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Saturday, October 10, 2015

Scraps Are Pure Gold

Sometimes I have a hard time calling my scraps scraps.  I enjoy working with little pieces because let's face it, little pieces become bigger pieces and eventually a finished something or another.  

Cynthia who blogs @Quilting is more fun than Housework, asked if I had any scrappy projects to share on her Oh Scrap link up...well yes indeed I do! 

Improv is like putting together a great big puzzle, you have to turn, twist and chop it up to make it fit.  Making something that looks complex and visually appealing without looking like a chaotic mess is not always easy, but it sure is a lot of fun for me.  

After making my Improv Table Runner: Stained Glass, I felt energized!  I can't really explain it, but I knew I wanted to do more.  Only this time I wanted to focus on one block and one color, pillows were the logical choice.


18" x 18" Pillow Cover

It was time to pull out the solid scraps!  I would love to say I have the perfect scrap storage solution for everyone, for me mine works, but everyone has their 'own way' that works for them.  I tend to keep my regular cotton solids in one bin, my Shot Cottons in another bin and my favorite color combinations in two other bins!  I know exactly where I need to go when I need a color!

This was also the time to set up my newest set of tools, my mini iron and folding cutting/pressing mat.  



The first day was awkward with my 'station' to the left of my machine.  The second day I flipped the mat and had the cutting mat next to me, which made it much more comfortable and efficient. 



From my scraps I pulled all one color in as many different shades as I could find. Sometimes I need to slice a strip from yardage for more variety and that's fine.  It doesn't always get used up right away, but it's there for the next improv piece. 



I begin by pairing up pieces (lots of pieces), cutting random sizes or angles and chain piecing them together (#1).  After which I press them nice and flat (#2).  Here's where the puzzle building starts.  I start building bigger pieces by pairing up the initial pairs or adding another piece (#3).  Eventually they grow big enough and I can assemble them into one big block (#4).  


   
You can see how it becomes a puzzle!  Of course, since I had my improv station up, my scraps at hand...it was easy to jump from one color to the next and create an entire series of improv squares.  Did I go overboard?  I'm not quite sure about that!

Once the block was assembled, I cut each one in a wonky shape ready to frame with black.



The strips of black were roughly 1 1/2" - 2 1/2" wide.  This gives me enough real estate to play with for the next step.

The final frame. 




Again, size doesn't matter!  (too much)  You want the strips wide enough so you can get some fantastic angles.  


I then add enough black around the sides to make an 18" x 18" pillow, allowing a little extra to cut the yellow border a bit wonky.  I used Kona Cotton for all the black on the outside, but bought a less expensive cotton for the lining.  Basted and ready to quilt!



This was the time to go wild!  I broke out my FMQ imagination and went to town!  I was 100% sure each pillow was going to have pebbles over most of the block, the rest of the space was random, random, random!




Pebbles are so much fun to make!  Plus, I know they will look amazing once they come out of the wash!



The pillows were finished off with a hidden zipper back.  I highly recommend this tutorial: Hidden Zipper by Svetlana @ s.o.t.a.k handmade.  It has become my favorite way of finishing off a pillow.



Like I said, an entire series!  



Inevitably, there are always extra pieces with improv.  Me being me...I wasn't going to let those pieces make their way to the scrap heap!  They are now 'one', peacefully coexisting together!!

Pillows are the perfect way to add color and texture or transform an entire room.  This I know, but don't practice!!  I am so tempted to make something like these for my very own couch!  
Oh, one day Jayne, one day!


LINKING:


Quilting is more fun than Housework

Sew Cute Tuesday

38 comments:

  1. Brilliant! Thanks so much for sharing this; you make it sound so easy!

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    1. Thank you Marly! The more improv you do, the easier it gets! Not always, but for some things it does!

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  2. These look so fun, and it's great you shared your process!

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    1. I think when doing improv, we each have a different method to our madness! It's nice to see different processes!

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  3. I love them!! Great job! I like the small black boarder just outside the each color.

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    1. I know I had a blast making each and every one!

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  4. I am a Scrap A Holic and gleefully admit it! I sort my scraps into a newly bought plastic shoe storage hanger where scraps are stuffed of every shape, size and color waiting to be ironed and trimmed down into specific sized squares where they are then stored in see through small plastic boxes. I also have huge totes and shelves and shelves of yardages of fabrics. Projects like you shared today are wonderful and make fantastic gifts. Thank you for sharing and have a wonderful creative day!

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    1. I use to save every single scrap and then started cutting them in to squares for better storage. I easily could save the tinniest of tiny, but at some point I have to let go! Shoe boxes and any plastic tote is the perfect solution to scraps, fabrics and just about anything!

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  5. It sounds like I treat improv the same way you do; as a fun puzzle. I generally start with one "made fabric" grouping at a time, so seeing that you work and play with multiple at once gives me new ideas. :)

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    1. I hope my process was helpful in some way Yvonne! There are so many different techniques out there, none better than the other either! Maybe my way (or anyones way) will connect to those who don't think they can do improv. It's a technique where there isn't a right or wrong way of doing it!

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  6. Great work once again Jayne. You are my inspiration, I just wish I had more time : ).

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    1. I hope my process and technique sparks a fire in someone…when they have time! Which is a problem many of us have!

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  7. These pillows are terrific! Your color choices really make every scrap stand out!

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  8. I love you cushions! I'd love to make a whole quilt like this

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  9. I think I need to try your approach to improv and maybe I'll like it better. Making it feel like a puzzle might help my OCD brain. Thanks for showing us your process. Thanks for the link to the zipper tutorial. This is the one I've pinned on pinterest to try. http://www.quiltingintherain.blogspot.com/2013/05/invisible-zipper-pillow-tutorial.html Will also add yours.

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    1. I hope I inspired you to give it a try once again Diana! I hope my process sparked you and others and just knowing that there really isn't a wrong way to do improv helps a lot. It takes time, patience and a certain mindset sometimes!

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  10. Love the pillows and the idea of colour blocking them. They would look great all together on a couch.

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  11. Nice! I love working in a series whether project or color pathway. These pillows are really gorgeous! Love your work.

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    1. It seems like I do this series thing a lot! Woven stripes, peppered cottons, HST and now improv rainbow! I think its because I have my fabric in several spots because of space and when I drag out something…I want to get the best bang for my buck! Or maybe I'm just lazy!

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  12. You have a beautiful thing happening here!!! Love, love, love them all!!!

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  13. I just declared I was not going to start another project Jayne! It is taking all of my effort not to go make some of these for myself. Thanks so much for sharing with Oh Scrap! I have a feeling you are going to inspire a lot of pillow making...

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    1. The only way you won't start another project is to cut all ties with technology!! It's hard not to start new projects when there is so much to see…temptation is everywhere! I hope when someone sees my improv process they won't be so intimidated to try it!

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  14. Love your work! Your play with scraps is just great!

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    1. I hope my improv process helps others who shy away from it, decided to give it try!

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  15. There's something about putting those fabrics together in wonky ways that so appeals to me, too. I love the process, although I a thinking I need to get a mini iron and a folding cutting mat, STAT. I like getting up during the piecing process, but with improv, it is every few seconds and it takes so much time away from piecing...thanks for sharing your process - those pillows absolutely rock.

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    1. I love improv too! After you've been away from it for a while (doing other projects), I'm always amazed at how much I enjoy it and how much it relaxes me! I've only used the mat/iron station twice, but it is so worth having!

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  16. Hi Jayne! Looks fantastic! I don't have any black in my stash but it's the best to show those beautiful solid colours! I think my scraps are other's trash and other's scraps are my 'small pieces'. x Teje

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    1. I love framing bright colors with black! At some point we do have to set limits on how much and what size of scraps to keep. Something that takes years to master I think!

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  17. Your colour choices are wonderful and the pillows are stunning. Thanks for the tutorial.

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  18. What a great idea!! So bright and colorful!!

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  19. Love your scrap project! It's so pretty and no one would guess you started with scraps.

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  20. Thanks for sharing your process. I love this pillow! It's so vibrant.

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  21. I love this pillow, the yellows are so bright and cheerful and just pop off of the black background. The pebbles were the perfect quilting for the improv block.

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  22. that's right... small pieces not scraps. Scraps sounds like trash and these are gems. LeeAnna at not afraid of color

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  23. Scraps are my favorite kind of fabric! Love your pillows.

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  24. Love this - bookmarking to come back to again! i really like the variety of tones that just make these colours shine!

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  25. I love these! Just brilliant! It makes me want to go play in my solid scraps too!

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