Wednesday, October 30, 2019

The Box is Empty!!!!

Last January I had a post about cleaning and organizing my cutting room. I showed you a picture of a box of 1-1/2" strings or strips or whatever you want to call them. I said that a challenge to myself in 2019 was to empty this box. And I wondered how many quilts were in the box?


I've sewn the last flimsy, which measures 63" by 81". This makes flimsy #8 which is also destined for the comforter bash. Most of the quilts I sewed were log cabin blocks. I was tired of log cabin so for this project, I changed it up slightly and made courthouse steps! 

These are regular courthouse step blocks. I started piecing these blocks before Bonnie Hunter made her crooked courthouse blocks.


The strings were picked over and there wasn't much variety. I refused to cut more 1-1/2" strips so I used 2" strips from the 2" strip box to finish them. I always trim to size after they're sewn anyway so I had plenty to trim off this time.

Originally, last January, I sorted the strings into 3 groups, autumn, brights and then the leftovers.


Flimsy #1 - I chose to make log cabin blocks with the autumn and bright fabrics. He measures 92" by 106".

This setting was popular in my area back in the late 90's.

I used all sorts of fabrics for the lighter logs. If it had a cream background, it went in this quilt, even it it had red roses! Some of the logs were more beige than cream but I used them anyway.

I did have to pull some fat quarters and yardage to cut more yellows/oranges. Apparently I don't use those colors a lot because there weren't many strips of those colors in the box.


For flimsy #2 - I chose a barn raising setting with a star in the center. Measures 90" x 106".


Flimsy # 3 is similar to the first quilt but has a star center and measures 90" x 106".

I don't have to quilt the 3 autumn flimsies, they'll be donated the my Pennsylvania grands school auction. Someone there will hand quilt them.

Most of the autumn colored fabrics were gone, certainly not enough left to make another quilt. Now onto the bright strings!


I made two large twin sized quilts with brights that have been long arm quilted 

The first one has a regular barn raising setting with a star center, this is flimsy #4 and measures 70" by 98".


Tammy from the 3 Sisters Quilting quilted both of the quilts. She called this design rain drops.

I saw a star log cabin quilt on someones blog somewhere and thought I can do that. And so I did for flimsy #5 and it measures 67" by 94". 


The quilting design I selected for this quilt was what I called orange peel but Tammy called pumpkin seed.

It's hard to see on the front side but shows up  better on the backing.



Flimsy #6 has traditional strings on telephone book paper to make this 60" by 86" comforter top for the MCC Comforter Bash. 

I'm not an overly patient person and I found removing the telephone paper from the back of the blocks extremely tedious! Not going to do that again!


For flimsy #7, I went back to piecing log cabin blocks and made this comforter top which measures 61" by 83" which also goes to the comforter bash.

I did cut yellows just to give this flimsy some color.

I have been pulling small pieces of yardage and fat quarters to cut for the light strings. I ran out of lights from the box while piecing the first 3 quilts!

So to answer the questions of how many quilts were in the box of 1-1/2" strings, there were 3 queen sized and 5 twin sized quilts. How many quilts are in your boxes of strings?

There were a few strings left, most of them shorter pieces. To use them, I am making 9 patches. I do have a 9 patch project in progress but the progress is extremely slow.

This was a fun challenge but I don't think I'll try to empty a whole box next year. The 2" and 2-1/2" boxes are overflowing too. Next year I'll see what I can make from them. There is no sense in having string boxes if I don't sew with strings.

Linking to String Along, Month 10, Midweek MakersNeedle & Thread ThursdayPeacock Party, Confessions of a Fabric Addict, TGIFF!, Brag About Your Beauties, Finished Or Not Friday, Oh Scrap

26 comments:

Julierose said...

WOW--they are all spectacular finishes--amazing how many quilts were lurking in that box ;))) waiting to be set free lol hugs, Julierose

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

that is a lot of quilts that were in that box! I might have to do something like that to get rid of some of mine

Karen said...

Delightful finishes! You had a ton of strips to work with. I love log cabin quilts....just about any style. You did well.

eileen said...

What a great job, love them all!! Congrats on meeting your challenge!!

Bonnie said...

OMG -- congratulations on all your beautiful log cabins. I was wondering if you ran out of lights while working on these. I don't have many strings that are 1.5". Most of my strings are odd sizes, left overs. I've thought it was time to actually use some but haven't started. You are an inspiration! (But don't hold your breath I'm trying to use up yardage too!)

Created by Kathi said...

I love all that you did from your leftover strings Gretchen... this is delightful for sure!!! I know you must be quite proud to find something else to store in that box besides the strips that lived there for so long... and all your quilts are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!!
Kathi

K Reeves said...

A perfect example of what can be made with things that others might throw away. I have a new appreciation for the purpose of log cabin quilts now. No wonder our great grandmothers always had one going!

Nancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting said...

Amazing!! Great determination and awesome results!!!

Frédérique - Quilting Patchwork Appliqué said...

Lovely quilts, and congratulations on emptying the box ;) Great to know that it can be possible... ;D

Elizabeth V Kelbaugh said...

Wow! I need to challenge myself like you but probably would not duplicate your success. All are so beautiful and interesting.

Ramona said...

Wow! I am impressed with all of your beautiful scrap quilts. I need to make the same challenge to myself and get rid of my bags of scraps. You have inspired me for sure!

joyce mrachek said...

Gretchen Hi I am a friend of Gladie in Iowa. I love all of your quilts. I also sew with strings and scrapes. I love all of your quilts. You make me want to dig and start with my 1.5--2 inch and boxes of strings. They sure do add up. thanks for sharing. Joyce

Jayne said...

I don't even know what to say!!! Each quilt is amazing and different from each other. I love your dedication to this project of scrap busting, but I bet you are ready for something else for a while!

Susie Q said...

What a wonderful post and history to boot. Do hope you keep this to pass down with one of those quilts... Very impressed with the quilts and your fortitude to keep going. Well Done.

Marly said...

Congratulations on emptying that box. You have been in high production mode all year, considering this is your hobby and not your job! All the quilts are stunning.

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

Oh my stars!!! I love them all and am so proud of you for getting that bin emptied - with such great quilts!! I really like your courthouse steps ( better than wonky) awesome quilts!!!

Jenny said...

How wonderful! Amazing that you got to see all these quilts from your supply of strips and strings. That's certainly perseverance with a Capitol P!

Denice Barker said...

What an accomplishment! They are all beautiful. Congratulations!

Yvonne said...

An empty bin - wow - what a lot of work but what beautiful results! Those scrap bins are like the Tardis from Dr. Who - there always is way more in them than meets the eye. Congrats on so many great finishes.

Vicki in MN said...

You are a rock star to be able to say you used up the whole box and made some beautiful quilts. How sad it would have been to have just thrown those strips out. I wish I had more time to work on my string bins.

gayle said...

You're a one-woman quilt show! Fabulous quilts, each and every one.

Susan said...

Wow! That must have been one large container to get 8 quilts from it! Congrats on some very fabulous finishes!

Cynthia Brunz Designs said...

It is hard to pick a favorite. They are all beautiful! Thanks for sharing with Oh Scrap!

Sylvia@Treadlestitches said...

This is so inspiring! What wonderful scrappy quilts!

Susie H said...

Great job! You made SO MANY quilts from the 1.5" strips. Could this be a world record??? LOL!

Glenda said...

Still can not believe you had that big a box full of strips to make ALL those quilts Gretchen LOL I love them all. My goodness your machine must have been going every day for hours!!!!! I'm truly in awe that you made that many quilts plus the others you have been making and hand quilting????? Cheers Glenda