A side note to Bonnie Hunter regarding crumb quilting.
#1
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Pratt Kansas
Posts: 1,222
A side note to Bonnie Hunter regarding crumb quilting.
I have started using leaders/enders from Bonnie Hunter. She also suggests crumb quilting.
I have sorted fabric scraps into
1. crumbs-small, down to 7/8", but NOT as small as 3/4". A 3/4" piece of fabric only yields 1/4" of quilt for the work of sewing and pressing two seams. It's cute in a strip or crumb block, but just not worth my time/energy.
2. strings 7/8" & wider, up to about 2-1/2" & longer than 4". Smaller than this goes in crumbs.
3. Scraps - larger than both those.
I started Bonnie's scrap block cutting method. I'm uncertain if I will continue. It seems that I'm always trimming a tidbit off that feels wasteful. I'm thinking of trimming the widths she suggests, but leaving length as it is. Then, if the scrap is a bit wider than long, you can get two half triangles. For less fabric than cutting a square in half...cuz you cut it that width off when you cut your little butterfly corner off.
Trimming Fabric ends:
I used to trim fabric ends as narrow as possible to save fabric on the big piece. I was usually throwing away 1/4"-3/4" of fabric. Now, I cut it 1" to 1-1/4" at the narrowest part. This leaves me a usable string for the string bin.
Sewing crumbs. Don't waste time trying to find two crumbs that are the perfect match. Sew crumbs onto a bigger block scrap or string, and trim it to fit your crumb.
when sewing strings or crumbs, make your seam allowance 5/16, halfway between 1/4 & 3/8. This gives a bit more strength to your very small bits.
Do you love wonky cuts? I kind of do. I was sewing two strings together & then cutting them apart at crazy angles. I found I was spending a lot of time trying to find that perfect piece to straighten out the angle cut. Filling in with a couple of rows of strings... It felt like an unending patch job. So, don't make your angle cuts too crazy, lest it crazy-make you. One thing that works pretty well, cut your crazy angle. When you go to fill it in, use a wide scrap that is big enough to completely fill in the angle corner.
I am keeping a pile of my crumbs, strings, etc pinned & ready to sew as leaders/enders laying next to my sewing machine.
I'm using plastic shoeboxes with taped on postit notes:
crumbs
strings
wonky log cabin
scraps
to be pressed
to be trimmed
Go, Bonnie Hunter!
I have sorted fabric scraps into
1. crumbs-small, down to 7/8", but NOT as small as 3/4". A 3/4" piece of fabric only yields 1/4" of quilt for the work of sewing and pressing two seams. It's cute in a strip or crumb block, but just not worth my time/energy.
2. strings 7/8" & wider, up to about 2-1/2" & longer than 4". Smaller than this goes in crumbs.
3. Scraps - larger than both those.
I started Bonnie's scrap block cutting method. I'm uncertain if I will continue. It seems that I'm always trimming a tidbit off that feels wasteful. I'm thinking of trimming the widths she suggests, but leaving length as it is. Then, if the scrap is a bit wider than long, you can get two half triangles. For less fabric than cutting a square in half...cuz you cut it that width off when you cut your little butterfly corner off.
Trimming Fabric ends:
I used to trim fabric ends as narrow as possible to save fabric on the big piece. I was usually throwing away 1/4"-3/4" of fabric. Now, I cut it 1" to 1-1/4" at the narrowest part. This leaves me a usable string for the string bin.
Sewing crumbs. Don't waste time trying to find two crumbs that are the perfect match. Sew crumbs onto a bigger block scrap or string, and trim it to fit your crumb.
when sewing strings or crumbs, make your seam allowance 5/16, halfway between 1/4 & 3/8. This gives a bit more strength to your very small bits.
Do you love wonky cuts? I kind of do. I was sewing two strings together & then cutting them apart at crazy angles. I found I was spending a lot of time trying to find that perfect piece to straighten out the angle cut. Filling in with a couple of rows of strings... It felt like an unending patch job. So, don't make your angle cuts too crazy, lest it crazy-make you. One thing that works pretty well, cut your crazy angle. When you go to fill it in, use a wide scrap that is big enough to completely fill in the angle corner.
I am keeping a pile of my crumbs, strings, etc pinned & ready to sew as leaders/enders laying next to my sewing machine.
I'm using plastic shoeboxes with taped on postit notes:
crumbs
strings
wonky log cabin
scraps
to be pressed
to be trimmed
Go, Bonnie Hunter!
#5
I use Bonnie strips method and my strings are in many forms. I don't use crumbs yet, but what I like to do is to sew the string shorties together for length. Love these multi fabric strings, adds so much. I take leftovers from quilts - had some 2" sq blk/wh that weren't used in the quilt and I used them for strings.
#7
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Jozefow, Poland
Posts: 4,474
I use Bonnie strips method and my strings are in many forms. I don't use crumbs yet, but what I like to do is to sew the string shorties together for length. Love these multi fabric strings, adds so much. I take leftovers from quilts - had some 2" sq blk/wh that weren't used in the quilt and I used them for strings.
Thanks for posting this.
#9
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Pratt Kansas
Posts: 1,222
I wasn't having fun cutting the scraps down. Tried to do it during TV time, but my tv is all netflix, so I actually like to watch those shows not just listen. I work full time so have to pick and choose what I spend time on.
Logical question. They were WOF trimmings, so were LONG. 20" plus long.
Logical question. They were WOF trimmings, so were LONG. 20" plus long.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 374
Magnificent! Thank all of you for this wonderful thread. Thank all of you whose comments will be appearing on this wonderful thread; comments that aren't posted yet.
One of my interests can be summed up in "Okay, I did (whatever I just finished) and now what can I do with whatever is left? What leftovers can I add to the leftovers I just created and how can I use them?" I cannot wait to get home, unpack the rv, and move into my sewing room to hold a copy of this thread on one hand and pull out bits and pieces with the other. Yesssssssssss!
Pat
One of my interests can be summed up in "Okay, I did (whatever I just finished) and now what can I do with whatever is left? What leftovers can I add to the leftovers I just created and how can I use them?" I cannot wait to get home, unpack the rv, and move into my sewing room to hold a copy of this thread on one hand and pull out bits and pieces with the other. Yesssssssssss!
Pat
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