Scrappy Grocery Bags

While going through some of my bins of fabrics recently, I ran across one containing scraps of old fabrics that my mother had saved over the years, many of them from the 1960's and 70's. My sister Karen and I had used many of Mom's fabric scraps to make three improv quilts back in 2015. You can read more about that project HERE.

In the bin with the rest of the fabric scraps were two large Ziploc bags with pieces of fabrics heavier than regular quilting weight. One set had a definite red, white & blue theme.

I decided to make some grocery bags from the scraps. Kate at Life in Pieces had recently shared photos of a whole collection of them she made in THIS POST. The pattern she used is from the Fat Quarter Shop, and it is available for free HERE. I was able to make three different grocery bags from the available scraps.

Bag #1 front

Bag #1 back

Bag #2 front

Bag #2 back

Bag #3 front

Bag #3 back

I used the same fabric to line all three bags, a wide backing fabric from Michael Miller called "Daydream."

The bags all look very similar, and the only way I can keep track of which front and back photo go together is by looking at the base fabric. Here's a shot of all three bags together.

I will be sharing the finished bags with my mother and sisters. I still have the second Ziploc of heavier scraps, these in much brighter, late-60's/early-70's colors like lime green, aqua and hot pink. I haven't decided what to make with these yet.

Linking up with:

Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts

Can I Get a Whoop Whoop at Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Peacock Party at Wendy's Quilts and More

Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework

Happy quilting!

Julie in GA

Scrappy Rainbow Saturday--Week 39, 2020

It's the last Saturday of our month of stitching up red scraps for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I finished my red Scrappy Bear Paw block a couple days ago.

One of the best things about making scrappy blocks is reminiscing about the different fabrics. For this block I pulled out some very old pieces that had come from my mother's scrap bags. Five years ago this summer, my sister and I made three quilts with those old scraps, one for each of us and one for Mom. Some of the scraps date back decades from making clothing for the whole family. They are full of such wonderful fabric memories!

There were four of the old fabrics included in my Bear Paw block.

I don't remember what was originally made from every one of those old fabrics, but one in particular stands out for me. This print was a dress my mother made for me when I was very young, and I even had a matching dress for my doll! I've always loved this fabric, and I even have the original dress stashed away with some of Mom's scraps that I kept.

The dress is a little faded, but I'm still tickled every time I pull it out. I don't have any children or grandchildren to pass it on to, and it's unlikely I could ever bring myself to cut it up for the fabric. I'll just enjoy the memories when I see it.

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and with Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework on Sunday. I hope you are all staying well and getting lots of quilting done!

Julie in GA 

Stash Report Sunday 6/7/15

There was fabric added to my stash this week, but fortunately there was also even more fabric used. I am keeping up with my goal of using more than I add.

Usage: 

Improvisation in Green--borders        1.0 yard

Hanging sleeve for quilt in show          .5 yard

Green Blooming 9-Patch--back        4.25 yard

Turquoise Scrappy Trips block           .25 yard

My only addition was this fabric that I found at JoAnn's. I already have a piece of this print, but was very happy to find more of it yesterday. I am dreaming of a gradation of yellow/lime/bright green/turquoise/dark teal with grey accents and using this print as a border. Maybe someday...

I am visiting my mother in Wisconsin for a few days, and one thing she wanted me to do was go through the bags of fabric scraps that were stashed in the attic. Mom has always sewed, including making clothing for me and my three siblings for many years. She is the one that taught us to sew and instilled my love of creating with fabric.

She and I had a huge laugh last night when I read a comment on yesterday's blog post that said "you must be getting low on scraps." At the moment when I read that comment, this is what I could see all around me. I don't think I will every run out of scraps!

This started with bags of scraps that were roughly sorted by color, plus separate bags of stripes, plaids, checks, and solids. Some of the scraps in these bags go back 50 years or more. Mom and I had a great time looking through the collection and trying to remember the garments that were made from all the fabrics.

After we were done reminiscing, I went through all the bags and pulled out the fabrics that were too heavy or too flimsy for quilting. Next I started opening up all the little bundles and sorting the scraps by size. Soon I will be ready to press up the smaller pieces and try to figure out how to use them. My sister and I have talked about trying to make small quilts to show off the huge variety of these wonderful fabrics. I can't wait to get started!

TOTALS:

Used this week:                        6.0 yards     
Used year to date:                80.50 yards

Stashed this week:                    2.0 yards

Stashed year to date:           59.625 yards 

Net year to date:             20.875 yards used

Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times.  I will also be linking up on Sunday to Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework.

Julie in GA