Rectangles: 3.5″ x 2.5″ …

Here’s what Bev E has done over time with scraps.

This is a great way to not only use up scraps, saving them from landfill, but to try out the ‘leaders and enders’ approach to making a quilt.

While working on machine piecing your main quilt blocks, instead of running off and cutting threads, continue stitching a scrap, then don’t run off threads - snip off your main block from the back, bring it to the front and continue stitching the next part of your main quilt block, then another scrap etc.

Snip apart - no threads wasted or getting in the way - and by the end of the year (or sooner!), you will have another quilt made.

Here’s how:

• cut up some neutrals for sashing in strips 6.5″ x 1.5″, put aside,
• cut up leftovers into rectangles 3.5″ x 2.5″, put aside in a pile, bag, or box ready to sit beside your sewing machine
• randomly pick 2 rectangles and sew long sides together, put aside,
• randomly select 2 sets of sewn rectangles and sew short sides together to make a 4-patch, put aside,
• select 2 sashing strips and sew to the long sides of 4-patch, put aside
• select 2 blocks, alternate the direction of the 4-patch, and sew them together,
• join blocks into rows,
• join rows
• Done!

What do you do with your scraps?

Write a comment, or bring it along for Show & Tell - we all have scraps and would love to know what you do with them.