonderful.

swooze said...

I don't think I have scraps but if I folded and organized all my fabric I would surely have to admit to owning scraps then. I can't wait to see what comes of those HSTs!

YankeeQuilter said...

Some days are just made to play in the scrap pile...it is so low stress. (the chocolate carmel coffee creamer sounds wonderful!)

Judy said...

I give you credit...I am not keeping anything that small, but more power to you!

I realized one down side the other day to NOT washing everything before it's put away. As I was cutting scraps the other night as we watched tv, I realized that some of the fabrics had been washed and some have not. Now I have a problem...scraps can't be washed once they are cut. So the ones already cut will go for something for just me and the others will go for charity quilts.

Mary Johnson said...

I've never use to save small pieces because I'm not a big fan of crumb quilts but I did put a bin under my sewing table and I've been tossing small pieces in there. My thought is that I can use them for a free form log cabin or courthouse steps quilt one of these days.

Holly said...

what are you going to make with those tiny HST's? I have a bag full I've been sewing on too but have now idea how I'll arrange them.

Linda C said...

One fat quarter is not penalty enough to worry about losing if you didn't get the UFO done. I did wonder if you got the full border tamed down though.

I guess we wait and see what you have in mind for those itty bitty HSTs.

Quilter Kathy said...

Me too! I love your tiny HST's and can't wait to see how you use them!

Cher said...

they look such fun Patti- more power to you to turn them into a charity quilt!