Monday, October 24, 2022

Pile Project, Dreami, Design wall.... and.... Plaid!!!

I am a Piler - and I told you a while ago its was time to start tackling those piles... however, I did not realize the extent of my problem.  I have a table *downstairs* that I put things on too!!! and while I was moving things around I found a pile of plaid.... a grouping, and color pile, a * I HAVE TO USE THIS* pile... and so

I did

I went to my Veterans Breakfast, and was dreaming of how I could use every bit of that pile.... and then I came home and started drawing, came up with a plan, ironed the plaids... and realize my plan would not work - I would have scraps..

So I re-mathed ( its a word!! Okay maybe not) , and got to work before I changed my mind!!!



All of my fabric pieces were 9 ish inches wide  - so I decided to cut them into 4 1/4 inch strips.  That way if they weren't quite exactly 9 inches I had a little wiggle room... It worked!!!

and then I grabbed a few piles and made random cuts - so everything wasn't 44 inches long


I then laid out my piles - so I could admire the pretty colors and get to stitchin'!!



I sewed them into One VERY LONG Strip.....

and then I measured that very long Strip.... I decided I wanted my quilt to be 50 inches wide - so I cut the VERY LONG strip into 50 inch long strips.... 



I got 28 Strips
I laid them on the table and just randomly pulled a strip
Stitched it 
 and put them into TWO!!! Tops!!!   

They Measure 50 x 54 inches

And yes - one end on each side needs to be squared up - but my big table is downstairs and I was too lazy to go there before I took photos.... They are squared now...


Ta-Da!!!! A Dreami  ( linking to https://www.mmmquilts.com/ at the end of the month)

and A use of my Pile of Plaids....

and!! Two Quilt - sort of Lasagna Quilts (A la Atkinson Designs)  and Jelly Roll Race put together.

Now!! I do have a pile of Fabric to try my original measurement plans with... we will see if it works!!

Anja  and I had a little convo about simple quilts... and that sometimes it is really fun to go back to basics . 

  • 1. its a skill I already have, 
  • 2. instant gratification of a finished project, and 
  • 3. These will go to hospice, so patients can get a little hug a little faster. 
  • 4. I have enough fabric I need to live to be 600, so maybe if I go a little faster I can buy new stuff haha!

I love looking at all the detailed ones, and I even love making them... but sometimes... its just fun to go fast. 


Linking to:  Design Wall Monday       Sew and Tell    Midweek Makers  Oh Scrap!!

13 comments:

Vicki in MN said...

Great way to jump in and get rid of a pile!

Michelle said...

Such fun plaid tops! I like the method you used as well. Very clever.

Delighted Hands said...

What a quilt of pure homey comfort! very nice idea!

Sara said...

That really works! Plaid is something I have very little of in my stash. Then I see plaid projects and add them to my "some day" list.

Kathleen said...

I was wondering what Piler meant when I saw the title, but I totally get it. Love the solution to reducing the pile. Tomorrow a friend is taking a box of scraps for one of her friends....one pile gone in my study. I like this formula that you remathed as a quick way to make a benefit quilt and clear the pile!

The Colorful Fabriholic said...

Wonderful! I totally agree with you about sometimes enjoying the simplicity of fast designs and random makes where you don't know the precise outcome ahead of time. So satisfying!!!

Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl said...

It was so smart to cut the strips 4 1/4" wide. I love that you were able to have fun, use those scraps, and get 2 great quilt tops!

loulee said...

I hear you, fast and fun is the best way sometimes.
Two lovely quilt tops.

Anja @ Anja Quilts said...

Well done! I've been trying to tackle the piles. Now tackling the fabric stash is totally different story. ha ha ha ha Once I get through the headache that 2022 has been, I think I'm going to go back to basics and re-visit some great simple patterns that I've made before and maybe discover some new ones.

cityquilter grace said...

gosh all so pretty....

Susan said...

Nice work! Reminds me of a few plaid quilts I made like this a few years ago. Easy!

The Joyful Quilter said...

Two more tops out of the plaid pile? Way to go, Alycia!!

Jasmine said...

These are great quilts! I love that you used as much as you could without creating more scraps. And I agree that simple quilts definitely have their place.