Pat Sloan's I Love To Make Quilts

Merry & Bright Sew Along Block #5

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And it's time to.... 

• Trim our tree with 'Tinsel' as my Block #5!
• The tree is central to starting Christmas for my family.  I believe it may  have started with my Granny who loved to decorate.
• KEEP READING to the END as I spotted a cool curated bundle that is similar to what I'm using! But it's a limited number of them, under the download
• In each pattern I have a memory or story of my own. When You share your block at my Facebook group, or when you leave me a comment after posting your block, share YOUR memory with me!

 

• TIP - .When doing the TOP sew and flip unit of the tree, flip and trim one side before sewing the 2nd square. They overlap.
• BUY my TRIANGLE book for step by step photos

• For each pattern I include a BONUS multi-block setting.
• You can make the trees as a whole quilt, but I thought a table runner would let  you pull out great fabrics and finish one up!

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Download Pat Sloan Block 5 Merry and Bright

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LOOK what I spotted!  A GREAT option that has a similar feel to what I'm using

CLICK TO BUY, it's a limited number of custom bundles

What I'm using

• ENTER YOUR EMAIL to get the weekly notice
• My PROJECT Details, including the supply list
• Border Fabric I am using in Red,and works with the bundle above of course!
• The light background I'm using is Moda Grunge in vanilla. It has some rustic texture, you could select Sugar Cookie for less texture

• I did a video and article about it HERE
• CLICK and Use discount code PATSLOAN20 for 20% + FREE Shipping
• Thank you for using my links to buy, it helps pay for all the fun!

An InLinkz Link-up

Scrap Busting with Pat

This week we take a Merry & Bright break while I'm out of town on vacation! Let's talk SCRAP management.  I have had a lot of people asking me how I am keeping my scraps under control.

They know I'm not big on having LOTS of scraps around. I have a small home and studio space so I have to work very smart.  I can't keep lots of bins of scraps.. and honstly i don't want to.

I love NEW FABRIC... so my scraps are little treasures.. but treasures that need to be USED.

First I do not keep tons of scraps. I enjoy what several designers have told me over time, like Joan Ford who is a Splendid Sampler 1 designer (and author of scrap books) who only keeps so many scraps then she makes quilts with it.  I love this idea. And my good friend Heather Valentine does the same thing. Once the bins are full..she says make a quilt or donate the fabric!

This works for my space and my interest level for scraps. I want to USE them. I don't have space to store them (photos are my older studio) 

I've been working on a lot of quits lately. They generate lots of scraps.   I either put the scraps into one of my small shoeboxs or into a large box. If both those boxes are full.. ahem... then I pile on my cutting table.  yes... there is some overflow allowed

The cutting table pieces ALWAYS get addressed first.. I wonder why?

I am cutting scraps into

• 2"  squares
• 2.5"  squares
• 3.5"  squares
• 5" squares
• 2.5" WOF strips.

There are a lot of patterns using these sizes available. Joan has written two great books worth of patterns for the sizes she cuts.. you can get them on Amazon

 

Another AMAZING scrap book is from my friend Lissa Alexander. 

See inside photos by CLICKING HERE

BUY ON SALE, you will LOVE this book!

 

First i try and squeeze out something from the scrap.  2.5" won't work here

 

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So I have a 2" square

I LOVE these rulers, a 6.5" square is a must for me

Triangles produce smaller triangles

Sometimes when I'm feeling very thrifty... I will sew these random triangles together to make squares. then trim those down to a regular size.

When I am short on time or not feeling very thrifty... they go in the bin

we all make decisions on how much time we have to devote to this.

So how BIG a piece do I keep?  if I can get a few 5" squares out of it.. and I'm NOT excited about the fabric anymore.. they get cut.

BUT.. if there is a piece bigger than 5" square and I'm super pumped about the fabric.. you might call it.. hoarding... I call it excited...  don't judge... 

Then I do not cut it. 

I... Save... it... maybe for a very.. very.. long time.... but that's another story.

I have at times sewn strips and chunks together.. but I prefer to just keep the sizes standard.  So for strips... I keep just the WOF strips so they become 'jelly roll' strips and allow me to easily use a jelly roll pattern

smart right? Well it works for me.

This bin is getting very full of 3.5" squares and 2" squares... soon they will need to become something!

I have a LOT of block designs in my Wed Sew alongs with full quilt version in the block pattern. That is where these will get used. 

5" squares are charm packs.. right?  

PERFECT for many quilts!

I have been sewing my 'low volumne' 2.5" squares into 6 x 6 blocks for a full size bed quilt.

I am SO excited about this one that I've done several!

I'm keeping 3 small shoeboxes.. and the 2 large ones.. that... is it.

Once you cut up the fabric it takes so much less space then when you throw it in a bag.. I'm so amazed by that!

Tell me

What are you doing with YOUR scraps?

And click to my FREE PATTERN PAGE for 2 free pieced patterns using 2.5" squares and one using Charm and more!