Leaders and Enders Flimsy Finish

YEP.......I've added another one to the PILE!!! I used Bonnie Hunter's Leader/Ender method to finally get this little flimsy created. It is her Basket-Weave-Strings quilt. I started this project way back HERE and I gave the instructions and a little tutorial on how I started it. This is a GREAT way to use up those pesky little strips and strings left over from other projects. I threw in a little bit of everything as I've shown in the following photos. I used a paper piece for my foundation and these blocks measure 5 inches.

This green strip is a LETTUCE print Mr. Brown Dirt bought me a Christmas or so ago. I did point it out to him that I was indeed using some of the fabric he gave me.

BUTTERFLIES outlined in some garish gold. The white with the blue design next to them is some cut up mens boxer shorts! Har har har!!!
OINK! OINK! Mr. Porky Pig jumped right in too!!!

I'm not sure how/where/when I ended up with this little tad of PINK FLAMINGO! Notice the AFTERNOON TEA selvedge in the upper right hand corner!

A-N-D these UGLY EASTER EGGS!!!!!

So SEE, this is an EXCELLENT way to get some OR ALL of those numerous and UGLY strips and strings out of your way!!! It's like getting a quilt for FREE!!!!! It was easy and mindless and I plan on doing another one or two. I could control the colors in the next one....Maybe RED WHITE and BLUE!!!

As I mentioned in the beginning about adding to the PILE, yes, I went through and rounded up ALL my Q.U.I.P.S......that's Quilts In Progress. I was amazed when I discovered how many I had. I should be ashamed!!! Do you care to make a guess as to how many I have PILED in the closet???? There might be a little prize if you guess it right!!

COTTON HARVEST is in full swing. Mr. Brown Dirt is already anxious for it to be over and I think he'll get his wish. Last year we harvested around 1800 bales of cotton and this year with the drought we will harvest only around 500 to 700 bales. Quite a difference indeed, but never fear, we always have CROP INSURANCE. Read about how we HARVEST right HERE.

Just to keep you informed.....COTTON PRICES are around $ 1.00 a pound right now. Mr. Brown Dirt says it will probable fall some before the year end. I WONDER if those FABRIC PRICES will fall some this year too???????????

Leaders and Enders

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.

I learned about leaders and enders from Bonnie at Quiltville....this is such a great idea!