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
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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, of course! The quilter in me wants to use every bit, and the appliqué artist in me enables her by saying “it’s big enough for a flower petal or a bird’s eye…”
Love all that you do. So much fun.
I save loads of scraps. What a great idea book to use them!
I printed out your in the summertime quilt giveaway. I wanted to use up some scraps. I made two blocks got frustrated and put it away. Then I started a postage stamp block,got frustrated with that and put it away….. I’ve been looking at this Bonnie Hunter book for awhile now….. I really need some inspiration. I also made Pat’s star quilt for my mom. She loved it.
Oh yes, I have scraps. Somehow saving scraps morphed into hoarding scraps in my sewing room. I have admired Bonnie Hunter’s quilts for years and need to tackle one of her patterns soon so I can liberate space and have a fun new scrap quilt to enjoy.
I definitely save scraps, almost to the overwhelming part! But I love to sew so all good.
I save every little scrap, but am never sure what to do with them. I have totes full and all colors
I do save scraps & also have a large collection of fabric! This book would help me not only clear up my stash, but also give me a chance for giving away some great holiday gifts & charity quilts.
I have loads of scraps and I love making scrappy quilts.
I save my scraps, and have them sorted into boxes by color, but haven’t decided how to use them, yet – this book would help! 🙂
What a silly question, LOL! I cut my scraps into standard size pieces and store them in plastic bins on my bookshelf. I have bins for squares, rectangles and cut-off triangles. I haven’t really gotten into string piecing, but now that I see the results, I just might have to start. Oh, no! Another obsession!
Hi Pat ! I save my left overs for string quilts. My Mom made crazy quilts with her leftovers.
I have lots scraps and make scrappy quilts.
I not only save my scraps, but receive them from other quilters. Once they find out that I make scrap quilts, they are happy to find a home for their scraps. I find them sitting on my doorstep, receive them in the mail, and collect bags of them at quilt retreats. I have enough that I can offer to share them with other scrap quilters who need a certain color for a project. I have been a Bonnie fan for a long time!
My strings are all jumbled together, looks like a great way to spend a rainy Sunday a.m, sorting them into colors1 So excited to see all of these strippy creations!
I have scraps! It’s a game for me to see how little of a scrap I can attach to some other scrap and eventually sew it into something beautiful. I sew a lot of lap quilts since my father and stepmother are in a nursing home now. I love seeing their faces light up when they see another of my lap quilts tooling around the nursing home halls.
I started saving my scraps after seeing so many beautiful scrap quilts online. I have quite a collection now.
You would think I lived through the Depression Era since I save all sorts of scraps. I organize them into strip colors, 4 1/2″, 5″, 2″ & 2 1/2″ squares. Then there are helter skelter pieces.
Wow. I didn’t realize what could be done with scraps but will be saving from now on.
Scraps are my life, I donate many quilts and scraps make it possiable
I have so many scraps and I can’t stop collecting more.
Yes, I save scraps, down to even the smallest. I have never had any idea on how to use them, until now. Bonnie Hunter’s scrap quilts and the string quilts I believe will be just the ticket to use them up 😊
Scraps are my favorite kind of fabric, because they feel “free”. I don’t worry about somehow ruining or wasting them, so it’s easier to take the plunge and just play!
I save most scraps. I also look for ways to use them. This book looks like a terrific idea packed need!
You betcha I save scraps. Been saving them a long time, but still only have one lonely plastic box. As you can tell, I use them up faster than I can make them. 😉
I love making scrappy quilts. I have used strings to make a quilt but didn’t think to use anything but the strings. What a difference snowballing the corners makes! I would love to have this book to see what else is inside.
Oh my gosh…….I feel like I am a scrap hoarder and I have no clue what or how to put them together. I thought about just giving them away but I can’t seem to let them go.
Maybe this will inspire me!
I have scraps – finally! I am a newish quilter and I have had to make a few scrappy quilts out of yardage to accumulate enough scraps to make a scrappy quilt. Nothing gets wasted anymore!
Yes, I have scraps. I am currently working on a paper pieced table topper for Spring. I find paper piecing to be a great way to use scraps.
I have so many scraps, this would be great. Thanks,
I do save scraps. I have used them in several quilts and am currently using some in a lender/ender frome Bonnie’s.
The short answer: I save scraps. The longer answer: I save them AND I use them. I’ve been a Bonnie Hunter fan for years.
Of course anyone that sews or quilts has way too many scraps. I would love Bonnie Hunters book for scrap quilt ideas!
I am a scrap saving queen! I love sewing with small pieces and string piecing is addicting.
Oh my goodness, yes I have scraps! I save mine and scrounge them from my friends. Just can’t stand to see them wasted. And I use them too, although they are getting ahead of me! This book is just what I need. Thank you for the chance to win.
Do I save scraps! Ha! I save each and every little piece. You never know when you’re going to need a one inch square of that that fabric you have in your scrap bin. I love scraps and scrap quilts. You can never have enough.
I teach quilting to a few ladies, and one of the things i keep stressing is the use of tonals as a solid. if the design is not to large, treat it as a solid. I like the idea of the string or scrappy that you work on when working with other projects. I had never thought of it until I watched your last pod or fireside cast. I thought, what a great way to use up scraps. thank you for the ideas.
Have lots of scraps!, love scrap quilts!
Yep, I save scraps at home, at retreats, at guild meetings, etc.
I love using my scraps for scrap quilts and collages. Thanks for the tip of stripy small blocks.
I do save scraps! In fact I saved them before I knew it was socially acceptable! lol I’m so happy for all of the great scrap quilters out there who encourage us to save our scraps and show us all kinds of beautiful ways to use them up so we can save some more!
Nancy
eddnancy@msn,com
Yes I have scraps! Love the ideas in this book!
Yes I save my scraps and Bonnie’s book would motivate me to start using scraps. Thanks
djcutting2(at)gmail(dot)com
Pat, YES I save scraps. Problem is I never know where to start to make blocks with them, what pattern, how to sort them into colorways. I want to make a string quilt, have saved many skinny scraps, give some away, and have got to start making them.. I love seeing yours and Bonnies!!!
of course i save scraps and selvages. always for a someday
I love Bonnie and all her books & patterns! I’m slowly taming all my scraps & putting them into her Scrap Using System!
Ooh who doesn’t save scraps? I have a small plastic bucket that I put all my scraps in. When that bucket gets full, I make scrappy blocks. I throw a lap quilt together of scrappy blocks & donate it to a nursing home or rehab for the elderly.
I also use my scrap salvage to makr fabric rope for tying up my handmade gifts.
My saved scraps have piled up though the years, after taking a Bonnie Hunter class in Casper WY. Last year I received an accuquilt go big and took months to cutting tubs of them up using Bonnie Hunter’s scrap savers method. My favorite die is the strip cutter and making the string blocks using the larger pages from investment yearly reports. They can then be used to cut different sizes.
I keep all my scraps, even as small as a 1 inch square. I have done a crumb quilt and a couple scrappy quilts, some with big layouts some with small. For some reason scrap quilts, bring me a warmth of nostalgia, they always Remind me of days gone by, when all the quilts I remember were scrappy. Love it
Sorry for my typo above I meant to say inspired. 🙂