After finishing a project, I cut the scraps into usable pieces, strips if it's long enough, otherwise into squares. I use these in on going projects or scrappy quilts.
I've slowly been diminishing the squares in the 2.5" box. What was left in there were the 'ugly' fabrics, to me anyway. A lot of the background fabrics had a yellow cast to them which I didn't appreciate and there were a lot of dark beige squares also. There were a lot of green squares but also browns, blues and a few reds. I did let some of the 'pretty' squares participate because they were also in the box.
I had placed them into a bag to take along to the April retreat to start sewing 4 patches but that didn't happen. Earlier this summer I put the bag beside my machine to run the squares through as leader/ender blocks. I guess I should clarify I really sew ender blocks. When I stop sewing, I stitch 2 squares together then turn off my machine. They sit there waiting for me to start sewing again.
Once the blocks were foursies, I sewed them into 16 square blocks. I have over one hundred 8.5" blocks pieced. For now they're on a shelf waiting to be trimmed then sewn into a quilt top. I don't know what I'm going to do with this quilt, I feel guilty giving it away as a charity quilt when it's made with mostly ugly fabrics! The trimming and finishing will happen in the winter. I'm glad to have those squares gone from the box.
Do you have ugly fabrics in your scraps? Do you sew them into charity quilts to be given away? And please don't tell me Bonnie Hunter says to cut them smaller so they're harder to see! I already have a box with plenty of 2" square and 1.5" squares to sew together.
Linking to To Do Tuesday, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle & Thread Thursday, Put Your Foot Down, Free Motion Mavericks, TGIFF!, Finished or Not Friday, Off the Wall Friday, Beauty Pageant, Patchwork & Quilts
32 comments:
Well, you said that the fabrics were ugly - to you! So not necessarily to someone who needs a quilt to keep warm. You could always cheer things up a bit with some bright sashing and border. xx
I'm with Lin! Add small rows of white sashing between the blocks to break them up. I love what you've done. Not ugly to me, at all!
hugs
Donna
I agree, these are not the prettiest fabrics but when you put them all together they make a pretty quilt. It has a simple vintage feel, sure to be loved by someone.
I have ugly fabrics that a friend gifted me & wondered why just ugly ones🤣 your blocks are pretty !
I do have ugly fabrics and scraps, but honestly what you consider ugly all looks very pretty together in your photo. So I need to remember that!
Well you prempted by usual Bonnie speech about "ugly" fabrics so I will just say that to me they just look like squares of color which is perfect for this type of quilt. If you donate it, you are sharing the comforting hug that is a quilt and appreciation for the effort and skill that goes into putting it together. That in itself is beautiful (to me anyway)!
Someone will love this quilt! I made the decision a few years ago to not sew with fabric if I don’t love it. For many years, I sewed with it out of guilt, but then to be disappointed with my finishes. So out the door it goes because life is too short…and I’m too much of a perfectionist haha!! I have two long term ender and leader projects on the go. I have a bright and white postage stamp quilt and an anything goes pinwheel quilt and I think they will both be worth the long wait to see them finished. Happy sewing, Gretchen!
I would absolutely give it to charity without regret. Stepping back, it's all about color and contrast and your blocks shine! I too struggle when my stash combinations aren't "perfect" but I find that once things are assembled and viewed from a distance my reaction is positive.
These blocks look fine for a quilt. Personally I like a 1 inch sashing, preferably red, for something like this. Makes a quilt look special. You can add a border or not. Red binding would set it off well enough.
Great use of your 2.5 inch blocks. The quilt is looking wonderful. Oh yes, I do have ugly fabrics and I throw them in my quilts all the time and in time , they actually become pretty to me. LOL. Happy quilting. Hugs.
You have a nice quilt in the works. I'm sure anyone who receives it will love it.
If I make something I'm not sure about-- I always say "oh well. A blind man seeing it from the 401 would think its beautiful". We live about 8 hours distance from highway 401. Lol. Personally I think it's quite pretty :)
I wouldn't change a thing. This seems like a great quilt for a guy, with all the earth tones. And those are rare things in the charity world, so I would smile and remind myself that I'm making something for which there is a great need. Thanks for sharing on my weekly show and tell, Wednesday Wait Loss.
https://www.inquiringquilter.com/questions/2025/08/13/wednesday-wait-loss-445
I agree with others - someone will love this quilt. I have close friends that often love fabrics/quilts that I think aren't so great and vice versa.
You have laid out the squares alternating light/dark, which works well. And ugly is in the eye of the beholder. :-)
Haha! Your BH comment made me chuckle, Gretchen! I love that you mixed in some pretty squares with the drab ones--brightens the whole thing up!!!
While I agree with you that some of the individual fabrics are ugly, the overall effect is pretty. I would set them with an alternating 8 1\2 inch block in a solid like tan, brown, or blue to give your eye a place to rest. Simple quilting or even tying works great on scrappy quilts like that. I would not hesitate to give it away. I love humble quilts. I use them more than the precious ones!
There is nothing ugly about these blocks! Somehow, when they are all sewn together, it becomes a thing of beauty! Thanks for shareing your technique! Wow, what a great use of scraps, and they almost magically appear because of stitching leaders and enders. Love it!
Looks vintage and comforting to me!
What is ugly to you isn't to me! I think your 16 patches are interesting and would make a great quilt for a man! I do have ugly fabrics. . .they just make the pretty fabrics sparkle more!
As everyone has said, ugly is in the eye of the beholder. You could make a quilt that you think is stupendously stunning and someone else might think it's so-so. I'd go ahead and assemble the blocks. If you have 100 you may be able to get a couple of lap-to-twin quilts out of them. Add slab borders to stabilize the edges. Donate!
It looks like confetti and the recipient of the quilt will have a wonderful time checking out all of the fabrics.
I'm not a big fan of neutrals, especially beiges and browns, but they do let the other colors stand out. Years I ago I started a charity project called The Power of the Quilt Project. The title of the group came from how frequently those gifted with quilts find something personal and meaningful in the fabric or patterns. Thus enhancing the comfort the quilt provides.
Gretchen, NOTHING you make is ugly. I deal with ugly stash fabrics and scraps by closing the closet door and rejecting Object Permanence. If I can’t see them any more, those fabrics no longer exist!
It doesn't look ugly to me. Ugly fabrics are much improved by cutting them into small pieces. =)
This quilt is a great way to use up all those leftovers from other projects. Nothing ugly about it! Sew on! Gail at the cozy quilter.
Hi Gretchen, pretty is just in the eyes of the beholder. I don't find them ugly, just not my taste. I'm sure that it will be appreciated. Thanks for linking up to FM Mavericks!
Your blocks have a nice traditional look, not ugly at all!
What you consider an ugly fabric might be beautiful to someone else. I would definitely make it into a quilt for charity.
Well, I've spotted some very pretty fabrics here, and I'm sure they're not the ones you think are beautiful! I love yellow cast ;) It's going to be a beautiful donation quilt, perfect for Fall season. Thank you for sharing and linking up!
Gretchen I think your ugly fabrics have made a lovely top! If you think it’s not “right” you could add a border fabric you think is pretty in one of the colours you want to highlight. I just know either way this will be a lived quilt when it’s finished and donated. Thank you for sharing on To-Do Tuesday. 😁 Carol
I don' think it is ugly - but you could used the 16 patches as star centers and lighten them up a bit, ir you can add hour glass blocks in between, or you could use them as the center of a churn dash... do not feel guilty at all!
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