The Last Scrappy Rainbow Saturday of 2019

It's the last Saturday of the year, which makes it the perfect time to review my Rainbow Scrap Challenge projects from 2019. I had four different RSC quilts in process this year--let's check out my process on all of them.

One of my 2019 RSC projects was started last December with some test blocks of hand appliqued Orange Peels. I decided to make 3" finished size blocks using assorted black/dark grey backgrounds with the RSC color of the month for the peels. The last time I showed my completed blocks was in October, and there hasn't been a lot of progress since then. This project will carry over into 2020.

Orange Peels, 3" blocks

One of my self-designed RSC projects was the Framed Crumb Stars. Each block started with a 4" crumb block at the center. Star points were added to that, then a frame made from 2.5" squares. As of late October I had all of my 12" blocks made and need to figure out how I want to put them together.

Framed Crumb Stars, 12" blocks

Angela, our hostess for the RSC, was the leader for the Tiny Tuesday sampler, and there were block designs shared by many other participants too. Every week we got a pattern for a 4.5" finished size block. Occasionally there were two block patterns. I had a great time making these blocks each week, frequently making more than one of the assigned block. I ended up with around 60 blocks, which have been joined together into this fun quilt top.

Tiny Tuesday sampler, 52.5" x 60"

My favorite RSC project of 2019 was my Rainbow Stairsteps quilt. Each month I made 12 blocks in the color of the month. There were quite a few questions about the block, and I included cutting directions for one block in THIS POST. These directions make a 6" block, but it would be easy to scale it up to a larger size.

The Stairsteps quilt top was completed in November, and I am thrilled with the way it turned out! The finished size is 60" x 72".

Rainbow Stairsteps, 60" x 72"

The grand total for 2019--two finished quilt tops, one complete set of blocks, and one on-going project. That's a pretty productive year for me! Other than continuing my Orange Peel blocks, I have not decided on my RSC projects for 2020. There are so many wonderful possibilities, many inspired by fellow RSC participants. I guess it's time to come up with a plan for the year ahead!

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and with Oh Scrap! 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

Scrappy Rainbow Saturday--Week 50, 2019

One of my projects for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge this year has been the Tiny Tuesday sampler. Each week we made a 4.5" block in the featured color. There were several weeks that I made more than one of the assigned block.

All along, I've been planning to surround my blocks in grey. I finally got my grey fabric about ten days ago, and I have been getting all of the blocks framed out and joined together. Here is my first version of the quilt top.

Once the blocks were all joined together and up on the wall, it seemed to need a little breathing room around the outside edges. I had some extra pieces of the grey from framing the blocks and laid them along the left side and part of the top. I like the look with that addition. Time to cut some more of that grey fabric!

Updated late Saturday, 12/14/19--the border has been added. I like this so much better! Quilt top is finished!!

Tiny Tuesday sampler
52.5" x 60"

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and with Oh Scrap! 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

Rainbow Disappearing 9-Patch Quilt Finished!

While sorting through quilt photos recently, I discovered that I had not shared a recent finish. This is my Rainbow Gradations Disappearing 9-Patch baby quilt!

The top for this quilt was made as part of the Disappearing 9-Patch quilt-along at The Crafty Quilter back in June. The fabrics I used were the "Inner Light Gradations" line by Debra Lunn & Michael Mrowka for Timeless Treasures. I've had this collection of fabrics sitting on my shelf for many years--time to use some of it up!

The quilt top came together very quickly. I love using a simple pattern that really shows off the beautiful fabric. I found the perfect tie-dye flannel to use for the backing. Flannel is always my first choice for backing a baby quilt.

I kept the quilting very simple, just stitch-in-the-ditch along all the seams. It was bound in the same black fabric as the contrast in the piecing. The quilt measured 39.5" x 48" before washing, then shrank up to 38.75" x 46.5" after it was washed and dried.

The reason I hadn't shared photos of the quilt earlier is because it was a gift for my niece's new baby boy, and I wanted to wait until they had received the quilt before posting. Here is Lucas enjoying his new quilt!

I'm  linking up with Let's Make Baby Quilts at Michelle's Romantic Tangle, Whoop Whoop Friday at Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts, and the Rainbow Scrap Challenge at soscrappy (even though this quilt isn't scrappy.)

Julie in GA

Rainbow Stairsteps Quilt Top Finished!

November and December are the months set aside for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge as our time to finish making blocks and get our quilts assembled. I have been making Stairsteps blocks since January, and recently got all of my blocks joined together into a finished quilt top!

We were having lots of rainy weather when I finished this top, so I took my first photos indoors. Last weekend the weather improved and I was able to get better photos outdoors. It's amazing the difference in the colors.  

outdoors, no flash

indoors with flash

outdoors with flash

The finished size of my quilt top is 60" x 72". I played with several possible layouts of the blocks throughout the year, but decided on this one a few months ago. This layout required 12 blocks of each color. My blocks finish at 6", and you can find cutting directions for a block HERE.

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'm also linking up with Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Moving it Forward at Em's Scrapbag and Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt. Check them out for lots of great inspiration. Be sure to check out all of the wonderful projects that everyone is sharing! 

Julie in GA

Scrappy Rainbow Saturday--Week 45, 2019

As we head toward the end of the year, it is time to think about finishing some of my Rainbow Scrap Challenge projects. My first choice was to put all of the Tiny Tuesday blocks up on the wall together. The taupey fabric with white polka dots that you can see around the blocks is not my setting fabric, although it doesn't look too bad with the cheery rainbow blocks. It is actually the flannel that covers my design wall.

At the moment the blocks are arranged in columns by color, with some extras running across the top row. As you can see, I made duplicates of many of the designs, ending up with a total of 65 blocks (63 shown here.) I need to choose a fabric to frame the blocks, probably a light/medium grey tone-on-tone. If the blocks all get framed out to finish at 7" and are set together 7 x 9 as shown here, that would make a 49" x 63" small throw or kid's quilt before adding any borders.

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and with Oh Scrap! 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

Scrappy Rainbow Saturday--Week 43, 2019

My progress for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge over the past week included making two more Framed Crumb Star blocks, one in dark brown and one in lighter brown. I know some people don't like to use brown in their quilts, but I love the warmth and depth it can add. Seeing these together makes me want to make a whole quilt out of neutrals. 

Finishing those two blocks meant it was time to put all twelve blocks up on the design wall. I'm sure they will still get rearranged a few times, but it is so much fun to see all the different colors together! 

Each block measures 12.5" with seam allowance. If they get joined together with narrow sashing, this would be the perfect size for a baby quilt. It's time to turn these blocks into a finished quilt top!

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and with Oh Scrap! 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

Scrappy Rainbow Saturday--Week 42, 2019

My stitching for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge this week was to make two more Framed Crumb Stars, one in grey and one in light blue.

After those were done, I put all of my blocks up on the wall together. The blocks finish at 12". I have ten finished and need two more to have enough for a small quilt.  I'm planning to make one in brown and the other will either be black or tan.

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and with Oh Scrap! 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

Scrappy Rainbow Saturday--Playing with Peels

Ever since the beginning of the year, I have been hand applique stitching little 3" Orange Peel blocks as part of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. Actually, I believe I started late last year with a few sample blocks to make sure I liked the idea before committing to it. I've made over 100 blocks since then, and I'm feeling like the time has come to make a plan for how I'm going to use them all.

My original inspiration was a design I saw from a company called Honest Fabric. This company makes custom printed quilt tops in a wide variety of designs. The quilt tops can be used for free-motion quilting practice or to make a quick quilt without spending long hours piecing it. You can learn much more about them at the Honest Fabric website.

I'm not sure I would ever want a pre-printed quilt top, but I sure love this Orange Peel design that they produce.

Honest Fabric "Orange Peel" 

That design was my starting point. I have been trying to make 12-16 Orange Peel blocks per month with a variety of scrappy black and dark grey background fabrics. To reproduce the above design in my quilt would require a total of 320 blocks, which means at least another full year of making Orange Peels, maybe more. I'm not sure I can keep going for that long, so it's time to look at some other options. Here a few of my layout ideas.

The last photo is my attempt to mimic the layout from the Honest Fabric version, and I must admit that it is my favorite of the bunch. I'm a sucker for a good gradation of colors, especially the whole rainbow. Maybe another year isn't out of the question (but I'm going to need to get some more background fabrics!) I'd love to hear what you think about these choices.

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and with Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework and Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts on Sunday. On Monday I'm linking up with Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Moving it Forward at Em's Scrapbag and Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt. Be sure to check out all of the wonderful projects that everyone is sharing! 

Julie in GA

Scrappy Rainbow Saturday--Week 40, 2019

Our assigned colors for October at the Rainbow Scrap Challenge are brown, black and grey. I've been eagerly waiting for these colors so I could make my last sets of blocks for my Stairsteps quilt, and here they are. They may not be the most exciting colors, but they will be the perfect addition to my quilt.

Now that the last blocks are made, I can finalize the layout and get this quilt put together. I can hardly wait! I might start as soon as I finish this post.

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and with Oh Scrap! 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

Scrappy Rainbow Saturday--Week 39, 2019

It's almost the end of our month of playing with purple scraps for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I made good progress on all of my different RSC projects.

Here we have a Framed Crumb Star (12" block") surrounded by twelve Stairsteps blocks. On the right are eight Orange Peel blocks, plus five Tiny Tuesday blocks.

I also made some Quarter Log Cabin blocks as a sample for a possible RSC project next year.

It seems like we will probably have black and grey or brown as our assigned colors for October. It's almost time to finish making blocks and start getting these quilt tops put together!

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and with Oh Scrap! 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

Scrappy Rainbow Saturday--Week 38, 2019

I didn't make any Stairsteps blocks last month for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. Our color of the month for August was light/bright blues, and I had already used all different shades of blue for my blocks in June. When it came time to make a set of blocks in purples for September, it took me awhile to work up some enthusiasm for the job. However, once I got going on the purple blocks, it all went smoothly and I am very happy with the results.

This project has now reached the point where I just want to keep going and make the rest of the blocks needed. There are 8 colors done, and I still need to add brown and grey/black blocks. Then it will be assembly time! There's a 50/50 chance I will make the rest of the blocks yet this month and get this beauty put together in October.

I've had some questions throughout the year about a pattern for these blocks. I don't have an official pattern to share, but I did post a set of cutting instructions in an earlier post HERE. I also found a link to a similar pattern called Vortex from Wilmington Prints that is available for free at the Fat Quarter Shop. Here are several different color combinations and an interesting layout for inspiration.

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and with Oh Scrap! 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

Scrappy Rainbow Saturday--Week 37, 2019

I have some catching up to do on a couple of my Rainbow Scrap Challenge projects. The pieces were all cut for some purple Stairsteps blocks, but instead of sewing them together, I just had to try out a new idea. 

We made Quarter Log Cabin blocks as part of the Tiny Tuesday sampler a few weeks ago. I kept thinking about making a larger version of that pattern as a future RSC quilt. Today was the day to make some sample blocks. The light strips are cut at 1.5" and the dark ones are 2", ending up with 9" finished blocks.

Quarter Log Cabins, 9" finished size

My purple blocks look very dark in the photo. I'm undecided about making them as a new RSC project for next year, but it was fun to experiment with something new this afternoon.

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and with Oh Scrap! 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

Scrappy Rainbow Saturday--Week 36, 2019

Finally, a weekend where I get two whole days off! It's the first time that has happened in a month. And that Labor Day holiday? We are still waiting to find out when we can get a make-up day off for that.

I've been so busy and worn out that it is hard to know where things stand with my Rainbow Scrap Challenge projects. My Orange Peel blocks are in the works, and they are always easy to pick up when there's a few minutes for stitching. Today I finished making my Framed Crumb Star block in pretty purples.

A couple years ago, I was making Scrappy Trip Around the World blocks as a way to use up a drawer full of 3" strips. (You can see my Scrappy Trips quilt tops HERE.) There are still quite a few strips in there, but I cut up most of the purple leftovers into 3" squares and made 4-patch blocks from them. The other night I pulled out those blocks and tried a couple of different layouts on the design wall. The first version has the lightest squares running in a diagonal line.

The second attempt has the light blocks scattered around more randomly. 

Of the two options, the random mix is my favorite. The number of blocks would make a small quilt about 35" square. I need to decide if I want to stop there or make more purple 4-patches. I'm currently leaning toward more blocks.

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and with Oh Scrap! 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

Scrappy Rainbow Saturday--Week 35, 2019

Long hours at work have definitely taken a toll on my quilting productivity this month. Fortunately, I was able to keep up with two of my projects for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge this month, producing groups of blocks in light and medium blues.

I had lots of fun making the different Tiny Tuesday blocks this month. I liked the 1/4 Log Cabin blocks so much that I am considering that design as an option for next year's RSC project.

The Orange Peel blocks keep getting worked on during the morning train commute. I might still have a couple more light blue blocks yet to finish.

I couldn't resist putting a few groups of the Orange Peel blocks up on the wall together.

I hope to spend the rest of this afternoon working on another scrappy project that includes plenty of bright blues. This is the center of my version of Kevin the Quilter's summer mystery. My next step is a border of yellow 4-patches to go around this part.

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

Julie in GA

Scrappy Rainbow Saturday--Week 34, 2019

I've been doing well this year at keeping up with making the weekly Tiny Tuesday blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. The part of that project that I haven't kept up with at all is framing the blocks. Now that we are almost 2/3 of the way through the year, it seems like I should choose a frame fabric and get that part done, instead of waiting until the end to do them all.

All along, I've been thinking that a light/medium grey tone-on-tone would be a good choice for the frame fabric. A recent sale at Connecting Threads included several different grey fabrics. I bought 3 yards of one print to use with these blocks, plus 1/2 yard pieces of a couple of other greys. Now it's time to decide which fabric I like best.

The lighter grey fabric on the right is the one I had been planning to use. Unfortunately, I like the darker fabric on the left better. I only have 1/2 yard of that one, so will have to buy more before I can frame these blocks. I'll find another use for the 3 yards of the lighter fabric, maybe as the background on a mystery project.

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and with Oh Scrap! 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

Scrappy Stripey Saturday

Our colors for August at the Rainbow Scrap Challenge are light and medium blues. I'm don't need more blue blocks for most of my current Rainbow Scrap Challenge projects, so I pulled out an older project. These are my Shirt Stripe Boxes, based on a project with the same name from Kaffe Fassett's book Passionate Patchwork. They are all made from recycled shirt fabrics. This project was started in July of 2017.

I made my blocks in 9", 6", and 3" finished sizes. On the wall at this point are all of the large and medium blocks, plus a few of the smallest squares. The units along the right side have been joined into 15" x 21" groups. I will continue joining the rest of the blocks into similar groups, then sew those units together into a top that should measure 60" x 84". 

I enjoyed making the blocks for this quilt, trying to get the stripes to line up well and playing with my collection of shirt fabrics. Unfortunately, I'm not crazy about how the blocks are looking when they are joined together. I like it, but I don't love it. I will keep plugging away until I have a finished top, and maybe it will be a happy surprise when it is done.

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and with Oh Scrap! 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

Kevin's Mystery

Back in late June, Kevin the Quilter announced that he was going to be hosting a new mystery project, his Simply Sensational Summer Scrap Quilt. He promised the sewing would be easy, with the clues being posted one month apart. It is all based on squares in your choice of size, and you only need to choose two colors to work with.

The first clue was posted at the end of June, and I resisted joining in for several weeks (too many other projects hanging around my sewing room.) Then one weekend near the end of July, I was putting away some pre-cut squares and realized that I had a plethora of 2" squares in blues--that was the beginning. I started by sewing my blues into pairs, which later become 4-patches--over 180 of them!

Blue 2-patches, sorted light/dark

Blue 4-patches in stacks of 10, plus extra squares at the right

My original plan was to use yellow as the second color, but I was also considering white/cream/beige as the alternate. When I asked my husband his opinion, he pointed to the logo on my Milwaukee Brewers sweatshirt and asked "How can you doubt that yellow is the right choice?"

I proceeded to pull out all the yellow 2" squares I could find, plus cut many more from strips and stash. Here is the collection of golden goodness.

130+ yellow 4-patches in stacks of 10

The next clue won't be posted until the end of this month, and it is very hard waiting to find out what we will be making with all of these parts. I will have to be patient, but it isn't easy!

It's not too late to join the fun, and it really is as easy as Kevin promised. You can find his intro post HERE, the first clue HERE and the second clue HERE.

I'm linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday, Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework, Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Moving it Forward at Em's Scrapbag and Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt.

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA

Scrappy Rainbow Saturday--Week 30, 2019

It is the last pink Saturday of the month for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I was pleasantly surprised to see that I managed to keep up with all of my RSC projects except one--not bad for a busy month with lots of travel. Here are all of my pink blocks.

Framed Crumb Star, 12" finished size

12 Stairsteps blocks, each finishes at 6"

8 Orange Peels, 3" finished size
I still have 8 more of these to make in pinks

6 Tiny Tuesday blocks, 4.5" each

the adorable piglet block
designed by Sally Trude

Here is the entire collection together.

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and with Oh Scrap! 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