Scrappy Blue Block-a-Day

That was my scrap collection two years ago, when I got serious about using up my scraps instead of buying new fabric.

This is my scrap collection now...


Much of the collection is due to finishing existing WIP projects. Good thing, right??? Little did I know when I started trying to finish what I've started that my scrap collection was going to exponentially multiply and replenish our home!

At the beginning of the year, I began yet another Block a Day goal, using selected patterns from this year's calendar.


My only rule was scraps only. I could not purchase new fabrics for this project. The largest portion of my scraps is blue, so I decided to do scrappy blue blocks.






When the calendar featured block designs I didn't care to make, I used up existing blue scraps in whatever manner suited the shapes already cut - many triangles, even more strips and strings, and a few squares here and there.




This block was so overgrown, I ended up using it in the backing of Peacock Blues back in March.

As the weeks progressed, I was astounded that I might be able to create an entire quilt of scraps that actually work together using block patterns that were not necessarily designed to work together. As the blocks multiplied, I thought this might be appropriate for a grandchild or grandchild sibling. (Adoptions involved.) I'm trying to finish 15 quilts by Christmas. So far, I've finished 4 quilts and 7 more quilt tops. This is the 7th flimsy.


When I began incorporating my own blocks into this top, I didn't realize not all 12-inch blocks are created equal. One was 11.5 inches, a couple were 12 inches, a couple were 12.5 inches, and the blocks I created using the shapes of the remnants I used were 14 inches.

This same thing happened last year when I finished piecing Blue Floral Nostalgia, which includes some of the same fabrics as Scrappy Blue Block-a-Day. I'd started that quilt at least two decades ago, before I had proper tools, and the old blocks ranged from 11.5 to 12.5 inches. The templates I used to make the finishing blocks last year resulted in 13-inch squares.


For that top, which probably won't be a kid gift, I evened out the blocks by adding various sized sashing to each of the old blocks.

I repeated that process with Scrappy Blue Block a Day, trying to make the sashing look like it was part of the block and not sashing (math required!!!) except for the center block and two of the four corner blocks. Two of the corner blocks were already the right size, 14 inches, and I added darker corners to just two sides of the other two to create an outer-edge photo album-like frame around the four corners. Remember the photo corners we used to insert new photos in our big, heavy albums before cling pages came around?

I'm thrilled with the scrappy composition of this new top! If it wasn't going to a grandkid, I'm not so sure I'd be able to give this one away.

I still haven't made a dent in my scrap boxes, but if I can keep creating quilt tops that look this good with just scraps, I don't mind having plenty of scraps to last a while!


Oh, and somewhere between blocks for this project, I used fabric purchased in Durango during Ride the Rockies to make another bandana for Lizard. I owed him a birthday present. To bad he couldn't wear this one during Ride the Rockies! Maybe next year...


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

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