Friday, April 12, 2019

"Scraps Rule"

(I MQ on a DSM).  This is the 3rd, finished project from the gifted, never ending box of scraps.  Projects 4, 5, and 6, are in process!!!  

DONE - I used my "stuck-in-the-house" time well (2 blizzards), finishing up this quilt, called "Scraps Rule".  I used rulers on the lights and free-motion quilting on the dark.  Opinion on ruler work ... ??? this is new to me, and it did slow my progress considerably, altho I got faster.  I bought one thick ruler just for this project, but used a traditional 2.5 x 6 in. ruler for the most part.  The MQ foot that I use glides, does not hop, so my traditional quilting ruler (thin) worked well.  I actually broke my expensive MQ ruler somehow, didn't break the needle, just the ruler!  ARGH !  I glued it back together and still wonder how it happened.  The machine quilting foot apparatus somehow came into contact with that thick ruler and WHAM BAM!!! so I'm guessing I put the thick ruler in the wrong place at the wrong time.  

The large triangles are 60 degrees, and the smaller triangles are made with the Tri-Recs ruler.  The quilt measures approx. 70" x 80".

The finished product is visually pleasing, altho my ruler work leaves much to be desired - no quilt show winner here, yet I consider it's completion an accomplishment, considering the lengthy practicing, rethreading, unsewing, sighs of frustration.  I also learned my machine does NOT like to sew in a backward direction when machine quilting.

Here's the back, again making use of stash fabric.  It's "almost" perfectly square. 

This was inspired by Quiltville.com, a free pattern, altho I always end up going in my own direction, once I get "the bug".  Thank you Bonnie Hunter for her fabulous, never-ending ideas. 

Tip on making a backing like this.  I used MSWord to make a graph with the required visual dimensions, then print it out, color in what squares I have to verify I have enuf of each value.  It's worthwhile to consider half squares around the borders. Of course you can just lay them out where they fall but I wanted a defined pattern.  Alternating lights and darks would also be cool, or a kind of Trip Around the World or .... and remember you can piece those backing squares as well, or use leftover blocks or ...

7 comments:

  1. Great looking quilt. The ruler work looks fine from what I can see from the picture.

    And, of course, anything new takes more time.

    I have a number of rulers but I have to get the "nerve" to use them. Because of my fear I am stuck in free motion meander mode.

    But I am thinking that I could make some smaller pieces for practice and if they come out looking ok I could use them for donations to animal shelters.

    Keep up the inspiration.

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  2. I like the ruler work! You are adventurous. Thanks for sharing your projects.

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  3. You really have made the most of that box of scraps! This looks wonderful.
    Oh, I am rarely so ambitious to make such a great backing. I really should, though, and use up more scraps!
    Your ruler work looks really good to me!

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  4. Great use of scraps! They look fabulous!

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  5. I think the quilt looks great! I don't think I would take the time to make such a cool backing as yours, but... never say never!

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  6. I like the strong contrast between the dark and light triangles. The border really enhances the overall setting. Are you using the ruler-work foot on your domestic machine? It's a different foot from the regular quilting foot, just as the rulers are different from those we use to cut fabric. I bought the Westalee set earlier this year but my sewing time has been completely consumed by other projects so I haven't even practiced.

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  7. Oh what a great quilt~!Soory you were snowed in - but yay for the snow ;-) ha ha

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