Not only that but I've been informed the darling grandson needs "lots of quilts." A couple of months ago I was not to send any. My, how things change. Not that I'm complaining.
To keep it simple I laid the blocks out by color. There were almost enough greens for a toddler quilt; just two short. Fortunately there were only two purple blocks and they fit right in. The red squares are absolutely the last bit of strip piecing left from my Watermelon quilt. Originally it was planned as the inner border but didn't work. I also used some on this improvisational quilt.
I'm reposting the photo of the finished Round Robin Improv here. Do you see a bit of this same paper piecing?
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| Improv Round Robin |
It's across the bottom on both sides. Isn't it great to find uses for discarded work?
Enjoy the day, Ann
Enjoy the day, Ann
18 comments:
I'm on a 'use what you have' kick, as well. Your post makes for great inspiration!
What a super scrappy and very fun quilt top! Bet your grandson will love this.
so satisfying!
How kind of you to write, Karen. When I don't use the fabric already on hand I quickly forget it's there. It's also a good personal challenge to find ways to make what I have work.
This was very fun, Julie. My eye "saw" this almost from the point I pulled these blocks out. It's always good to have utility baby quilts, isn't it?
Yes, Lee Anna. Both as a useable gift for my grandson and a clearing out of space in my sewing area. Double win!
Great work, vibrant color! I enjoy your 'improv' attitude.
Love both of these! The red squares in your string quilt add a fun detail, wonderful!
I know I'm repeating the comment from Linda here, but I do love both of these quilts. The pops of red in the string pieced just grabbed my attention, and the purple blocks. add an unexpected touch.
I really enjoy the continuity of using leftovers from previous quilts in the next ones. More than just repeating fabrics, it is nice to use actual pieced bits like this. I have thought of a few opportunities recently, but I may make it a "thing" and do it all the time. It seems to open up many more layers of meaning, doesn't it?
Thanks, Janie. My daughter says green is their favorite. I'm sure it will be used and enjoyed. It was fun to limit the work to available blocks.
I'm so glad I saved that strip of paper piecing all these years. It's great they finally found a home. Thanks for writing, Linda. Stay safe.
It was fun to find a good place for that strip of paper piecing after all this time. What serendipity to need two blocks and have these purples available. Stay safe, Maureen.
My brother quilts some and likes to incorporate a leftover block from the precious finish into the back of the current quilt. I wish I'd thought of that.
Mike McNamara puts a piece of fabric with the animal of that Chinese year into each top. I was so envious when I discovered that. A way to sequence your quilts and another bit of thought.
As you said, any way to build another layer of meaning.
I really like the addition of the red strip pieced bits into both quilts! Very lovely!!
Thanks, Mel. I was surprised how well that combined with the purple. Wasn't expecting it.
This is lovely -the red squares really add something, both visually and in terms of connecting with previous work. In fact, I really like what you and Monica are saying about levels of meaning - it's a prompt, maybe, to consider this more as we plan and sew.
I'm so glad you read the comments. They can be the best part of a post sometimes. I love to read, and chime in, on these conversations.
Personally I hadn't considered connecting to previous work until my brother mentioned it. The only connections are unplanned; leftovers go to a future scrap quilt. Yet, as you wrote, it's important to consider as we sew. After all, it's a body of work and could make a complex/thorough/developed (what word am I looking for?) statement as easily as being thoughtless. Yes, perhaps a good post for new year's.
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