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
yes i have many many scraps, love them
I have LOTS of scraps! I am doing the ‘heart string’ block in hopes of making twin quilts for a local Jeremiah Program for young single mothers. It’s fun to see fabrics from my stash from long ago!
Working on having a more organized scrappy storage system. And yes I do have BH Scrap System but fail to cut and organize after each project.
I have scraps and have started following Bonnie’s system for dealing with them. I would like to make the Mackinac quilt in this book. I’m from Michigan nuff said!
I have scraps and i love the idea of starting and ending with the scrap blocks while working on new projects. How did I not know this before!!!!
I have a couple of bags of scraps! Need to get a good idea how to use them up. This would be a perfect book for me to win!
I love scraps! I have them in every size, the smallest for my
1/4” EPP hexagons. I’m addicted ;-D
usairdoll (at) gmail (dot) com
Do I have scraps, more than I know what to do with. I have started cutting my fabric leftovers into different sizes from 11/2” and up to the largest piece I can get. I’m working on a scrappy quilt right now. It is a Leah Day quilt along.
Scraps!? I have soooo many scraps – and I’d love to have your copy of Bonnie’s book, double cool!!
I save EVERYTHING! Have been using a lot of my smaller stuff for the Splendid Sampler 2.
I am hopeless when it comes to saving scraps. Even the smallest ones I have a problem just throwing away. I love fabric.
I have tons of scraps in need of taming! I love Bonnie’s designs, have tried many of her patterns.
I save my scraps and just started making string blocks. Great way to use up little pieces! I sew them onto a square of neutral fabric.
I would sew ❤️ To win this book, sew I don’t have to buy it!
I’m great at saving scraps and trying to get better about using them!
Yes, I save scraps, and love to sew small quilts as well as big ones. At retreat I was pulling out scraps from the trash that a friend threw away. Just need more storage for all of it, but love them.
I have been recently asked to make two Scrappy quilts and have never done one because I have a hard time coordinating fabrics the book looks like just what I need. Thanks for all the time and effort you put into your websites so we all can learn something.
I do save scraps, but tend to toss the tiniest pieces in the trash. But I read recently about adding bits of fabric scraps, or lace scraps or such onto letters or cards you send. Since I write to my friend in France monthly, I am saving small bits to add to her letters – as a decorative border- along with the stickers I usually put on them…. It lets her see the fabrics I have been working with.
I was at a quilt retreat last weekend and went trash can diving. I had to reprimand the ladies for throwing away perfectly good fabric. I put a plastic bag on my table and told them to drop their scraps there and I would decide what was useful or not.I came home with a good size bag.
I think scraps save themselves around here! They have a strong sense of survival and keep perpetuating themselves, don’t they?
Pat, I have scraps out the ying-yang! I’m hoping that I can learn how to use a lot of them up with string quilting. Not all are long enough or wide enough to use a template so I’m hoping to win the book. thanks
Yes I save anything over 1 inch big. I put them in a plastic zipper bag that my new sheets and blanket set came in. Works perfectly I use them when I do machine appliqué.
I have been following Bonnie for years and started saving my scraps after reading her tips on how to sort and store my stash. I just need to know what to do with them now!
I keep my scraps and anyone who will give them to me and make charity quilts with them
I love to save my scraps into a clear shoebox to use later for different projects like pin cushions or label in a finished quilt.
I have always saved my scraps and I have made several quilts from them.
Oh yes!! I have scraps!! They multiply with no extra help from me!…but I love them and can’t hardly throw any away. I love the ideas in this book, strip frenzy. Hope I win!! Thanks for the opportunity!
Bonnie changed my life with how I attack my scraps. Nothing gets tossed. Thank you Bonnie for your wonderful tips and knowledge.
You’ve given me the courage to use scraps bravely-thank you!
I recently made, and am now finishing, Bonnie’s “ Good Fortune”. Fun, fun, fun,
I try to save as many scraps as allowed by my tiny apartment and dear dh who puts up with my obsession! I use my scraps to make scrappy quilts for my kids and grand kids!
Do I have Scraps? Do I ever! In fact I have been saving them for a while. I’m looking forward to the end of this school year (two more weeks) to dive into re-organizing and sewing. Bonnie’s book looks like just the right inspiration.
Love scraps, but they Fluff when in use> some how they multiply!
I love scrap quilts! And Bonnie is the queen.This looks like such a great pattern and I really like your colour choice.
I’ve recently been saving my scraps and have just got to the point of having to separate them into colour ways. I’m loving making wonky blocks using tiny scraps and currently have 20 waiting to be made into a quilt. I love watching how both you and Bonnie have scrap snippets on the go as you sew other projects.
Thank you ever so kindly for this opportunity. An abundance of scraps to share into quilts for others just never ends. Tried and true designing would be ever so appreciated.
Yes, I save scraps. I fell in love with your green quilt that you made with small squares and now I am obsessed with saving scraps and using them for enders and leaders.
I have a hard time tossing any scrap. Wven tiny snippets can be used for quilter’s jelly.
Yes, I save scraps. Can’t bear to throw anything away, especially since you never know what you can use for applique.
I save scraps but don’t effectively use them. I really need to make this a priority …
I keep my scraps and use them in my quilts. I also love the scrap quilts that were made last century just shows how ingenious we are.
I save all my scraps and make charity quilts from them
Yes, I save scraps! You never know when you might need that little bit of a color for a project and they come in handy when doing applique!
More than “saving” scraps… I USE them, all of the time. I love Bonnie’s string quilts.
I have more scraps than I,ll ever use. The more I use–seems I get more to add to them. Love your colors. I have her books.
I love scraps. I save them for string quilts.
I love this idea of using up scraps
Oh lordy, do I have scraps. Yes, lots and lots.
I too love scraps and incorporating them
I pretty much save every thing bigger than a 1″ square. I love scraps!