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 use scraps! I am currently working on Bonnie Hunter’s “Hunter’s String Star”. I just got a trash bag full of scraps from a friend to add to all my other stash. Just like shopping for free!! Thanks for giving us a chance to win!
I love saving scraps and the look of string piecing! Now I want to replace all large plain units with a string-pieced version.
I do save scraps. I need to get going using them.
Yes, I save scraps! I’ve made a few scrap quilts, but I need to make more! I love Bonnie’s patterns!
I save scraps and get scraps from friends sometimes. 🙂
I sure do have scraps! Bonnie is a genius but your detailed tips give me confidence that I can tackle this project! Thanks Pat!
Oh, yes! I certainly do save scraps and have used them in my projects.
I do have Scraps! I’ve been cutting them into 2 1/2″ squares to use on a Hip 2 Be Square quilt and Happy Little Wishes!! Bonnie’s new book looks amazing! I just had an epiphany!! Okay, I’m off to shop for some pink polka dot fabric for Happy little wishes!
Yes I have scraps. Sometimes they are pulled out by color, but mainly they are all together in two boxes. This book would be great to have. Thanks for the chance.
I love working with scraps and save EVERYTHING, including tiny dog ears which I use for fused confetti for art quilts. Thanks for the inspiring post!
Yes , I save scraps. I made quilts with blue. The scraps of those quilts show up in other quilts. Lots and lots of blue scraps.
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.
The past two months I spent cutting and preparing all of my scraps and bagged and sized them all. I LOVE SCRAPS!! I really want to use all my scraps in patchwork pstterns!! All the colors!!
I love your patterns! So fun 😍😍 can’t wit to try with my scraps!
Yes, I have many scraps! It’s time to use some of them!!
Drowning in scraps and relatively new to quilting!! Have heard and seen Bonnie’s new book, String Frenzy, and have begun cutting my scraps into sizes she has recommended. There is something to be said about sewing strips together. So very therapeutic!! And then to sew them into blocks is such a feeling of accomplishment especially when you know you have used scraps that I would have been discarding! Crazy, right?? Thank you Pat! Thank you Bonnie!
I love to saves scraps🤗
Yes I save scraps, I am overwhelmed by them, not really love them all. I follow BH & you and use scraps to make quilts from the leftovers from sewing Victoria’s Quilts and make more quilts out of the scraps from Victoria’s quilts. Life just goes on and on. Thanks for all you do.
I save scraps and everyone knows I do so I am often gifted with them. I am currently foundation paper piecing flying geese in a row of seven. Each goose finishes at 1″ x 2″ so teeny tiny neutral scraps work great for the wings. My plan is to make enough for sashing and then figure out what block design to place them on.
So many scraps! Can’t seem to let any small piece of fabric go. Haven’t decided what too small is yet… 🙂 Love your block.
I save all of my scraps. I have been saving the string sized scraps to make a rug. Your string blocks are so cute, I am going to try using them for string squares and blocks.
I have ALOT of scraps. I try to do 1 scrap quilt a year. However, its seems like I add more than I use. The mountain just keeps growing. I think someday my family may find me buried in my sewing room covered by scraps.
Ohhh, baby, do I save scraps!! Bins and bins in spite of making a concerted effort to use them regularly! Love Bonnie Hunter’s style as well as others’ . Thanks for the chance!
As a beginner quilter, I don’t have that many scraps, but I see it is growing fast.
Love scrap quilts. Still can’t quite make a dent in the scrap pile lol.
Yepper! I have scraps. I used the scraps from Fat Quarter Shop projects to make placemats and mug rugs.
bonnie is uber inspiring, no doubt about it…love your version of indygo-a-go-go! thanks for the giveaway…
I save all my scraps and all my friends’ scraps. I love to come up with things to do with them!
I save scraps and then wonder what to do with them. This book just might be the answer! Sometimes I save the tiniest scraps and put them in the middle of stuffed bears that I make. Love the colors you used.
Love this book. Inspiring to see different perspectives from other quilters I admire.
I love to save scraps. I am a Bonnie Hunter fan also.
I use Bonnie Hunters scrap system. I also save the bonus corners from my sew and flips. Ready made HSTs for another quilt. A time saver when you need to make that baby quilt on a tight deadline.
Yess I save my scraps.. happyness04431@yahoo.com
On my goodnessgoodness, it’s like everyone says…My scraps are multiplying every time I turn my back! My scraps even have scraps of their own lol.
I’ve been saving up scraps and couldn’t decide what to with them. Now I think I’ll will start making these string blocks. Is like to make each of my nieces and nephews quilts while I still can. This is the perfect idea for doing that.
I have a lot of scraps. I really love this idea that you shared on your Fireside chat. I will need some more lights/low volume prints. Lol. More shopping for me perhaps? Truly grateful to you Pat, for sharing your quilt wisdom with us each week. Happy sewing!🧵
OF COURSE I have scraps! I save the selvages in a large glass base that was a centerpiece at my brother’s wedding – good times and good scraps. I haven’t done anything with them yet, but getting ready to see what they can do!
I have a lot of scraps everywhere way to many
I have been sewing Bonnie quilts for 12 years now. Love her methods, especially leaders and Enders.
I only have a few scraps because I’m so new. I love other people’s scraps though (:
Yes! I have a lot even though I’m a new quilter. Would love to know what to do with them!!
YES! Love scraps and always trying to figure out where to get more 🙂
Yes–love to do something about them.
Love the use of neutrals! and it’s about time I actually did something with my scraps; still need to cut some of my new leftovers from 2 quilts for my girls.
Yes, I save all my scraps
The string book looks interesting. I’ve not done a string quilt but would like to. Hope I win a book
Save scraps? Oh, howdy, do I ever! I’ve got loads and though I use them in quilts, they seem to duplicate themselves and I end up with more than ever! Love to do the string piecing. (Just learned how at one of Bonnie’s workshops! )
Love? Yup! Obsession? Yup! My Mom made scrap quilts and I remember arranging the blocks on the floor as a little girl!! Scrap quilts are the best!!
I save my scraps but leave them inside the same fabric. That way if I need to cut up more of that fabric, I can sometimes use those smaller pieces first and not cut into the larger part of the fabric.
I save scraps, even ones to small to use. I save them to put in pet beds for cats and dogs,