Yep - you read that correctly. One thousand sixteen Crumb Chaos blocks. I never in a million years imagined I was making that many. I just kept going until I was sick and tired of sewing crumbs to strips for the first step. Obviously this will make several quilts - but for now the blocks will be set aside at least until I finish sewing sleeves on all the antique quilts. The saddest, craziest thing is this 
- look at how many crumbs are remaining in my crumb drawer!Part of the problem is caused by making the blocks themselves. I've come to the conclusion that making Crumb Chaos blocks from crumbs is a never ending, cyclic, crumb producing endeavor. Why, you ask? Because as soon as the blocks reach a certain size, there is a crumb size piece left at the end of each strip. I know that's why my drawer isn't emptier.
I'm going to deal with this in a way that was shown by someone posting about heartstrings blocks months ago. I sure wish I knew her name so I could give her credit. Here is her solution - she sews strips from the crumbs and rolls them up into large rolls, then uses these strips in string quilts. I kept a couple pictures from her 
post for inspiration - it seems like maybe she has her own blog. I'm hoping she'll recognize herself in my description and leave a comment with a link to her post so she can be given proper credit. I've sewn a bunch of mine together already and wound them around toilet paper tubes, and have tossed a bunch more for sewing into the now empty bin that used to hold 1 1/4" strips. I'm going to do this with all my crumbs until I get sick and tired of making strings of crumbs. By then I'm hoping the drawer is MUCH more empty. Then I'll start making string blocks again in an effort to empty that drawer also. Or at least get a good start on emptying it. Right now it's stuffed to the gills!
I have the first antique quilt laying out on the dining room table waiting for it's sleeve. I'll sew the muslin sleeve when I get home from work tomorrow, and then start stitching it on at Tangled Threads. This is very much a utility quilt - nevertheless the quiltmaker made an effort to create interest by the way she stitched the dark and light fabrics together. It is tied with wool yarn and backed with mattress ticking. It was sewn on three sides and the turned inside out, at the same time putting the filling inside. One edge is folded over to the back and stitched down. It 
is in good shape for a utility quilt - there is only one warn spot that I can see where the fabric has broken down and the filling shows. I believe Rick said this one was from the 1880's. Right now it's the least interesting of the four that I have. The other three are all rolled around acid-free paper tubes, but this one is in a large acid-free box. I decided to start with it so I could get the bulky box out of the living room as quickly as possible.*************
Gratitudes:
1. A fun work day today - volunteering to assist at the Parks Foundation Golf Tournament
2. Unexpected dinner with the kids
3. Fresh pineapple from a sweet neighbor
4. Finished CC blocks!
5. Continuing beautiful weather
33 comments:
I'm astounded - that is a phenomenal number of blocks!
That's a ton of blocks but I could never make that many without sewing them into tops as I went along. I have a crumb project in mind but I have other things on the list so it will be a while before I get to it.
I break a sweat just by seing all that blocks Patti. You are a crumb block hero!
Yes, crumbs multiply when you use from them - I guess it is cell dividing in action again again :-)
Bravo, Patti!!
thats amazing, oh yes how I would love to own a quilt with those blocks....awesome!
Ok I guess I need to start a crumb fabric draw to make these blocks everytime I see yours I want to join in the fun and make some too!
Kathie in NJ
Oh my word Patti - if you were told you had to make over a thousand blocks you'd never even thread up the machine - what an achievement! Love the Christmas table runner in the previous post. And making long strips of those scraps and saving them on rolls is a great idea - next time you need to put a scrap border on something it's sitting there looking at you, or you could stitch them between lengths of solid for a lovely strippy quilt
Looks like your were having lots of fun!
WOW!!!!!!1016 blocks...that is amazing! That pile will make lots of wonderful quilts!
HOLY MOLY BATMAN!!! :D You are crazed with these blocks!!
You really do inspire me to use my scraps up in this way!!
Thanks for the tip on how to manage the mile a minute leftover bits! You are very fortunate to be able to have such an up close and personal examination of those antique quilts while you sew on their sleeves!
1,016! Wow, now that's a happy stack of quilt blocks *s*
It's going to be such fun to see each of the antique quilts as you put a sleeve on them.
What a nice stack of blocks. You're doing so good!!
Wow...um over 1,000 blocks? Can I just say wow -- again?!?
Wow. I'm with Mary. I'd never have the patience to make that many blocks without sewing some of them together along the way.
Wow.
Fabulous!!!! That is one heck of a lot of blocks! Good work. =)
WOW!! That's alot of crumbs and a lot of strings!
Good job! How good you must feel to have made that many blocks!
:-0 How many blocks!
That's a lot of blocks. Just think - the next time you need a mindless activity you can just start sewing those blocks together. That's a great idea of making strips of the crumbs too.
I'm not sure I understand what "mile a minute" blocks are. They kind of remind me of log cabins.
And crumbs? Do you have a certain size that you keep? I've decided that anything less than an inch wide goes into my dustbin.
HOLY COW! That's alotta blocks alright... how many miles of thread? You're amazing!
Hiya Patti! I'm finally finding a few minutes to catch up witn some of my "fellow" quilty bloggers. Your crumb blocks are going to make some great quilts! Your Christmas table runner is gorgeous, too. (the garage looked pretty darned good as well). How's the new job going? I'm still liking mine!
oops, sorry Patti, I got you mixed up with some one else who said they'd started a new job! Guess I'm not as awake as I thought...hehe
OMG. That is a staggering number. The whole crumb strip piecing thing is a great way to use up every last bit of a scrap!
I am impressed. Not knowing much about mile a minute quilts I have a question. Are you trying to maintain a particular color scheme?
All caught up on your posts now Patti! The antique quilts are marvelous, it will be fun to see them. Good show with the scrap MAM blocks...wow!!
Yes keep doing those UFO's, that's not a queen title anyone should want!
W.O.W. I'm am IMPRESSED!!! :D And I love the tip about the sewing the other pieces end to end and rolling them up. :D
O.M.G.! That is stitching on a grand scale! I love that tip on sewing the crumbs into a strip. Thanks! and thx to the quilter who posted for you.
I am so impressed! They look wonderful! How fun is that! And I love your crumb string idea now too!
I love that ticking on the back! Isn't it awesome! and I love how she used the colors on the front. Very cool!
I think your sewing machine can use a rest now! Wow...1016 that's quite a number!
I am just so fascinated by those blocks. I just look and look at them.....why do I do that? WOw! Great job! Over a thousand!
Congrats on your achievement - over 1000 blocks WOW!!!
Thanks for sharing the tip on how to manage the remaining crumbs. I've been working with strings the last couple of weeks, but have crumbs too - great idea :)
My word Girl - that's a bunch of blocks, bloggings, comments -- I've been out of town for a while. Maybe it was ME who gave you an idea for rolling up those strips on a toilet paper roll, or similar. I've done it, and mentioned it months ago, but I don't remember where I got the idea! Does the trick.
Keep on working with those crumbs! Great job.
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