Jodi at Pleasant Home is hosting Sew Scraps Along this month, and I've decided to join in. Since making something scrappy is on my list of "NewFOs" for 2012, I thought the Sew Scraps Along would dovetail nicely with that plan.
There will be tips, tutorials, and inspiration aplenty for the next few weeks, as well as many chances to win scrappy goodies and prizes. Click the button for all the details!
Last night, I took some time to rummage through my own (disorganized) scrap drawers. I wanted to try making a block I'd seen in one of the books I'd been paging through for inspiration this week, Gwen Marston's Liberated String Quilts. This wasn't one of Gwen's patterns; it was a gallery photo of a 1930s string quilt. The only information was in the caption.
The Dresden ruler I picked up earlier in the week came into play in making my version of what I'm calling a scrappy string ring. Basically, it's a Dresden plate (sans points) cut from a strata of strings. I wasn't sure how this was going to work out, so I selected some pretty humble looking scrap strips to start with for my sample. I did try to keep the colors limited to red, blue, green, cream, and gray.
In order to get good variation, I determined that I would make four different strata of strings, ending in a rectangle that I trimmed to measure 6-1/2 inches high and about 11 or 12 inches long. I cut five wedges from each strata, alternating placement of the ruler for each wedge to add more variation, making a total of 20 wedges per ring.
Then it was just a matter of laying the wedges out in a pleasing way and sewing them together! I made a circle for the center and hand appliqued it down.
Once the ring was assembled, I stitched about 1/8 inch from the outer edge for stabilization, then pressed under 1/4 inch. Now it's ready to applique down onto a background (still experimenting with backgrounds at the moment).
Though it was a bit time consuming, I really like the way it turned out! This little sample will become a wall hanging.
I've loved this design since seeing it on sewing with Nancy. Your design is beautiful with the different colors. I really like it...great job! Hope you have a beautiful weekend! Hugs
That is a neat dresden plate, it leans towards modern lines without the scallops or points. Do you plan to try a whole quilt top with these... they would be cool! :-}pokey
Very very cool, P.! It would also make a nice pillow or placemat.....
ReplyDeleteOh, my heck! That is just plain cool! Love the colors! I can't wait to see the scrappy quilt to follow!
ReplyDeletexo -E
I've loved this design since seeing it on sewing with Nancy. Your design is beautiful with the different colors. I really like it...great job!
ReplyDeleteHope you have a beautiful weekend! Hugs
Looking great! If you end up pressed for time you can pair up some strips and then flip them again and again. Scrappy is the best!
ReplyDeleteWow, that turned out great!
ReplyDeleteAll this scrappy love is inspiring me to dig through my own stash. Love the colour combo you've showcased P!
ReplyDeleteThat is a neat dresden plate, it leans towards modern lines without the scallops or points. Do you plan to try a whole quilt top with these... they would be cool!
ReplyDelete:-}pokey
Very cool! Lots of things you could do with that technique.
ReplyDeleteYour scrappy Dresden turned out wonderfully! And it just looks like fun. :-)
ReplyDeleteWow, how did I miss this post?? I love this Dresden! the photo from the book looks so modern, hard to believe it's from the 1930's.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see it all quilted up.
love it. i want to do this too!
ReplyDeletethat's fabulous - came out really well. I love that quilt too in Gwen's book.
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