Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Scrap Busting ~ An Irish Chain Quilt

Work in Progress Part 1
Scrap Busting ~ An Irish Chain Quilt | Work in Progress

A peek into what I have been up to this week! I have been thinking about cutting my fabric scraps into regular - and useful - size pieces for some time, and this week I have finally made a start. I also have a project in mind!

Scrap Busting ~ An Irish Chain Quilt | Work in Progress

I have two large scrap bins and both are overflowing with scraps of fabric in all shapes and sizes. I keep even the smallest scraps of fabric plus anything that doesn't neatly fold back into my fabric stash is also added to my scrap bins. I dig though these bins often and most of my quilts include fabrics that have been reclaimed from my scrap bins. 

Scrap Busting ~ An Irish Chain Quilt | Work in Progress

The regular digging through and turning over of these scraps has meant that many of the scraps were starting to look tatty, with tangled pieces of fabric and fraying edges. Not so pretty. It was definitely time for some organised scrap management. I therefore decided to cut my fabric scraps into 2 inch squares. Over a period of 3 days I methodically worked my way through the many pieces of fabric, cutting almost 2000 squares! Yikes, that's a lot of cutting.

Scrap Busting ~ An Irish Chain Quilt | Work in Progress | © Red Pepper Quilts 2017

I did have some help cutting the scraps. I have used a fabric cutter (Sizzix Big Shot) and a 2" die to cut the scraps. This was a huge time saver and at the same time ensures accuracy. Mind you any fabric square that looks like it has been fussy cut to feature a design has been cut with rotary cutter and ruler, and there are many of those! Of course I did not set out for this quilt to feature so many fussy cut fabrics but it was against my nature to cut those cute fabrics without thought to the design.

Scrap Busting ~ An Irish Chain Quilt | Work in Progress | © Red Pepper Quilts 2017
Scrap Busting ~ An Irish Chain Quilt | Work in Progress | © Red Pepper Quilts 2017

I am making good progress with my quilt! The design is a Scrappy Irish Chain Quilt not unlike my Irish Chain Scrap Buster Quilt made in 2015, although for this quilt I have up-sized the blocks  (9 rows of 9 squares). This quilt was inspired by a vintage quilt.

Scrap Busting ~ An Irish Chain Quilt | Work in Progress | © Red Pepper Quilts 2017
Scrap Busting ~ An Irish Chain Quilt | Work in Progress | © Red Pepper Quilts 2017

I was adamant that I would cut as many fabric squares as was needed for this project without having to go back and cut more. I am busy chain piecing the many units together and I am pleased to say that there will be squares left over! These will no doubt be put to good use - and will not be tipped back into my scrap bins!

Scrap Busting ~ An Irish Chain Quilt | Work in Progress | © Red Pepper Quilts 2017

This has already been such a satisfying project!

More soon,
Rita

RELEVANT LINKS:
Scrap Buster Irish Chain Quilt - Work in Progress - Part 2
Scrap Buster Irish Chain Quilt - The Finished Quilt  - Part 3 
Irish Chain Scrap Buster Quilt and Tutorial (July 2015)
Memoire A Paris Irish Chain Quilt (June 2016)
Red and White Irish Chain Quilt (January 2017)

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16 comments:

  1. It's hard work cutting scraps. I cut piano keys from my Civil War scraps this weekend and it took forever.

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  2. Only two bins of scraps? Your lucky! LOL!! Cutting them by machine would be a great help! I must have at least seven bins of scraps. I went thru some about 4 years ago and cut strips to make blocks for zig zag quilts. I must have make six hundred blocks and it didn't even make a dent in my scraps! Good for you to spend the time to tackle them before a third bin was started!

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  3. I don't have one of those cutting machines but I am on the same page with you when it comes to turning scraps into usable pieces. I have a good start on that but still have a long way to go! Good luck to you!

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  4. So glad to read you use a Sizzix! I have a Sizzix Big Shot Express and I love it so much. It is electric, so all my arthritic hands have to do is push a button. It is such a joy to use to get over that big hump of cutting, my least favorite aspect of quilting.

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  5. Your scraps are so bright and cheerful! Love it!

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  6. I love the idea of cutting 2-inch squares from scraps. After seeing a few dozen squares, I almost feel like cutting my stash fabrics into 2-inch squares as well. This is such a great size and can be used almost anywhere.

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  7. Some days it's like we are not in charge, but rather the fabric is the boss!!

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  8. Beautiful blocks! Please post the finished Quilt someday. I spent January and February evenings after work cutting my out of control bins of fabric scraps into multiple usable sizes. Wish I had thought about a sizzix lol.

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  9. Rita, what a great idea to use the scraps as background and then the red and white. Its very nice. When we purchase your quilts where do they ship from ? Are you in the US??

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  10. After I used my scraps for log cabin style table mats, (which turned into table toppers and cat mats for our vetrenarian) the scrap fairy (me) gave my mom a box of scraps for Christmas. She is currently trying to use up her scraps for string quilts and having lots of fun. :) I always love your scrappy inspriration!

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  11. I have been lurking in the background watching your blog for years. I am so impressed with your projects. I scrap quilt also, but my question is the pressing of your seams. They always seem so crisp when you show your blocks do you have a secret method to pressing? Keep us inspired. Chris

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  12. So pretty - love each and every square that you put into your quilts. I'm always amazed at the exactness of your seams. Beautiful!!

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  13. Rita, you are incredible and so very very inspiring.
    I have so many bins of scraps. One day.

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  14. I plan on doing this to one of my scrap bins next week! We are out for spring break so a whole week to cut & sew, yay! I also have a bin for strips to do a strip quilt.

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  15. Scrap quilts are my absolute favourite and Irish Chain makes it even better. I can't wait to see the end result. Oh and it you ever have a scrap busting give-away I'll be at the top of the list. I so much love your cute fabrics.

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  16. Your scraps are so beautiful .Looking forward your quilt!

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