04 August 2015

Orphan Vortex

too many scraps

Crazy Mom Quilts made a masterpiece with scraps and invited her readers to join in to make a Scrap Vortex Quilt of their own as she created another one.

I've been trying to get rid of my scraps for a while now because my piles are getting way too big. I've got several ticker tape quilts in progress, but they don't seem to make a big enough dent in the scrap pile. (Crazy Mom Quilts author Amanda inspired my first Ticker Tape quilt, too!)

I decided to join the fun! I immediately began piecing scraps together, but then the weather got a tiny bit better, and Ride the Rockies was looming, so I didn't get to quilt along with the QAL. However, that didn't stop me from participating. I'm just slow and late, as usual.

I'm getting rid of SOME scraps in a creative and non-wasteful way! It's just taking me a lot longer than five weeks.

The Week One assignment was to assemble a bunch of like-size pieces.

My Scrap Vortex

Week Two was pairs of pairs. But I still had more like-size pieces to pair.

More Pairs

Week Three was more pairs of like-sized blocks. I kept going with like-size pieces.

even more pairs of pairs

More sewing together pairs, filling in with patchwork as needed for Week Four. At this point, I was not sewing at all because I was spending every free minute on my bike. BUT, that still didn't stop me from participating. I pulled out all my orphan blocks that might work in this project. They aren't orphans anymore!

I think my orphans have found a new home!

And here's the final QAL segment, week 5... a finished quilt! Of course, I wasn't finished yet. I was still on my bike.

But now I'm home, and now this project can begin to take shape. Well, after I finish putting together more scraps...

what a cool block

This one was my favorite block in the entire project! I wondered if I have enough more like-size pieces to do this again???

Yes, I do, unfortunately. Or is it fortunately? Isn't having beautiful scraps like a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? As long as you can figure out a way to use them up?

playout

I played with what I'd done so far and came up with a halfway decent layout (or playout, as it came to be known while it collected dust bunnies on our dining room floor, which serves as my design wall) I thought I might be able to finish up in a night when we got rained out of our planned Waterton Canyon aprés work bicycle ride for the third consecutive week in a row. (That's not a complaint. I like green in my sewing room AND in the canyon AND in my garden.)

Orphan Vortex

Two hours later, it was done! The bad news is I didn't use up all my green scraps. Or is that good news?

Even more frustrating is the scraps I cut away to finish my very own Orphan Vortex. Leftovers from the leftovers. Darn it. Now I have to find a way to use up these!!!

Here we go again... leftovers.

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts and Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

12 comments :

  1. A pot of gold I could use lol goes to show, that even scraps are useful and can be turned into something great, when one isn't on a bike that is haha

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    1. Oh, you're funny, Pat! Yes, scraps can be great. They just take up too much space!

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  2. At least your scraps should be smaller this time round. Love what you ended up with, especially the way the orphan blocks have fitted in.

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    1. You are right, Kaja! Smaller scraps now. And it was awesome to finish two WIPs on my list in one project! Boy, it was nice to get rid of those orphan blocks for once and for all!

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  3. This looks like a very fun project!

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    1. Thank you, Elin! This one wasn't as fun as it could have been, with all the interruptions in my schedule, but maybe now that cycling season is winding down, I can try another one and actually stay on a five-week schedule. :)

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  4. LOVE how you made Amanda Jean's quilt pattern your own!! Nice work and the way you explained it... I may be able to make a Scrap Vortex quilt, too!!

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    1. Thanks, Jouful! I hope you do, and I can't wait to see pictures!

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  5. Oh that is a totally cool way to do that - I love how the solids make your eyes move!

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    1. Thanks, Alycia! It sure was great to get rid of the rest of the girls camp bandana fabric leftovers!

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  6. Leftovers from the leftovers. Great!

    I love the pop of lavender in this quilt. :)

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    Replies
    1. I just got another idea for another green batik scrap quilt, Sue, and I think I'm going to set it off with lavender this time. Woohoo!

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