Another Scrappy Day

More playing with scraps today.

I roughly sort my scraps by size. The first size is "chunks" These are square, rectangular or odd shaped bits, usually under 3". These pieces can be sewn to other similar sized pieces to begin a block. I might sew two three, or more chunks together to start.

Then I go to the strip bin. Once again, strips are sorted by size, depending on their length. I sew short lengths to the "chunk" unit. I can add a shortish length to each of the sides of my chunk, log cabin style.

Usually I will pick out strips to sew and pin them to the blocks. I do this all at once, maybe while watching/listening to TV. I don't really do random, although you could. I like to select each piece

I chain piece all my added parts at once.

I have a box with Blocks-in-Progress. All the pieces that have been sewn to at least one other piece go here until they get big enough to be considered usable blocks. Usable size is anywhere from 6"-10" on a side.

So with my scraps and blocks I made a quilted baby bib. All from scraps and leftovers.

Bitsy Pieces

When I don't feel like doing any other kind of sewing, I can still enjoy playing with scraps.
I have bins of scraps in different shapes and sizes. I sew them together in ways that please or amuse me until they are big enough to be considered "blocks".

Scrap bins:

This is one of several boxes o' scraps

Scrap Blocks in Progress

I can make quilts or smaller objects.

Recently, I made a case for knitting needles.  I found six small (about 7") blocks that I liked with one another. I sewed them together to make a single piece of fabric that was about 13" x 19". I found a half yard of fabric that had been sitting unused in my stash for who knows how many years and used that for the backing.

Outlined blocks

I sandwiched together the scrappy piece, a batting scrap and the backing and quilted them together.
Then I trimmed the quilt to size: 18.5" x 12.5".

This picture shows the finished object, but I think you can see the quilting.

A needle case needs pockets. So, I found a piece of fabric with sun, moon and stars that was leftover from a failed border and made an inside pocket.

 

I also made a flap out of leftover backing fabric to cover the tops of my needles so they don't fall out. 

The whole thing folds and closes with a ribbon. 

Now I have three homemade needle cases: one for size 0-3, this one for size 4-7, and a bigger one for longer needles and sizes 8 and up.