Scrap quilts are the reason that I save small bits of fabric from every quilt I make. Seems
crazy, I know. But there's such a high level of satisfaction in using
leftover pieces to create an entire quilt. Plus, you get several extra bonus quilts without spending any more money. I do love a bargain!
My
inspiration for this project was a group of quilts designed by Jo Anne
Merrill-Duckworth. Her beautiful creations are scrappy, colorful,
and amazing! Her method makes it easy since you don't have to worry
about perfect cuts or uniform pieces. The wonkier the better--just choose a focus color and use what you have that fits.
I took a shoe box full of aqua and teal fabric strips to the campground in October to begin these crazy log cabin style blocks. I used leftover black gingham to begin each one, adding random width strips until it was roughly 7” square. Once I got home and finished all the blocks, I trimmed them with a 6½” die before stitching them together.
Imperfectly
Teal finished at 48” square after I added 3” borders. I quilted
with white thread, using a rolling wave ruler in diagonal rows about
3” apart.
Scrappy
imperfect quilts aren't for everyone. Lots of people just can't stand
so many prints, or crooked blocks that don't align perfectly. My
brain had to reset a bit before I could resist the urge to straighten
out those seams. I had fun, though, and gave myself permission to
play. And I'll happily do it again.
So
thanks, Jo Anne, for sharing your ideas, inspiring us to abandon
perfection, and to save and use our scraps!
Accuquilt
dies used:
55000 Square 6½”
55032
Strips 3½”
55017
Strips 2½”
