Wednesday, January 14, 2009

WASTE NOT, WANT NOT

Well, I am finally back in to the swing of my quilting and knitting since the Christmas decorations (well, most of them) are all stowed away for next year.  The above blocks are all the January block of the month that I will be working on this year.  I need more than one for each month, however, since mine will turn in to a quilt for a KINGsize bed!
So what's the "Waste Not, Want  Not" title.  Well, see those corners on the blocks? 


This little snippet came from there, and it had lots of cousins from all the other "half square triangle" spots.
OK, they are small pretty small, but there's just something in me that couldn't let those pieces of fabric go to waste.  I don't pretend to be an equal to the amazing Gee's Bend women, and it's not really the current economy that's got me in the mode.  Perhaps it's just 'cause a grew up with a mother who NEVER threw anything away (anything that was useful, that is).  Every time I buy fabric, I remember her ALWAYS buying at least 1/8 yard less than the pattern called for.  She was the best ever "scrimper" in squeezing and moving around those pattern pieces to the best advantage.  

Once I sewed today's triangles together, I had mostly 1 -3/4" squares and a few 1 - 1/2".

The strip you see up there by the ruler is one of many strips left over from the postage stamp project that I used for this pillow that I made at my first quilting class.  So there could be a use for these little guys making something like this.  Or they could be sewn together and used in combination with plain strips for a strip quilt that I'll be working on soon.  They would also be great sewn in strips for a narrow sashing.



Hope my mom would be proud for not being wasteful.

Now I've got to go get to some knitting to finish up next weeks' birthday projects.  Hope to share photos of those with you soon.  Until then, stay warm.

2 comments:

Cary Hairbows said...

Mary Lynn--

I missed your posts! I hope you had a nice holiday!!

You always inspire me to move forward and sew, sew, sew!! I used to quilt ALL the time before my girls were born 6 and 7 years ago. I just got back into the swing of things, and my machine started right up and readily forgave me for the neglect. Back when I used to bat out one quilt a month, I was picky--if something wasn't just so, I would place the unfinished project in a closet and move on to the next project (quilter's A.D.D, I suppose). So anyway, I recently rescued 2 beautiful quilt tops from the "forbidden" craft closet. And you know what??? My mistakes from 8years ago weren't so bad! I finished them, and what a treat! They are super! One is water color batik and the other is an outdoorsy themed flannel quilt for my husband. I can't believe I didn't give them a chance way back when. Little mistakes give a quilt character, don't you think?

I look forward to seeing your next project. You better start the grandbaby quilts soon. ;)

Have a wonderful day!

Shannon

Mary Ann said...

I never throw any little scraps like those out, either! You can always make something with them! I love making miniatures, so they're perfect for that!!
Your blog is lovely!
Mary Ann