Batik Scraps # 6 -Top finished!

Last Nov.  I decided I needed some more samples for my Scrap Strategies class so I pulled out one of my favorite Scrap Baskets;  the Batik Scraps Basket.  I started this top and two others and posted about it here.  It's a long post,  this top appears toward the end but it's interesting to see how each top takes shape.  I finished the other two tops awhile ago and just finished this one recently.

I like bar quilts a lot and it is a very easy way to construct a scrap quilt.  This quilt really grew into being a companion quilt for this earlier quilt that was one of the original quilts that got me started with my Scrap Strategies Class!

I changed the color of the solid bars to a color more complimentary to the predominant pinks in the newer quilt and decided to make the outer border asymetrical so their relative layouts are not exactly the same but the scrappy bars still give them the same flavor.

This method is so much fun I really enjoy the process it make the task of making class samples really easy!

Do you have a fun quilt process you go-to when you need a break from more demanding sewing projects?  

I hope your Summer is going well and you are having some fun sewing!!!

Cheers, CW

Japanese Fab Scraps

I'm linking this post to Scraptastic Tuesday (link button just to the right)  Check it out there are so many cool quilts out there!

I sort my scraps by color and sometimes by Theme (kid fab, batiks, sports, brights, Paris etc.)  I realised the other day that my scrap basket of Japanese /Asian fabs was getting rather full.  I have not to date used any of them.  I thought that might make a fun weekend project.

Here's how I start...

I put a bunch of the scraps from the basket on my design wall and start arranging them by colors, contrast etc whatever catches my eye that 'looks' good together.  Usually several potential projects emerge.  Then I sew these matches together and put them back on the wall.

I add and subtract from these units and group and regroup them.  You can see on the upper left are some stripy blocks that are the beginnings of the project in the first picture.  When I see that a group of units shaping up I start looking specifically for other strips that might go with...

Pretty soon I had 9 blocks.  The sewing is not fussy so it's really about the choosing and sorting not the mechanics.  

You can see there's still a lot of other stuff on the wall but one color scheme seems to predominate kind of in the center.  I removed all the 'noise' from the cream and red stuff and another project is taking shape. The removed scrappy units go back into the scrap basket for another day. 

This project will take a visit to my stash to fill in so it will not be strictly scraps.  But That's OK, I not a purist! lol

I think it will make a nice wall hanging!  

If you like abstract design you might try these techniques it is very freeing.  And really the scraps are free?!  It's just a matter of finding some play time!

How do you spend your sewing play time?

Cheers, CW