A New RSC Plan in Pink

I've started thinking about new projects for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge for next year. This has involved spending several hours going through my Pinterest board of rainbow quilts, plus looking through some of my quilt pattern books. However, there was one pattern that I first saw early this year and knew that it would become a future RSC project for me.

Scraptastic Star
pattern by Melissa Corey

Melissa Corey's Scraptastic Star was the March block for the 2017 Aurifil Designer Block of the Month. The above block is the one she shared on her website. I love that her pattern uses many scraps of a single color for each block, perfect for the RSC! Most of my previous RSC projects have involved making multiple blocks of each color, but generally did not use lots of different fabrics in each block.

Since I had already finished my Scrappy Trips blocks in pink for October, I decided to give this pattern a try and make sure I liked it. Here is my first block. Like Melissa's pattern, this block is made from 2" squares (cut size) and finishes at 12".

Scraptastic Star, 12" block

Since I have lots of 2.5" squares and strips in my stash, I thought I would see how the block looks with that size too. This block finishes at 16".

Scraptastic Star, 16" block

Here's a photo of the two blocks together so you can see how they compare.

Scraptastic Stars
pattern by Melissa Corey

I can't decide which size block I like better. I guess that means I will just have to make both sizes each month. I certainly have enough scraps around to do that! I'm also thinking about going even smaller (1.5" cut squares = 8" finished block) or larger (3" squares = 20" block.) Stay tuned...

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and at Oh Scrap! over at Quilting is more fun than Housework on Sunday. Be sure to check out all of the wonderful projects that everyone is sharing! 

Julie in GA

RSC 2016 Plans and Ideas

As we approach the end of 2015, it's time to finish up some of this year's projects for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. Last week I finished off the top of the applique quilt, Circling the Rainbow, that I have been working on all year, and it has been delivered for quilting. Can't wait to see the finished quilt!

My second RSC project for this year has been bowtie blocks. According to the tally I've been keeping all year, there are 540 blocks done. They will finish at 4". I haven't decided yet how I want to put them together. There is still a stack of teal/aqua squares cut for more bowties, so I might continue making these as leaders/enders with the goal of having 600 blocks at the end of the year.

The other fun part with the RSC at this time of year is thinking about possible projects for next year. I have been contemplating a couple of options for a new hand-stitching project. Since I did English paper piecing last year and hand applique this year, I was thinking maybe it's time to try hand piecing. I just haven't settled on the perfect project yet. Here are a few sample tumbling blocks that I made recently. 

The tumbling blocks were okay to make, but aren't exciting me right now. If anyone has a suggestion of a fun block to piece by hand, I'd be very happy to hear about it. I think I might prefer something that I could piece the blocks by hand, but then end up joining them by machine. The thought of hand stitching a whole pile of tumbling blocks together at the end of the year is just too much for me at the moment.

It's quite possible I will end up doing another hand applique quilt. One option would be hearts--something like this adorable little baby quilt. Melissa Corry at Happy Quilting has a great tutorial for this quilt (although her version is for hearts that are fused and machine stitched.)

I have also been thinking about making a 30's style butterflies quilt. My mother has talked about remembering a quilt like this from her childhood. Here are a couple versions I found on ebay and saved to Pinterest.

There are so many wonderful quilt designs out there, it can be overwhelming to choose what to make next. I'm not committing to any of these ideas yet since I still have a few weeks left of 2015.

Be sure to check out all of the wonderful scrappy projects at the Rainbow Scrap Challenge every Saturday and at Oh Scrap! over at Quilting is more fun than Housework on Sunday. 

Julie in GA