Sunday, December 02, 2007

Stashbusting Sunday #2



In my last post I mentioned that my community started a quilting group this fall. It started every other week and is now every week. So, come Thursday morning - I have a quilty get together for a few hours with like-minded folks and even though we've only met a few times so far, I must say - I love it!!! This is the first time I've ever been able to go to any type of group for sewing in a loooong time.


This past week I didn't want to bring (i.e. LUG) my sewing machine so before Thursday I started pulling these fallish type fabrics from my stash and cutting 6" strips from each fabric... to make this Dresden Plate quilt with the icecream cone border! Here is a photo of the book too - I've mentioned this book before on my blog because I used the directions for my green ocean waves and also my red (in progress) ocean waves.









I've been wanting to make this Dresden quilt for a time now which is why I bought 5 yards of muslin at Marden's last trip - it was on the list!!! Most of my fabric that I cut for this top was just slightly over 6" in width, so this pretty much uses up that stack of fabrics - the remnants will get cut into 2" strips for the 2" strip bin - I still need to add a few more colors, but this got me off to a very good start! I used my quilt meeting time tracing the templates onto fabric. I was happy with my choice because it was easy to socialize as I traced. And as much as I love that dear son of mine, it sure is nice to have adult company once in awhile! This coming Thursday I will spend my time cutting the fabric out. I would ear mark this as my Thursday project, but Dec. 13th is our last meeting until after Christmas and chances are I will keep working on it at home once I get on a roll.
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A fun story about this fabric - some people in the group have absolutely NO stash. We are talking very limited budgets here and many of the quilters are TRUE scrap quilters - using blue jeans/cordoroy, old clothing and scraps from various things to make their quilts. Not everyone, mind you, but some people. I remember when I used to have NO fabric too. My sisters, Mom and Nana would give me their scraps and that is what I made some of my first quilts with. Some people just haven't quilted before so they don't have anything to start out with. One week I taught a lady how to thread her sewing machine and adjust the bobbin tension. Then, there are the quilters who have been in big groups, gone to lots of classes, have sizable stashes, etc. So, it is a fun mixture of skill levels and styles. But anyway, back to my story - one woman just loved, loved, loved my fabrics and asked if she could have any scraps if I had anything left over... you see... she wants to make a tea cup quilt and needs a 4"X6" piece of fabric for each teacup. JUST SO HAPPENS, that after tracing off the dresden blades, each 6" wide strip of fabric has about 5" left over - perfect, perfect, perfect for what she needs. So, when I go on Thursday I will give her those end pieces. So - that's about 30 different 6" strips of fabric, with a few more left to add- being put to use, by both myself and this other quilter.

11 comments:

Donna said...

Good plan for using up some stash! Aren't quilt groups great motivation to keep working on a project? I can't wait to see some finshed blocks.

Granny said...

Sounds like a great group and your quilt is going to be beautiful. I'd be happy to send some scraps for the lady's teacup quilt . . if you'd like.

Susan said...

I love the fabrics you are using. This will be so pretty. Are you sewing the plates by machine and then appliquéing by hand, or doing it all by machine? Or I guess you could be doing it all by hand. =)

Cher said...

you have done a wonderful job kicking off December! wonderful new stash busting project and I don't believe LB could smile any wider nor look any happier (other then when his dad comes home) either! As always the cooking you have been doing sounds yummy. I did a pork roast Saturday night too! Not such as good deal as you but it turned out well for the guests.

antique quilter said...

I love your fabric choices for your dresden plate quilt, a quilt I would love to make too. I have that book will have to pull it out.
I think it is so nice of you to share your fabrics with this quilter.
Good for you and she will be so thrilled I bet.
Kathie

loulee said...

Wow. You and little boy have had a busy few days. Your tree and your gingerbread house look great.
How sweet of you to give your scraps to someone else. I love the Dresden plate design, I'll be watching that one especially.

Mrs. Goodneedle said...

I don't think there are coincidences in life, it's all part of God's plan! I'm happy for you to have found this group and even happier for the ladies in the group that they found have YOU!

Doodlebug Gail said...

Sounds like you have a really nice group to hang out with. The colours for your Dresden Plate are so homely looking.

kcdi said...

Oh, that is a great story! She will be so thrilled when you give her the fabric pieces!

cityquilter grace said...

that book is one i have been lusting over at barnes & noble for some time; it's a terrific book with tons of great photos and gorgeous quilts; glad to see your DP and your beautiful bargello also

cityquilter grace

Mary Johnson said...

That's one of my favorite books.