The Sunday Evening Aftermath.

This is what happens with a burst of quilt creativity!

We used to joke about our son Jeff – that when walking into the kitchen you could see just where he’d been and what he’d had – as every cabinet door he’d opened remained open. Just connect the dots – it was all there.  And usually the lights were still on long after he’d gone.

I guess he comes by it honestly! LOL!  Because I do the same thing with my quilting.

An idea starts – and out come the Scrap User’s System strips in the sizes that I need – the color families that I need – bundles unfurling into endless variety, making it so easy to pull together just what I want and need.  

You can tell what I've been up to by looking at my cutting table!

It’s the putting it back that takes a bit of time – not as much as you would think – but it does take a bit of discipline not to just throw these in a box and close the lid.

Neutrals by strip width!

For those who have asked how I manage my strips without them being all wrinkly, and minimize the shredding and threadiness that happens at the cut edges in the process – this is how it goes in my practice.

Stack the neutrals on top of each other.  There is no maximum length, but I tend to fold full width of fabric strips in half so my stacks aren’t longer than 22’’ or so.

The shortest ones go on the top, so I can easily use those FIRST the next time I unroll the bundle.  Minimum strip length?  About 5’’ to 6’’.  Anything shorter than that gets cut into squares or rectangles by strip width.

Roll the bundle into approximately thirds -

Slip into a well used zip-lock bag!

I can generally get about 3 rolls of strips in a gallon bag – use the bags again and again and again and again.  I do not close the zip top all the way so air can circulate, but rolling them this way keeps them from needing excessive ironing (Sometimes I have to press just a bit – but you’d be pressing fat-quarters too before using, wouldn’t you?) and helps minimize the threadiness at the edge of the strips.

Reds, stacked and ready to roll!

Those short ones can either go in the middle of the roll -

Or placed at the top of the bundle where they are visible.

Short strips are generally the first to be used up as I want them gone so I can bring in new strips!  I’ve been working with my scraps this way for more than 20 years now.  It works for me.  I cut strips from anything less than half a fat-quarter to get them to this usable stage.

My strip stash tends to deplete way faster than my fat-quarter or yardage stash.  Move the older out – move the newer in!

Those small blue chunks above?

They became squares!

This is also part of the scrap management process.  Anything too short to remain a strip gets instantly cut to size instead of staying as some random odd piece.

3 shoe boxes on my windowsill.

These are right above my cutting table and I am often tossing scrap squares into the appropriate box during the whole quilt cutting-out process.  And I find myself digging in to these boxes ALL.THE.TIME.

This is what caused the upheaval at my cutting table yesterday!

All of those sashings, four-patches, border units, and neutral squares came from my strip and squares stash.  It works.  The blocks came from fat-quarters because of how they are constructed, but everything else – Scrap User’s System all the way.

And yes – I awoke to a bit of snow on the ground from last night.  It’s still lightly falling now – the temp is only 19 degrees out. 

Phoenix is sounding awfully good right now!

The digital pattern for Irish Courthouse is still priced at 50% off in the digital pattern section of the Quiltville Store.  It’s only $4.00 and no coupon is required – there are only a couple of weeks left of this sale, so don’t miss out!  

What two colors would you like to be working with? Or would you go completely scrappy?

(The pattern includes directions for the full quilt above, not the variation I am currently making. There has been enough demand for this second version, that I will likely make it available as a separate pattern with border directions in the future.)

I am still waiting for  yesterday’s drawn group to get back with me on their chosen retreat dates for Quiltville Inn, and once they do I’ll be drawing to fill that one remaining weekend in 2020. 

It could be happening soon, and ALL groups that have entered are in the running. 

It’s not too late to enter your group.  Click the Quiltville Inn Rally tab at the top of the blog and enter your group info into the form.

As soon as this posts I’m warming up the van, heading to the QPO to check on the kitties, do some last minute desk work, some order filling and I’ll be on my way back to Wallburg. No mail service today, so anything I fill that came in over the weekend will post on Tuesday.

It’s time to get the Trunk Show and workshop quilts back on the road – So glad to be headed somewhere WARM!

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

Vintage string quilt found in Wilkesboro, North Carolina.

I needed this yesterday, and I am posting it today as a reminder to myself.

There are crazies out there who know nothing about what goes on in your life or mine.

Let them think what they think. Send them merrily on their way and don't let them destroy your inner peace.

Your dreams don't need anyone else's approval!