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 have always saved my scraps, including selvedges I’m hoping to make a string quilt soon! I love your blocks so pretty!
I have a sack of scraps just for string blocks. I have one in progress using only 30’s fabric and another top finished with assorted darks. I need to get the backing pieced so I can get it off to the quilter. Like your idea of using the neutrals!
I love collecting my scraps and saving the but I never use them! I have been inspired by this post.
I save the scraps, always! Enjoy your day! angielovesgary2 atgmail dotcom
I’ve been the recipient of others scraps and I save my own as well. I cringe when I see scraps in the trash. I’ve admired Bonnie’s scrap quilts. They are the best!!
Yes, I save scraps!
I’m sure my scraps are in a breeding frenzy. Frisky little bugga’s I need to stitch them together to stop their shinahenegins. Bonnie’s book would be a great inspiration to get this done. Ps. I heard they don’t multiply when sewen together. 😆😆😆
I have saved all sorts of colors and sizes of scraps! I absolutely love the way Bonnie divides them out by size and color. Makes it very easy to start on a project when things are already cut. Thanks for sharing in this giveaway
I do save all my scraps. Have been making some pincushions but I have lots more to use up on a project.
Love Bonnie Hunter and I have way too many scraps!
Time to sew up some strings!!!!!!
Pat,
When I purchased fabric whether it be a fat quarter or many yards, it is an investment especially with the cost of fabrics today. So “YES” I save every bit of it…most of thought is I bought the fabric because I really loved it…and when you see that scrap in a new “Scrap Project” I have the great memory of the wonderful project I created with the original fabric….A scrap lives on and on and on It is inspiring to see so many creative scrap projects…it keeps me sewing and enjoying the feeling I didn’t just throw it away..
I safe all my scraps, can’t seem to throw any away, even if they are a bit small.
Yes, I save scraps! I save everything! Pat and Bonnie are two of my favorite designers. They keep me busy!
I most definitely save scraps!! I can’t make myself waste any fabrics!
Yes I have scraps and I have begun to cut up remaining fabric after project is complete. Depending on what size is left, I cut either squares or strips! Awesome technique to using fabric to it’s fullest and making new creations ♥️
Paquilter5396@gmail.com
I have two large bins of scraps! I just need to take time to cut them into something useful.
Boy do I ever have scraps!!!! I have boxes and boxes of scraps just waiting to be used in scrappy quilts.
Yes I save scraps and I use them regularly. I love scrappy quilts!
I love scrappy quilts the most! What pretty fabrics you use!
Yes, I have scraps in all sizes and colors I love. They are unused and waiting on an idea.
I am a new quilter and am saving scraps like crazy. I love quilting and wish I would have started sooner. Thank you. Deb
I have saved selvage sand scraps. I hate opening some closets. I need to begin a scrap quilt. Help me!😉
I save scraps and sometimes I actually use them, especially for collage or scrappy small quilts.
I am so like others with LOTS of scraps! Did start to trim the Bonnie Hunter way and this is a big help for future projects-I recommend it!
Love those pumpkins!
gosh!! who doesn’t have scraps? especially the ones that are too good to use just any old where. I absolutely need this book.
Love saving my scraps. Every quilt becomes a memory for me
My sister and I have combined our scraps and we are making scrap quilts this year. Making progress!
I love scraps and all of the creative ideas for using them from Bonnie.
Yes, I’m using my scraps now for a “Scrap Vortex” quilt and am having sooooo much fun with it! ! !
I SAVE LOTS OF SCRAPS! Have tubs and piles. String piecing is a simple way to just relax and see…amazing how much fabric you can build in an hour!
USe to save them all, now just the larger ones.
I save all size scraps! I have been sewing Bonnie quilts for the past 10 years.
I have lots of scraps and enjoy using them in many projects
I have boxes overflowing with scraps, and it doesn’t seem to get any smaller no matter what I make!
Oh yes I save my scraps…
I’ve been using Bonnie’s Scrap User’s System for many years now, and I find it very helpful to be able to pull strips and squares in my needed sizes when I start a new project. She’s such an inspiration!
Oh heavens YES I save scraps!!
Lots of scrapy scraps here. Some of the fabrics are like old friends I can remember quilts and projects they were in. very difficult to part with the last bits.
I love working with scraps. I repair vintage quilts for people and my scrapes of vintage fabrics are very dear to me. I also paper piece and use lots of scraps with that. Sometimes it’s a surprise what you find in your scrap pile.
I’ve been saving all my scraps. I’ve got a couple phone books so I can do a strip quilt. Maybe a wild and goost quilt. Fabric is too valuable to just throw pieces away!!!!
I save my scraps by sizes of strips and squares.
I love scraps and bonnie hunter’s book. I love the indigo pattern too and am presently making it. So glad you are having this quilt along.
I have a wall of scraps! I use Scrap Therapy’s Cut the Scraps! A Wonderful way to conquer your overload of scraps!
I have lots of scraps! Last year I used mostly scraps to make 5 quilts. However I think I have more scraps now than I started with!! How can this be!??😉
I have few scraps as I am a relatively new quilter. But I’ve bought many scraps at estate sales to get my ball rolling.
I LOVE scraps…I sort mine the Bonnie Hunter way and love going back and finding bits and pieces to add to quilts as I go along…so much fun… I usually make quilt #2 from the scraps of quilt#1 which probably has a totally different look. Only the colours make them siblings….I’m presently making “What Was I Thinking#2” from the flying geese rectangles from “What Was I Thinking #1”., and I’m not fond of triangles! WHAT WAS I THINKING? Scraps are the quilt that need to be made!
I have a ton of scraps
I save scraps! I have a bin that sits under my cutting table for scraps and “off cuts”. When the bin gets full I use my Accuquilt Cutter and dies and precursor squares, triangles, rectangles and strips that get sorted in to my pizza box storage system. When the pizza box is getting full I have to do a scrappy project to empty the box which often means emptying 2 or 3 boxes or bins so that I can start saving all over again! Win! Win!
Yes, I save scraps and strings and need to do something with them! 🙂