This is my new Leader/Ender project. Gather up your strips and strings. Use anything less than an 1 1/2".
Cut some 5 1/2" paper squares, making sure what you use the ink will not rub or iron off onto your fabric. ( tip from
Bonnie).
Take a light and a dark and lay them in the center...right sides together. Stitch using a 1/4" seam allowance.
Flip and press top piece down. Keep alternating light with dark strips until you reach the edge. Your strips should be long enough to extend 1/2" off the edge of your paper.
Turn square around and start sewing light/dark strips going the other way until............
You end up with this!!! Uh... mine doesn't look so light/dark....oh well, no bigg-ee! Now trim....leaving 1/4" of fabric extended from edge of paper. If you will keep a pile of these papers and your strips close at hand while you are working on other projects you will ALWAYS have fabric under your needle.....and if you do, you will be working on two projects at once and one day you will end up with one of
THESE....A Basket Weave Quilt.....
Bonnie has more detailed instructions for this project on her web page.
Ok....all of you who whine about paper piecing....just keep the ones you have sewn by your chair and lazily tear out the paper in the evenings while you are watching the 'boob' tube.
Cut some 5 1/2" paper squares, making sure what you use the ink will not rub or iron off onto your fabric. ( tip from Bonnie).
rather than use paper foudnations I've learned to use a light weight/cheap cotton -- sometimes a muslin, but more often an ugly light print on the discount wall of the fabric store (about $4 a meter)... It means you don't have to remove all the paper, and the extra "body" the layer of fabric gives just adds to the warmth of the quilt :-)
ReplyDeleteUsed fabric softener sheets make great 'foundations' as well - I keep a coffee can full by my machine and since laundry is never ending so is the supply.
ReplyDeleteThat is a really cool idea and I like Quilt Pixie's suggestion of using a light muslin. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI was just cramming more strips in my strip basket yesterday and thinking I need to do something with them! I have done a bunch of 4-patches using Bonnie's leader/ender system and I really like the idea. So far, I haven't actually finished a quilt of these, but it's good to have the project going! Thanks for the good idea! Maybe I can get DH to cut me some paper squares.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea. I still have so many strips of fabric left over from my Mumbo Gumbo Project.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea!!.... my scrap basket overflowth!!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy....LindaMay
This is a really great idea! I do a post on my blog on Mondays with hints and tips. May I link to you?
ReplyDeleteGreat tutorial...easy to follow, need better photo of BERNIE! Super way not to have a vunch of idiot strips sliding all over too!! Gail
ReplyDeleteI am using one of Bonnie's patterns to do the same thing you are doing except mine is the spider web pattern.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea - thanks for the link!!!!
ReplyDeleteTerrific project. I give my scraps away to a lady who makes charity quilts. One day I do hope to make another scrap quilt.
ReplyDeleteWell all need leaders and enders projects sitting by our machines. Not only does it save on all that fabric we have that is really going to get thrown away if we don't but it saves on thread. I need a new leaders and enders project. Thanks for reminding me.
ReplyDeleteBoy, does this look familiar! Just what I was doing with my strings, I just used a 1/2 a phone book page. It's a great leaders/ender project, or even a "just-gotta-sew-something" moment. Good for you!
ReplyDeleteGreat way to use up leftover strips...there always are leftovers...This will be agreat to do in between projects..
ReplyDeleteJulia ♥
So good to see someone using their scraps! Bonnie sure is inspirational. Have fun!
ReplyDeleteCheers - Shari
I love those quilts that grow out of scraps, they seem free. I bet you'll still have just as many scraps at the end, lol.
ReplyDeleteI had never heard of using a leader or an ender before I went to Quiltville, but keep intending to try a Leader/Ender project--4 patches first! Your strings look very bright and cheerful!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun project! I love quilts like that!
ReplyDeleteMicki
Great idea, good links too. I can't throw scrpas out either.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a kid my mom use to make scrap quilts the same way.. sometimes she turned the fabric's in different directions to change the look.
ReplyDeleteWith the price of fabric being so high, you want to use every little bit and this is a great idea!
ReplyDeleteLove leaders and enders ideas...thanks!!! I've got to be better about using this technique!
ReplyDeleteThis is something I might actually get around to doing. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea and I have a ton of scraps!! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI made that little string quilt a couple of years ago and it is still one of my favorites! I keep saying I'm going to make a bigger one but I haven't so far! I almost always have a leader ender project going, it's so nice to have a quilt from just making other quilts!!! I love Bonnie's site and have learned a lot there!!
ReplyDeleteWhat fun! And a great reminder that we can have more than one project going at once. I do love those string blocks! Hugs, Finn
ReplyDeleteI'm always last to show up here... oh wait, I was first once, I think...
ReplyDelete...and once again you have my brain going with ideas for using my skinny strips.
What a great way to use up those little bits.
ReplyDeleteIm saving and trimming the 1/2 sq tri's from the Pineapple quilt pattern by Bonnie. I have 100's of them in blue/cream and brn/cream. Now I need to make a red & cream pineapple and then I'll have enough to make a double quilt from the "left overs".
ReplyDeleteHia Belinda, I'm finally back and caught up with you. Love this idea. Thanks for sharing. The stars quilt is so vibrant. Can't wait to see how you back it. Well done for finishing the top part.
ReplyDeleteI'm playing blog catch up this morning....I think your confetti quilt of Bonnie's pattern is wonderful! In fact, probably the prettiest I've seen. I hope you sent Bonnie a photo.
ReplyDeleteI've made several of these quilts using the paper squares, including one with all christmas fabric. One of the quilts I sewed from corner to corner. It's a great way to use scraps.
ReplyDelete