I should have tossed them out in the current downsizing flurry, but I just couldn’t bring myself to part with them. They looked so bright and cheerful, scraps of fabric in vibrant hues and patterns, tumbling over the sides of their plastic bin.
So I made them into another child-sized quilt for the KU Marcia Burgess Autism Specific Early Learning & Care Centre.
I grouped strips of like colours together in threes and stitched them into 6.5 inch squares.
As you can see, I wasn’t too particular with my colour groupings, just aiming for the overall effect of blocks of similar colours.
It’s a real “I Spy” quilt, with balloons, bees, tea cups, snails and animals…
… a sailing boat, puppies, birds and giraffes, and even green peas!
The bright starry red backing adds extra sparkle, and I was happy with the way the royal blue binding framed the quilt and drew it all together.
Best of all, I didn’t have to go shopping for any fabric – just the batting. Everything was right there in my scrap bin and since I had bought most of these fabrics several years ago I call this a “free” quilt.
Have you ever made a “free” quilt?
How long do you have to keep a fabric before it becomes “free”?
PS Two lovely ladies, Mimi and Adrienne, have left encouraging comments on my blog lately , but sadly they’re “no reply” bloggers and I can’t thank them with an email, as I’d like to. I hope you’ll consider changing your settings, Mimi and Adrienne. I’d like to get to know you better 
I love how colourful it is -great work!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful way to use up your scraps!! That's a good question! I consider any scrap quilt I make as a free quilt, and since most of my quilts are made from scraps, they are all almost free!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun quilt.....and such a good use of scraps!
ReplyDeleteI can see bits of the quilt you made for Mum's 80th birthday! So joyful!
ReplyDeletelovely way to use up scraps!! I have so many I really need to make more baby quilts with them.
ReplyDeleteGreat kids scrap pattern, will be definitely trying it out with my out of control novelty stash. fabric becomes free once you no longer desire it in the cupboard or your tastes have changed!
ReplyDeletethat's a great scrap quilt! I've saved a pic in my "Zimbabwe quilt ideas" folder.
ReplyDeleteDi, this is so charming! What an easy way to use up pretty scraps! I wouldn't have been able to part with them either. You're so nice to have taken time out of your busy days to create this. Some child is going to LOVE this quilt to pieces! You did a wonderful thing.
ReplyDeleteLove your gorgeous bright happy quilt!!
ReplyDeleteGreat quilt! No scrap is too small!
ReplyDeleteI just looked at my scrap basket today and thought I need to do something with those - what a great idea! blessings, marlene
ReplyDeletegorgeous quilt. Any quilt I make from my stash these days I think of as free :) I try to not buy any fabric just because these days, although I sometimes give in. I am working on using up my stash! I have been working on my UFOs this year and am not allowed to purchase any fabric except to finish of one of them. Stuck to it pretty well apart from a couple of special baby quilts and a couple of special birthday quilts. I made my son's 21st birthday quilt from stash fabric... well I was going to make it all from there but then my husband said it needed to be bigger - to fit a queen bed no a wall hanging. So had to purchase extra fabric then....
ReplyDeletegorgeous quilts. Free quilts to me are any that I haven't had to go out and buy fabric for... so long as the fabric has been there a little while. This last 18 months I have been mainly been working on finishing off UFOs. I had heaps. I have also put myself on a fabric diet and only bought stuff I needed to finish off a quilt that I had on the go. I have started a few new projects... and finished them or getting close to for specific purposes like baby or birthday gifts. And banners for church
ReplyDeleteI love it, so bright and happy. Most of the quilts I make are free because I get donated fabric from our quilting group to "do something with"!
ReplyDeleteI love your quilt, I too cannot throw away scraps, your quilt is a great idea for those small pieces. Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteLove the bright colors and variety of fabrics!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful quilt...love all those bright colours.
ReplyDeleteHow long and wide did you cut the straps
ReplyDeleteThis made me smile. Bright, happy, useful and a great way to use my bag of already cut strips. Thank you :)
ReplyDeleteThis made me smile. Love the vibrant colours. Have a bag of cut strips that might have a purpose thanks to you. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat was the size of each strip?
ReplyDeletesew 3 strips together to make 6.5 inch square OR what works with the scraps you have
DeleteBeautiful quilt. I love scrap quilts.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad to see this. I wanted to make a throw or small quilt with scrapes from all the many cloth masks I made during the pandemic but have not gotten started yet. This shows me how to use the smaller narrow strips too. Thank you
ReplyDeleteI love you quilt....happy, happy, happy! I currently have 21 Ben's of scraps...not all large sizes...But I confess to having a serious fabric addiction. During the pandemic Quarantine I made 30 quilts. They are twin size and are going to the Methodists Children's Home in Macon GA. I did buy backing and some solids, but most of them are "free". Keep on quilting, Ladies, you never know who you will touch with the LOVE sewn in a quilt.
ReplyDeleteI love the colours and it's so easy. I have lots of scraps, so plenty of free quilts for charity. Thanks for the idea.
ReplyDelete