Scrappy Rainbow Wrap-Up for 2022

2022 was my 10th year of participating in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, hosted by Angela at soscrappy. I love the combination of the limitations imposed by monthly color assignments along with the total freedom to make whatever we choose. Then there's also the fact that the RSC participants are some of the friendliest and most inspiring quilters you will ever find! Thanks so much to Angela for keeping us all motivated every week/month, and to everyone else for the feedback and encouragement.

It felt like my RSC projects were somewhat neglected this year, but as I started looking back at photos and blog posts, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I got done. I started the year with three new RSC projects, plus a few others that carried over from last year.

1. Charm Baskets was my favorite new RSC project for 2022. I made over 200 basket blocks, 4" finished size, for this quilt top.

Charm Baskets, 52.75" x 69"

2. The other new RSC project that made it to the finished quilt top stage was Scrappy Hearts.

Scrappy Hearts, 45" x 52.5"

3. The third new RSC project for 2022 was the Scrappy Rail Fence blocks. My original plan was to make these blocks as leaders and enders, averaging one little 3" block every day using that month's color. I got through four months before losing interest, but I might try again next year because I love the way they look together.

Scrappy Rail Fence blocks 

4. There were three projects that carried over from last year. The first was the Bowties 365 blocks, which were my daily block project for 2021. I joined the blocks into four sections, intending to quilt each section separately, then join them. However, now that I have a bigger machine for quilting, I should be able to put these all together before quilting.

Bowties 365, 44" x 58" (after sections get joined together)

5. Another ongoing project was the Applique Hearts. I always like to have a hand stitching project in the works, and these heart blocks were started in July of 2021. I have around 70 hearts blocks made and need to figure out how I am going to put them together, possible framing them with more scraps like the two red and one green block in the photo.

6. Glorified 9-Patch was a carry-over project that actually became a quilt top. I made the last sets of blocks in October, then joined them all together and added a border.

Glorified 9-Patch, 48" x 48"

One of my RSC goals for 2022 was to pull out a UFO/WIP each month, using the color of the month for my selection. This didn't happen every month, but I did make progress on several old projects.

7. My Storm at Sea Heart got the borders added during the red month, January, bringing it up to 30.5" x 27.5". I'm hoping to get this quilted up soon and put it up for Valentine's day.

8. In April, I combined some leftover pink fabrics from a 2014 baby quilt with pink solids to make an Uneven 9-Patch quilt, 42" x 49". 

9. In August I made a small quilt top from an old block and a collection of orange HSTs. This Orange Medallion quilt top measures 41.25" x 54.25".

10. I also pulled out a very old Snail's Trail UFO (from 2001) that had plenty of orange in it. I finished making the blocks, then got them joined together into this little quilt top (31" square.)

11. In September, I finished assembling the Spinning Boxes quilt top (53" x 69") that had been started as an RSC project in 2018. 

12. After buying a new Juki machine to use primarily for free-motion quilting, I went on a quilting binge in August and September, finishing off a few former RSC quilts. The first was made from Rainbow LeMoyne Star blocks that had been made in 2014. The quilt finished at 32.5" x 42.75".

13. The next finished RSC quilt was Crossroads in Green. This quilt's top was also made in 2014, and I got it layered and partially quilted that year, but then was stuck on how to finish the quilting. The new machine made life much easier, and I was happy to finish this quilt (44" x 56") and gift it to a friend.

14. I'm always happy to have a reason to make another baby quilt, and fortunately, our nieces keep on having babies! The latest was born in October, and I finished off one of the Scrap Dance quilt tops that I had made as part of the RSC in 2020 for her. This quilt finished at 39" x 46".

I think that's the end of the list of RSC projects from 2022, and I'm amazed at the final number of quilts and projects. By my count, I ended up with 4 finished quilts, 7 quilt tops plus 1 nearly done top, and 2 projects needing blocks made or joined together. 

Now it's time to finalize my plans for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge in 2023. Join me in checking out all the other wrap-up posts from the rest of the RSC quilters. I'm linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and at Oh Scrap! over at Quilting is more fun than Housework on Sunday.

Happy new year and happy quilting!

Julie in GA

Square Dance Baby Quilt Finished!

It's my first quilt finish for September--the Square Dance baby quilt is complete!

Square Dance baby quilt

39" x 46"

The blocks for this quilt were made as part of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge throughout 2020. I made about 30 blocks each month using the assigned color of the month along with the next color of the rainbow progression. By the end of the year, I had the blocks all joined together into two small quilt tops.

The two quilt tops above each measured 40" x 60" When I decided to use one of them for this baby quilt, I decided to remove a couple rows of blocks, taking the size down to 40" x 48". After quilting and washing, it ended up at 39" x 46".

The quilting is wavy lines following the chains of squares that zigzag through the quilt. I used a whole rainbow of thread colors, matching each to the fabrics.

The backing is a flannel that I have used on multiple earlier quilts. I wish I had a whole bolt of this fabric!

This quilt should get packed up and mailed tomorrow. It is going to a niece who is expecting a little girl next month. We are planning a family visit in December and hope to meet the new family member then!

Finishing this quilt was also my One Monthly Goal for September. I will be linking up with Elm Street Quilts at the end of the month.

Linking up with:

Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts

Rainbow Scrap Challenge at So Scrappy

Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework

One Monthly Goal at Elm Street Quilts

Favorite Finish at Meadow Mist Designs

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA 

One Monthly Goal--September 2022

Figuring out my One Monthly Goal (OMG) for September was easier this month than usual. A niece is expecting a little girl, due in October, and for months I have been planning to make a baby quilt, but kept putting it off. The time has come for the procrastination to end!

Instead of piecing a new quilt, I went through my closet of quilt tops and pulled out a favorite rainbow top. Actually, there were two tops, which could have been joined together into one larger quilt.

These tops were made in 2020 as part of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. The pattern is called Square Dance, but in reality, it's just a Double 4-Patch. I made blocks all through the year, then joined them into the two tops in December. Each top measures 40" x 60".

40" x 60"

Here is the half that will become the baby quilt. I decided that 60" was too long and took three rows of blocks off the quilt. It now measures 40" x 48". The photo above shows it before the rows were removed, and the next photo is after.

40" x 48"

I have enough of my favorite wild print flannel, shown above, for the backing, and everything is ready to be layered. My biggest challenge right now is deciding on the quilting design, especially what color thread to use. Quilting would go much faster if I did the whole thing with one thread, but I can't figure out what color would work best. Maybe a light or medium grey? Of course, I could pull out my rainbow set of threads and use the whole collection!

The official goal for September is to end up with a finished baby quilt, quilted and bound! I'm linking up with the One Monthly Goal party at Elm Street Quilts. Also linking up to Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts and Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt.

Happy quilting!

Julie in GA

To-Do Tuesday 1/12/2021

It has been a few weeks since my last To-Do Tuesday post, and I can't really figure out why. Of course there were the holidays in there, but we stayed at home and I still had plenty of quilting time. Last Tuesday was the Georgia run-off elections, but we had voted early, so that didn't slow me down either. At any rate, I'm hoping to get back to more regular participation in the  To-Do Tuesday Weekly Progress Update and Link-up hosted by Roseanne and Sue at Home Sewn By Us. Here's the list from my last post:

To-Do List for 12/22 - 12/28/2020

1. RSC Square Dance--finish joining all blocks together           ✔done

Two quilt tops finished, each measuring 40" x 60". They could be joined together into a single 60" x 80" quilt.

2. Grassy Creek mystery--finish Step 4, begin Step 5              ✔done

Bonnie posted Step 7, the final reveal, last Friday. I am done through Step 5 and have started Step 6. 

3. Sewcialites QAL--make block #14                                      ✔done

The Sewcialites QAL took a couple weeks off for the holidays, and block #14 was just posted last Friday. I am all caught up on these blocks.

4. Glorified 9-Patch--stitch one black/grey block                      ✔done

I finished two black/grey blocks while watching election returns. They will get trimmed down when I am ready to join blocks together.

To-Do List for 1/12 - 1/18/2021:

1. Bowties 365--make one bowtie block every day

2. Blooming Onion--make more blocks (I shared the beginning of this project in yesterday's post.)

3. Glorified 9-Patch--make 1 block in pink

4. 30's Kaleidoscope--start making blocks (a new project)

5. Grassy Creek mystery--put together first block

6. Sewcialites QAL--make block #15

7. Stay-at-Home Round Robin (SAHRR)--choose or make center block

Once again, I've gotten carried away with making my list. It's unlikely I will get to everything, but it would be great to move ahead on most of them.  I'll report on my progress and post a new set of goals next Tuesday. I'm linking up with other To-Do Tuesday lists at Home Sewn by Us. 

Julie in GA

Best of 2020

Cheryl at Meadow Mist Designs is hosting the Best of 2020 blog party, the fifth year for this event. She is offering the opportunity to link up our five "best" posts from the past year. We get to decide how we choose those posts, but I'm going to follow her suggestions.

1. Post with the most views:  Star Cluster Baby Quilts

I made quilts for the two newest additions to the family over the summer, and this post got the most views by far in 2020. We haven't been able to travel and meet the new babies yet, but it's great to see both enjoying their quilts!

2. Post with the most comments: Orange Peel Rainbow

Orange Peel Rainbow, 36.5" x 48.5"

The Orange Peel blocks were my hand-stitching project for over a year and a half as part of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I got them all joined together into this small quilt top in August.

3. Post that provoked the best discussion: Scrappy Bear Paws Setting

The above photo shows my Scrappy Bear Paw blocks on the wall with scrappy setting triangle fabrics, an idea that ended up being rejected. Here's a photo of the finished quilt top.

Scrappy Bear Paws, 47.75" x 68.75"

4. Post showing your favorite 2020 finish: Dresden Stars

Dresden Stars, 50" x 50"

Besides the two baby quilts, this was one of the few quilts to get completely finished this year. It felt great to get this long-time UFO, which was started in 2013,  done and hanging in our living room.

5. Post that is a personal favorite: 2020 Rainbow Scrap Challenge Wrap-Up

My final Rainbow Scrap Challenge post of the year shared all four of the rainbow projects that became finished tops by the end of 2020. Besides the Orange Peel Rainbow and the Scrappy Bear Paws shown above, it also included my Scrap Snap quilt, Rainbow Cascade, and my two RSC Square Dance tops.

Rainbow Cascade, 60.5" x 72.5"

RSC Square Dance tops, each 40" x 60"

Despite all the challenges of this very strange year, I'm happy with the progress I made on my quilting projects for 2020, and I look forward to continuing in 2021. Thanks to Cheryl for giving us all the opportunity to share our favorites from the past year. I'm linking up with her "Best of 2020" blog party.

Happy quilting and Happy New Year!

Julie in GA

Last Scrappy Rainbow Saturday of 2020

Another year of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge is coming to an end. As always, there have been countless numbers of amazing rainbow quilts made by the participants. I am continually blown away by their creativity! I am also deeply appreciative of their continuing support and encouragement.

Of course, the main person to thank is Angela, who is our wonderful hostess of the RSC. She created the Rainbow Scrap Challenge in 2011 and has kept it going ever since. Thank you so much Angela for all your hard work through the years!

I started 2020 with two new projects for the RSC, plus one that carried over from 2019. Around mid-year, one unplanned rainbow quilt joined the lineup. It's almost the end of the year, and all four of my RSC projects are now finished quilt tops!

The quilt that carried over from 2019 was my Orange Peel Rainbow quilt. I started this hand applique project as a way to fill the time on my morning train rides to work. I made about a dozen blocks each month in the assigned RSC color. The last blocks were appliqued in mid-August, and they were all joined together a week later.

Orange Peel Rainbow, 36.5" x 48.5"

The unplanned rainbow project for the year was the Scrap Snap QAL. I discovered this pattern in May and couldn't resist jumping in, even though I was several months behind. The blocks were very easy to make, perfect during a pandemic. My original plan was to catch up on the months I had missed, then make the rest of the blocks each month as part of the RSC. It turned out that I couldn't resist making all the different colors over the summer. Before I knew what was happening, I had a finished quilt top that I call Rainbow Cascade.

Rainbow Cascade, 60.5" x 72.5"

Of the two new projects planned for the RSC in 2020, the first to get assembled was the Scrappy Bear Paws. Each month I made a 14" block, although a couple of them were later deconstructed to use in the setting triangles when the quilt top came together. This quilt top was finished in November.

Scrappy Bear Paws, 47.75" x 68.75"

My last RSC project for 2020 was completed on Christmas Eve. My inspiration was the Square Dance block, shared by the Stashbuster Challenge at Border Creek Station. It's basically a double four-patch block with strategic color placement. I figured out a plan for my quilt at the very beginning of the year, then started making 30-32 blocks each month based on the Rainbow Scrap Challenge colors. I ended up with over 300 blocks, which have all been joined together. The only decision that hasn't been made yet is whether to use the blocks in one large throw quilt (60 x 80") or two smaller quilts (40 x 60"), which would be a good size for little kids. For now, I have two separate tops, but they could easily be joined together into one. This is my Rainbow Square Dance!

Rainbow Square Dance x 2, each top = 40" x 60"

I started participating in the RSC back in 2013, and I'm pretty sure that this is the first time I got all of my rainbow projects for the year assembled into tops before the end of the year. Of course, getting them quilted and finished may take much longer, but I'm thrilled to have all of these projects done to this stage.

I'm always looking for new ideas for future rainbow projects, and there are far too many wonderful designs out there! It's so hard to limit my choices for next year to a "reasonable" number. I've already started a new hand-piecing project, my Glorified 9-Patch blocks, which will carry over through 2021.

I will probably also do 2-3 more rainbow projects for next year. I've decided on one, but the others are still up in the air. Maybe I will have it figured out by next week!

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 

Design Wall Monday 12/21/2020

Most of my recent quilting time has been split between making units for Step 4 of Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek mystery quilt and joining together blocks for my Rainbow Scrap Challenge project, the Stashbuster Square Dance quilt

Here are a few of the parts made for Bonnie's mystery, Step 4. I still have quite a few more to finish up.

The RSC Square Dance blocks are being stitched together into columns. This photo shows about 1/4 of the total quilt. Half of the quilt has already been assembled, and I hope to get the rest put together before Saturday, our final Rainbow Scrap Challenge day of 2020.

Linking up with:
Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts
Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt

Merry Christmas to all and happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA  

Design Wall Monday 12/7/2020

I have been working on stitching together the many little (4" finished) blocks for one of my Rainbow Scrap Challenge quilts. These are the Stashbuster Square Dance blocks that I have been making all year. They are actually just Double 4-Patch blocks with a new name. I planned ahead and made each set of blocks using two adjacent colors in order to get the rainbow flow that you can see here.

I'm assembling my quilt top in sections. These blocks are joined into 5 columns of 10 blocks each, which is 1/3 the width and 1/2 the length of my quilt. The final setting will be 15 blocks across by 20 blocks long, a total of 300 little blocks. I have a long ways to go, and I have to be careful to keep them turned the right direction to make my design work out as planned. I put the blocks for half of the quilt up on my larger design wall, and as I get the blocks stitched into columns, I move them to the other design wall. The columns will get joined together once I complete a few more.

Linking up with:
Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts
Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA 

Scrappy Rainbow Saturday--Week 49, 2020

It has been several weeks since I worked on the Stashbuster Square Dance blocks that I have been making all year for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I finished making blocks in October. The next step is deciding on my layout, then joining the blocks together. My blocks measure only 4" finished, and there are over 300 of them to use. I'm planning to set them 15 x 20 for a quilt that finishes at 60" x 80".

I tried out several possible layouts in EQ7, and decided to go with an asymmetrical zigzag setting. I've started joining the blocks together into pairs, as you can see on the left side of the photo. I think I might start putting all the blocks for 1/4 of the quilt up on the wall together to play with the colors, then get those stitched up before I move on to the next quarter of the quilt. There are more blocks with blues and purples still to be added to the mix.

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 

Scrappy Rainbow Saturday--Week 42, 2020

My latest batch of Stashbuster Square Dance blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge was completed this week. Our color for October is yellow, and my blocks combine that with light/bright greens, which makes for a set of blocks that practically glow on the design wall!

This is the tenth and last group of blocks to be made for this quilt. I should have a total of 320 of these 4" blocks. My next step will be to decide whether to make one 64" x 80" throw quilt using all of the blocks or maybe two smaller kid's quilts. Once that decision is made, it will be time to play with layout options.

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 

To-Do Tuesday 10/13/2020

I'm getting this posted later than usual, but at least it is still Tuesday, which means it is time once again for the To-Do Tuesday Weekly Progress Update and Link-up hosted by Roseanne and Sue at Home Sewn By Us. I did well with last week's list, completing three out of four of my goals, and I hope for the same or better this week.

To-do list for 10/6 - 10/12:

1. Glorious Hexagons--take photos and write blog post           ✔ done

You can see that blog post HERE.

2. Square Dance blocks--continue with yellow/green blocks        ✔ done

Twelve more blocks done, only eight left to make!

3. Cleaning sewing room--spend at least one hour cleaning up     not done

No cleaning/organization of the sewing room happened last week.

4. Alaska QAL--make first set of blocks.  ✔ done

You can see those blocks in yesterday's post.

My goals for the next week include most of the same projects, plus a new one has been added to the list.

To-do list for 10/13 - 10/19:

1.  Square Dance blocks--finish yellow/green blocks

2.  Alaska QAL--make next set of blocks

3.  Glorified 9Patch--finish at least one block

This was my first Glorified 9Patch block.

4.  Cleaning/organization--spend one hour or more

That should be more than enough to keep me busy for the next week. I'll report on my progress and post a new set of goals next Tuesday. I'm linking up with other To-Do Tuesday lists at Home Sewn by Us .

Julie in GA

To-Do Tuesday 10/6/2020

It's October, the weather is feeling like fall, and it is Tuesday, which means it is time once again for the To-Do Tuesday Weekly Progress Update and Link-up hosted by Roseanne and Sue at Home Sewn By Us. I completed half of the items on my list from last week, mostly because I got distracted by a new project late in the week.

To-do list for 9/29 - 10/5

1. Glorious Hexagons--finish joining blocks together                       ✔ done

The blocks are all stitched together and the borders have been added--it's a finished quilt top! Reveal post coming soon. Here a portion of the quilt. The blocks were English paper pieced.

2. Square Dance blocks--begin making yellow blocks                      ✔ done

Twelve blocks done, twenty to go. They certainly are bright and cheery!

3. "Practice What I Preach"--figure out quilting design for border    no

I didn't even touch this quilt all week. It is in a heap on a chair waiting to be finished.

4. Cleaning--finish clearing cutting table          no

The cutting table is now back to the same state it was a week ago, but it was much worse for several days. I was pulling possible fabrics for a new project and had them scattered all over the place. 

To-do list for 10/6 - 10/12:

1. Glorious Hexagons--take photos and write blog post

2. RSC Square Dance--continue with yellow/green blocks

3. Cleaning sewing room--spend at least one hour cleaning up the cutting table

4. Alaska QAL--make first set of blocks. This is the new project. It's a quilt along with Edyta Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts, and it starts this Friday, 10/9. Here's the pattern for the QAL.

Alaska Rainbow, pattern by Laundry Basket Quilts

My version is going to be in autumn colors instead of the rainbow. You can read more and see my fabric choices in yesterday's post. 

That should be more than enough to keep me busy for the next week. I'll report on my progress and post a new set of goals next Tuesday. I'm linking up with other To-Do Tuesday lists at Home Sewn by Us .

Julie in GA