Take Two: Scraps

I always go through the scraps box and look through the pieces and have an idea of what scarps I have. Sometimes,  I might have more blue in the box for the period of the time due to the projects that I work on or sometimes I might have more red! It is random for me. 

Often time I would cut off some of the large pieces then addition to the small scraps. Most of the time I use them for larger patchwork area.  I often look in my fat quarter drawers to find the additional colors that I need.


I always start with smallest pieces and patch them together. Shown above image, the smallest piece is less than 1" square then I start finding corresponding colors and scraps together.  I prefer press the back seam as I go with my project, so I have my iron and ironing board on when I am sewing. It always gives nice and flat for the blocks.

What do I mean corresponding colors and scraps? For example: light/ dark, warm color schemes and cool color schemes. Dots, cycles, shapes. etc.  Then I would add one color that's odd among the others. The reason is to get off the harmonized visual pleasing. Sometimes, it works well on certain project.


Scraps batting are the best for the patchwork projects!! I have been saving all the quilt batting that trimmed off from the quilts that I made. Some are 4" wide and some are 20 inches wide. I keep them in a bag then I would go through them when I made little zippered pouches, coasters, or anything that doesn't acquire large batting. 

 

Remember the batting will get a little smaller due to your quilting. It is about 1/4" smaller or so! I must be very honest with you that I never plan my patchwork tote size. I just sew as I go! Sometimes I make a few then realize it is big enough. It is never hurt if you like the patchwork project for using your scraps up!

{back} 

Example for the small batting pieces. The smallest quilting piece on the center top is 3"x4".  Originally I made 10 patchwork pieces. So when I patch these small patchwork together then it gives a different look then one small patchwork.

{front}

As you can see the front pieces have a new arranged composition. It creates more dynamic look. Again, play around your idea and put these small patches next to each other and see how these small patches works for you.  The sizes doesn't need to be perfect, I'd say play with your colors then you can decided if you prefect even block look or uneven block look.

 

Unlike the small patches. This is a whole piece of larger batting that I made on the other side of the {patchwork tote}.  On this large batting what I have done is use a darker fabric as my focal point then I added lighter fabric to bring out the contrast then added darker fabric around it. It is a wonky log cabinet block. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Take One: Fabric 

xxC

Take One: Fabric

As a promise, I would like to show you the steps of how I make the {patchwork tote edition} and {patchwork tote}. There will be a several posts about this process and please excuse me if anything that confuses you. Please let me know! Today I would  like to talk about about my fabric stashes and will share some of my own experiences with you.  We all have different taste about fabric colors, prints on fabric, texture on the fabric and that's what make sewing, quilting and patchwork fun and individual!  It took me a couple of years to find me own colors, prints, and texture that works for me! There are much money went wasted and mistake that I learned. As you can see that I bought small plastic shoes container for my small cut fabrics.  The one above is where I store my larger scraps. Those scraps are larger then 2"x2" or longer strips. Sometimes, I made larger binding strips they went in this container as well! I used these for my {patchwork} and smaller pieces are in the bowls where sets randomly. These small tiny pieces sometimes is less than 1"x1", but when you have 10 of these small pieces then you can patch them together and roughly you will get a good 5"x5" larger pieces. Save your mini scarps! Sometimes it is annoying, but they are great for the patchwork and comes so handy! I try to keep my scraps low, but once I need more bowls on the table I will start patching them together and sometimes just save the patchwork for something else later!

Last summer when I started the {Farmer's Wife Quilt along} project. I had such hard time to cut of my 1/2 yard and full yard fabric for small squares! Later on, I discovered the fat quarters works well with small cuts and irregular cuts. I went through my yardage then cut some of the fabric into fat quarters. I kept one fat quarter in my drawer that next to my sewing table. It has been working very well for me. I sort them by colors, but not the best arrangement for each hue.  It helps me to go pick out the fabric for the project quickly and I won't feel bad about cutting them! Sometimes, I would just purchase fat quarters for small projects. I like to think these fabric as playing fabric!  Then I keep my full yardage fabric aside for quilts, bag linings, clothes making, etc.

I found my colors are retro and involved with reproduction print and simple. I love large prints for a long time, but recently I have discovered that any of my large print won't go well with { paper piecing} project that I am working on now. I began to look for some small prints lately!

I also found {Suzuko Koskei}'s retro and vibrate color scheme works well with my stashes. They are amazing nice and the texture is so nice! I have been collecting these {button charts} and hope to find the rest of colors.  My personal experiences is sometimes patchwork needs a little off  traditional colors and adds some dynamic color to highly and give color contrast to the patchwork.

The Old and new prints at the same time help give good contrast on the colors.  For example: floral print v.s. simple large prints. The floral print will be highly from it! {do I make sense here?}

Some of these novelty prints adds the cuteness to the patchwork as well. You, as a designer also can give a theme to you patchwork: sewing theme, children theme, animal themes, floral theme, etc. This would allow you to expend your ideas and give you something to start with.

Collecting  fabric is madness! I have been saving these 30's reproduction prints for a future quilt! These are all in fat quarters.  Again, the retro color and prints for my stashes!  I hope in a few years, I will go off my color scheme and try something different.

When I purchased fabric. I get half yard for the bundle then again I gut them into fat quarters. These are just great for playing with patchwork and paper piecing projects.

When I start with my patchwork,  first I look into my scrap box. I don't sort my scraps into colors. It helps to randomly pick out and not need to have second though about it. 

Overall,  any fabric scarps you have from your scrap box will be wonderful for any patchwork projects! I shall get back soon and share { take two} in next few days! 

xxC

Tutorial: { Patchwork Tote Edition}

 {Take One} fabric

{Take Two} scraps

{Take Three} production & quilting

{Take Four} assembling

{Take Five} materials & tools

Finally our home is quiet and I made myself a cup of tea at this quiet night! Editing some images. We sure had a busy day today! Changing the sheets in the bedroom and also get our summer quilts out and have many need to be wash and put away. A few quilts need to get started soon here! Lots planing and making are happening this weekend! The weather has bee perfect for us!  My new {patchwork tote} finished on Saturday! I am so pleased with the leather straps for the handles. I went to the local leather shop and was able to pick some up! It is new for me to use leather for sewing! Leather has a harder texture look, but it really gives nice contrast to the fabric well. As you might still remember my {scrappy patchwork post} I patched all the scraps together and additional some large scrap pieces. I really enjoy the patchwork process more than another other project. It is work as you go type of process! The patchwork come really random and it gives the simple look to it!

+I use Penny's quilt as you go method of the quilting part. The used the simple bag pattern for this tote. As you can see the smallest scrap is less than an 1".

When sewn the pieces into the tote shape and I realized the size is very long. I really debt if should keep it or I should  down size it.  I cut 3" from the top off { my heart was shocking!} I didn't wanted waste any of these cut of patchwork, so I took them apart again.
 

I patched them again then taken them apart again { I can't really tell you what I was thinking at that time, but I knew something didnot go right}.

Then used last patchwork and made it into a {patchwork zippered pouch}. I love it!!  It is a very good size and will be great for anything....

This is my newest {patchwork tote}. I used the bias binding for this tote and last {patchwork handbag}. The lining was iron on interfacing. It helps to stabilized the tote and added a little weight on it. I plan to take off my first { patchwork tote} and redo the lining part. The first one didn't have any inner pockets or inner zippered pocket. It was very simple, but I never able to find my keys when I use it.

My scraps bowels are down to two. I also got a request from Stella this weekend. She asked if she can have a new bag that looks like grown ups. Well! I have a new task now! I plan on posting the bag in the next couple of  posts, so you might be interesting on how I work with patchwork.

xxC