When I was asked to share my good friend Bonnie Hunter's Book 'String Frenzy' during her book tour I said heck yes! I've been sewing strips of extra fabric, strings of fabric, together for many years.
Bonnie has such a wonderful eye for combining scraps into very effective quilts! You will love her book. So let's see what I selected to work on.
** BUY a String Frenzy for 20% off! **
I decided that I have a LOT of neutrals that are just not getting used. Some are pretty big pieces, others are 1/2 a layer cake square, or a part of a fat quarter that was left.
I decided that Bonnie's gorgeous 'Indigo-a-Go-Go' would use up the most lights. She make this quilt to use her African Indygo prints. It really stretched those into a full size quilt with this pattern!
I've been making these type of strip units almost since I started quilting. I did one great big project that was part of a challenge and then toured to different shows a few yrs ago. It's very zen like to sew strips like this, I really love it! Another reason I was drawn to this quilt was the fact that I got to sew these units.
Because I want my strips to stay in the background, I'm using fabrics that read tonal and don't have a lot of other colors in them
Article continues below this Ad
As I had left over strips, I sew units to it to be used in the next strip unit, see below, it is an excellent way to use up leftovers!
I am EXCITED to use that strip of 'An American In Paris', I've had it awhile.
I decided to go with the pinky/red Figtree and the aqua Figtree fabrics. I have quite a bit of each and love them as a combo.
Lay out all the blocks so you like the placement.
Note that the direction of the strips in the aqua blocks. Some are horizontal and some vertical string placement.
This little surprise is why I love doing these type of quilts!
I have the top of my office assistant loaded up with this project. That way I can pull it up next to my Baby lock Solaris!
See how nice my Koala Studio table is, I love that my machine sits flush with the top and I have a comfy Koala chair to sit in.
I've decided the best way to do this is to make these 9-patch blocks.
I'll mix and match the red and aqua in the blocks so that when I set them the Figtree fabrics will be scattered around. And it's more motivating to me to sew these big 9-patch blocks as I go rather than waiting until the end.
The book has 12 quilts and tips of how to use your scraps. I love Bonnie's stories about each quilt too!
This is another of my favorites in her book, the pumpkin patch.. do you have a lot of orange to use up?
And Dawn's Early Light is so gorgeous with red/white & blue.
** BUY yourself String Frenzy, you'll love it! **
GIVEAWAY – Leave me a comment telling me
Do you save scraps?
leave the comment by 6pm April 11.
Winner is Nancy P who said "Yes I save my scraps, but now I have added saving scrap squares – thank you Pat Sloan. After being inspired by you, I now have baskets of 2, 2 1/2, 3 and 4 inch scrap fabric squares."
Book Tour:
- Friday, 4/5: C&T Publishing at ctpub.com/blog
- Saturday, 4/6: Pat Sloan at ilovetomakequilts.com
- Sunday, 4/7: Sandra Clemons at makeitblossomdesigns.com
- Monday, 4/8: Susan Arnold at quiltfabrication.com
- Tuesday, 4/9: Bernie Kringel at needleandfoot.com
- Wednesday, 4/10: Bonnie Hunter at quiltville.blogspot.com
CLICK to read the legal sweepstakes stuff I'm required to tell you.
895 Responses
I save scraps!
Oh yes I save scraps! Probably too many. I’ve only made a fabric bowl with the covered clothesline. I think quilts have more “personality” when made with scraps.
I have a big bag of scrap fabric and I’ve been wondering what to do with it, I need look no longer you have found the solution for me hurrah thank you
The Bonnie Hunter scrap savers system is great.
I have been saving scraps and plan to make a scrap quilt or at least a table topper-runner.
Yes, I definitely save my scraps.
Just need to use them! 🙂
I read about Bonnie’s scrap saver system soon after I began quilting about 5 years ago and have lots of strips now. I’m ready to start using them and would love to win this book!
Love the scrappy look.
I love scrappy quilts, my scrap stash is growing and now think I have enough to make one of Bonnie Hunters patterns.
I am especially attracted to string quilts so would love a copy of her new book. Thank you!
I Learned to love and control and save my scraps after I took a shirt tales class from Bonnie Hunter in 2010. Now I am using scraps to make the splendid sampler blocks too. It is like “free Fabric”!
I save scraps and use them.
It is all so overwhelming! Thank you for breaking it down. Bought the Trixie fat quarter bundle… so cute!
I have tons of scraps and love the depth and variety using scraps gives a quilt. I love making quilts from Bonnie’s books!
Happy to keep a scrap bin.
Yes I save my scraps. I am currently working on two scrap quilts and have finished one late last year. I do like working with scraps.
I save scraps. I save anything that is 1 inch and bigger, though I have been trying to use up a lot of the smallest pieces and embrace Bonnie Hunter scrap saver system (I don’t think it will work for me). I have a bunch of crazy quilt blocks and wonky log cabin type blocks now and still loads of scraps.
I have lots of scraps.
Not only do I love my scraps, I also love everybody’s scraps! Thank you for a chance to win String Frenzy!
Yes, i save scraps~i never had any real plans for them until i started watching your chats. now i have a plan brewing for those lovely scraps!
Yes, I have scraps. Between my mother-in-law and myself we keep them used up.
I have a lot of scraps! I am addicted to quilting and have accumulated boxes and containers of scraps.
Yes, I save and use scraps. Right now I am using Civil War reproduction scraps to make tiny 9-patches from 1.25 inch squares. They are addictive, as you can make a whole block from 2 strips, 1.25 inch by 7 inches!
I love using my scraps for quilts.
Our Guild is doing a scrappy block exchange over the next 6 months!
Yes I save scraps. Can’t stand to throw anything away!
Yes I have scraps but not as organized as yours. Winning Bonnie’s book would be a big help in getting started.
I save scraps, even teeny ones. I use them frequently to make entire quilts. I used scraps for Splendid Sampler 1 and still have enough to do Splendid Sampler 2.
Oh yes, I save scraps – always! Everything that is bigger than two seam allowances will be put into a box, separated into different shapes.
Yes, yes, yes I have scraps! And every other imaginable size of fabric piece as well. I could really use this book. Thanks for a chance to win!!
Scrap quilts are my favorite!
Do I have scraps! Boy do I! I keep making Bonnie Hunters scrap quilts and I always seem to have more. Loving scrap quilts.
I LOVE scrap quilts! I sew all my pieces together to make new yardage to use in my next project. It adds a lot of interest, and makes room to buy more fabric! Bonnie’s quilts are all beautiful!
I love scrappy quilts. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to win. Love your quilts too.
I have a large Rubbermaid tub of older scraps and a bin full of scraps from newer projects. I used my scraps for Bonnie’s Good Fortune Quilt-along.
Yes, I have saved scraps all my life. I made all of my quilts when I was a kid from Mom’s scrap box.
Do I save scraps…..OH, YEAH! And I am so fortunate as to have friends who give me their scraps, rather than toss them. I love string piecing and scrap quilting.
Lord yes, I keep scraps!!! One of the first articles I read when I began quilting was from Bonnie Hunter about leaders and enders. After my first project, I saved those triangles and made bonus HST and made the cutest table runner with them. I was hooked! 🙂
I save scraps!
Yes! I save all my scraps and they come in handy!
I have made several Bonnie Hunter pattern scrappy quilts! My friends save scraps for me too!
I did not think I had many scraps until I started to clean up my sewing room and found many shoe boxes with scraps. Thank goodness I am taking a class this summer with Bonnie Hunter and I will learn how to use these up.
kinda new to quilting so i dont have many scraps yet buy im saving and cant wait to do my first string scrappy quilt
Scraps, yes. I either use them or give them to a friend.
I love scrap quilts!
I use Bonnie’s Scrap User’s System to save my left-over fabrics from quilts.