I've loved the idea of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC) since I first learned about it at least 10 years ago. I considered, then reconsidered, then decided against participating. But every Saturday, the idea of participating kept nudging at me. I knew I didn't want to make a rainbow quilt so, I reasoned, the only way I could participate would be to group the colors and make different blocks for each color or each color group. For example, reds and oranges could be one block, greens and blues, another, or some variation. Except I haven't chosen blocks yet.
But last week,
Nancy at Grace and Peace Quilting posted her green blocks and linked to
Jolene Klassen's Nine Patch and Snowball Quilt at Blue Elephant Stitches. I remember loving Jolene's quilt when I first saw it but didn't think about making one myself. Nancy gave me the nudge to pull out my greens and begin because, I realized, Jolene's quilt is almost the perfect RSC quilt (without seeming like a rainbow): all the colors, six-inch blocks, no background fabric in each block, quick and easy sewing, etc. I anticipate a larger quilt and will have to decide how many blocks of each color I'll need to make.
These are the green blocks I made this week for May.
There may be two things that are different about how I manage my scraps than most people. The pieces I call scraps are usually really small and odd-shaped. The other thing that is different from how I see most other quilters store scraps is that if a piece of fabric is large enough to cut at least a 2" square, I put it back with the larger piece of fabric it was cut from. (I do have boxes of scrap colors but they're mostly lesser quality fabrics that came in scrap bags at a quilt show or thrift store. I realized this week that I should go through those boxes and just pass on what I wouldn't want to use for a quilt.) All this means I don't have a collection of 2½ squares already cut. So it was fun to look through my stacks of fabric for greens.
And then I realized I should probably start making blocks for the rest of the colors for 2025: pink, blue, yellow, and red. These are the yellow blocks I made this week. I'll get to pink, blue, and red.
Do you ever look at your fabric and think,
How boring!? Maybe it's because I've had so much of it around for so long and it's all so familiar to me that it's boring. (Or maybe it really is boring fabric. Haha.) I look at others' fabric in their blocks and think,
Wow! I'd love to have some of those fabrics. No envy here, just maybe a hint or reminder to myself to reconsider more carefully what fabric I buy from now on.
I'm linking this post to
ScrapHappy Saturday-Green Day. Thanks for hosting, Angela.
I hope you have a joyful weekend.
--Nancy.
I often do look at my stash and think--"ho-hum"--but when you put them
ReplyDeleteinto a 9-patch or other block where you cut them up into smaller pieces the boring ones shine out I think!! I do love that 9-patch Snowball pattern a lot...it will be so pretty in greens...hugs, Julierose
Yes, Julierose, it's true that cutting fabric into pieces changes how we see it and it usually becomes more interesting. I'll have to remember that as I look at my fabrics on the shelf.
DeleteGreens are just the beginning (since I'm starting the RSC in May and that's the color of the month). I'll be adding the other colors, too, similar to the 9-P and Snowball at https://blueelephantstitches.com/nine-patch-and-snowball-quilt/.
Thanks!
Hi there, how nice that you are joining us all, "jumping into RSC". It does get a hold on you, very enjoyable though, and by the end of each month I can bardly wait to see what the next chosen colour will be.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the welcome, Jenny. I have some catching up to do but I'm already wondering what the next color will be!
DeleteThe concept of the Rainbow/ your version/ has me baffled a bit, but you're having fun and that's what counts. I do what you do, If a piece is big enough to be used I put it back w the yardage fabric, folded together. I do not collect scraps, or heaven forbid waste time cutting squares. If a cutaway is tiny or uselessly shaped, I throw it out. I'm lazy so I also hate to go thru my fabrics cutting little bits, tho if I must, I do. [btw I found my lost, beloved purple Kai scissors! Tucked into t he repro print stacks when looking for What Nots fabrics.]
ReplyDeleteUsually I like what I have, not bored, but I do look at the repro collection and think, "You will never use any of this"--just in case you want some....tho I know my taste is not , um, universally loved.
lizzy
I think I'm reinterpreting the RSC to fit my own purposes, Lizzy. I can not imagine myself making a quilt with any kind of rainbow motif, not even blocks arranged in a color order like a rainbow (unless specifically requested by one of my grandchildren). I'll be following the colors of the month then putting together a quilt somewhat like the one at https://blueelephantstitches.com/nine-patch-and-snowball-quilt/.
DeleteIt seems like several of us put pieces back with the fat quarter or yardage. I should be like you and pitch small pieces. I don't know why I can't.... Maybe because I grew up with parents who lived through the Depression and saw the value and possible future use of nearly everything, a value I learned and have held onto. .
So glad you found your Kai scissors!
Don't you think you'll use some of your repro fabrics? Surely you will!
I, like you and Lizzy, put my leftover fabric folded with the larger pieces. I seem to use use up the small pieces just fine. I'm anxious to see what you've got planned with the green and yellow blocks.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like a few of us put scraps back with larger pieces, Robin. (I guess I'm not so odd.)
DeleteFor the green, yellow, and other colors of blocks I'll be making, I'm headed toward a quilt similar to the one at https://blueelephantstitches.com/nine-patch-and-snowball-quilt/. I have a lot of catching up to do on the colors from previous months!
I generally store "scraps" with yardage and only cut squares occasionally, like if it's the last of it. But then when I want to make a scrap quilt, the task seems overwhelming because I have to go through ALL the stash! (But the mess of a scrap bin has also been tried and that is also overwhelming, so I can't win!) And why is that someone else's stash is so much better than our own? Your blocks look great and are going to make a beautiful quilt. Keep on raiding the stash for those late coming colors!
ReplyDeleteScraps with yardage is my go to, but, like you, Katie, it does feel overwhelming having to pull out so many pieces of fabric. I tried a scrap basket once and the fabric ended up in a wrinkled heap. Now, if I do that, I try to lay the fabric flat. It doesn't last though and, I agree, there's no easy win in either situation.
DeleteI wonder if others' fabric looks better because it's new to us, or because it's used in a way or a block we didn't imagine using it for. I have no idea why, really.
Thanks for your comment about the blocks. The greens look a little dark to me but I hope they'll work for the quilt.
I have also looked with a bit of longing at the RSC quilt posts. I also do not have a stash of scraps or small pieces so making a single color block involves dumping and sorting my bin of that color. But I do think I am leaning into this idea a bit more each. I love the simplicity of your blocks too.
ReplyDeleteThat's the thing, the dumping and sorting of a bin. I suppose, if you were going to make several blocks of the same color, at least you could choose all the colors with one dump. I would love to see what you would choose for the RSC, Juliann.
DeleteThank you for your comment about my blocks.
The great thing about RSC is that you can interpret it however you'd like. Some years I've made a flimsy that is predominantly the monthly color. Other years I've made units in each monthly color (the 2022 version is still in a box....). And other years I've made whole blocks in the monthly color with an eye to using them all in one quilt. "Scrap" is a general term. I don't always turn to the scrap bins or the specific-sized bins; I often cut from yardage. And many times I get impatient with one-color-a-month so I go ahead and crank out the units or blocks for several months (or the whole year). I had a nine-patch pattern in mind and then I saw the post with Blue Elephant's snowballs. Either an idea for next year or I can make two quilts!
ReplyDeleteThe versatility of the RSC is appealing because, as you say, Nann, it's open to interpretation. I hope it works for me. So often I'll give something a try and then discontinue because it doesn't seem to fit or work for me. But right now, this seems doable.
DeleteI've been surprised when I've seen folks call a fat quarter with a piece cut out of it, a scrap. My idea of scraps is small bits and bobs just like you. And the RSC can be whatever you want it to be I think. I love all that Jolene stitches and am inspired by her and I also feel that way about what you share, Nancy. And I enjoy reading your deliberations too. So far I've been sticking to my fabric diet but I'd love to get in a good poke at a fabric shop like you did in your most recent post. Happy times.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jocelyn. I guess I've been on a :"fabric diet," too, since I hadn't bought fabric for a few years until last week when I bought a yard for binding. There are times when I just don't have fabric in the color I need (or have enough). I don't think I'll be able to sew fast enough to use what I have before I die, even though I don't have a huge collection of fabric! Ha! I wish I were faster at both making decisions and sewing.
DeleteI guess we all interpret scraps in a different way. I also define a "scrap quilt" as one made entirely of scraps, and a "scrappy quilt" as one using lots of different fabrics that may or may not have been scraps.
I like your greens and yellows, Nancy! They look pretty interesting to me! And glad to see you're making a 9-patch + snowball quilt, too!!! I agree--it's the perfect RSC quilt!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Nancy. I'm so glad you reminded me of that quilt when you posted about it. Thank you!
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