Life in the Scrapatch

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Second ~ and Third ~ Scrappy Thoughts

This is my Second Thought.

I am thinking of limiting my palette and

hoping to create a secondary design in the chain.

In this layout, I have only blue, yellow and white background colors in my squares.

I have taken out the green scraps and am limiting the green

to the single fabric in the chain borders

My First Block for my Scrappy Irish Chain

looks maybe a bit too busy even for my "all scraps are welcome" eyes.

My seam ripper has to find that lightest green square.

Then this block may turn into a kitty quilt.

This is my Third Thought.

For this layout, I also pulled the white and used dark blue in the center and light blue to yellow for the center of the chains.

I would have to cut many more dark blue scraps.

Mr. Scrapatch has already added his thoughts while walking by my cutting table and said he likes the dark blue center in this layout. Mr. Scrapatch loves blue.

I am going to make one Block B and think some more.

Which layout would you choose?

Opinions always welcome.

Monday, January 30, 2023

Back to Sewing ~ Block 1

My first block is done for my

Scrappy Irish Chain Scrap Along Quilt

This scrappy goodness is being hosted by Corey Yoder.

This is Block A ~1 of 13

Here are her inctructions

Scrappy Irish Chain Scrap Along ~ Part 2 ~ Block Piecing

This is a very big and busy block made of 9 rows of 2.5" squares.

I need to make one of the Block B next so I can see how my fabrics and colors are working. Right now I cannot see the pattern. The large neutral background center in the alternate block is really needed as a place eyes to rest.

It was good to be back to sewing. My lovely workhorse of a Janome MC6600p is getting old. I have sewn so many seams with her that her tension mechanism is wearing out. I have the tension set to the max to get an even stitch. It is one of the reasons that I took a break from machine sewing. Buying a new machine is not an option for me now. I need to find away to get my machine working.

Overall, I am pleased with my back-to-sewing efforts so far.

Looking forward to playing with the fabrics again tomorrow.

Happy Sewing!

Hope to get another block done tomorrow.

Sunday, January 29, 2023

Wishful Thinking ~ UFOs & Quilt Goals 2023

This Lonestar Quilt Block was made in 2011.

I had to wash a stain off one of the points and press it before I took this photo.

This is the center block that I made

while sewing along with the ...

Lonestar Quilt Along 2011

Ridge Top Quilts

It was my first attempt at this start block.

Dorian, my online quilty bestie, patiently helped me through the process.

I admit that I am still not a fan of "Y" seams.

I have never actually finished a Lone Star Quilt.

This quilt block is the end product of a previous Stash Busting effort...

... while I was trying to use up fabrics from this

Mystery Quilt in 2011

My Favorite Bed Quilt

The large blue floral fabric in this Lonestar Block

is the last of the focus fabric for

I think I had intended to complete the QAL and use this as a wallhanging in the bedroom. The corner blocks and border were never sewn.

Now this large block is a UFO that surfaced when I was pulling yellow, blue and green scraps for my Scrappy Irish Chain WIP.

Maybe I will add a scrappy border and finish it as a wallhanging

when my Irish Chain Quilt is finished and on my bed.

"It could happen ..." ;)

This quote is one of our family sayings for wishful thinking.

It comes from an old family type movie that my daughter had on repeat on the VHS player on our old television in the 90's. She wore out the VHS tape.

Can anyone name the movie?

Anyone want a hint?

I am walking down memory lane and thinking wishfully

about getting my UFOs and WIPs this Sunday afternoon.

Will 2023 be the year I complete a Lone Star Quilt?

It has long been on my quilty bucket list.

I saw this post on

#quiltgoals2023 ~ The Jolly Jabber @ Fat Quarter Shop

It has me thinking wishfully about setting one goal this year.

I am thinking my goal should be to finish one UFO.

Will this Lone Star block be the one?

Time will tell.

Saturday, January 28, 2023

Scrappy Saturday ~ Scrappy Irish Chain Fabrics

I have decided to restart my sewing skills by making the

Scrappy Irish Chain Quilt

featured in my last post.

I am making a yellow and blue and green quilt!

I have printed the pattern and Corey Yoder's background fabric cutting chart

Here are the fabrics that I have pulled from my stash. The jelly roll at the top is one of my oldest treasures. I have two charm packs of the prints and a charm pack of the wovens, too. It is Sunshine by April Cornel for Moda fabrics. The charms in the front are from a newer Corey Yoder line called Spring Brook. The pieced fabrics are left from a project made with the scraps from my Favorite Bed Quilt reposted here on my I Like Thursday post. I will also be including other random blue, yellow and green scraps.