Thursday, November 21, 2013

Klepto Quilting

Back in February when Betty and I were busy raiding Jane's stash for our projects at our quilt weekend we thought that we couldn't be the only quilters that loved doing this. In fact, we jokingly commented that we were brilliant - why buy fabric when you can make quilts for free? :) What's not to love? One thing lead to another and before you knew it we had coined it 'klepto quilting' - yes, as in kleptomaniac - and it has since become a popular and often used refrain. I think it will be the title of my first book... :)










You already know about my obsession with little bits and pieces, so, as a true klepto, when I found a baggie of 1-inch-wide leftovers in red, pink and orange from Jane's gorgeous Kaffe Fassett quilt I tucked them into my bag with dreams of making fun, wonky, tiny, scrappy, log cabins รก la Jean Wells. They were just too hard to resist.










And so they were born. This collection of wonky little 4-inch blocks from what looked like a lonely little pile of scrap. They look great with black...














and equally fun with white. I just love the pink & orange combo. I added in a few greens & yellows to make them go farther and add a little interest.











I've got 8 of the little guys made to date and if I can squeeze one more block out of the scraps that would give me 9 - maybe enough for a pillow.











This is the kind of piecing that I think I love - little hits of colour working within a slightly non-traditional block, all made up from those tiny scraps that I have such a hard time ditching. It's great fun making fabric and the end result is always a mystery - not unlike making the green setting triangles for my Pumpkin Patch at Midnight.










A couple of years ago I made about 30 very similar blocks in yellows; I didn't know what they were going to be used for when I started them, I just wanted to make them. They will be used for a border of a quilt that my niece is working on. Maybe some day I'll make a full quilt using this style but in the meantime, we're having fun with the klepto quilting theme....M

8 comments:

audrey said...

Love the name you coined. Everybody has goodies in their stash that look better than whats at home! Great little blocks. They look very fun!

What Comes Next? said...

you've just reminded me why I keep saving all those little bits - beautiful little blocks! You can come practice your klepto quilting in my stash if you like. (visiting from BC, via Jackie and Blogathon Canada)

Monica said...

Gorgeous blocks, Marie! Somehow they have the effect of watercolours, it's very interesting. It's going to look great!

Janet said...

I do lots of this kind of quilting - sewing other people's little bits together. Love the name you've given it. And gorgeous blocks you've made.

Heather said...

I remember taking a stack and whack class and raiding the garbage can a the end of the class for the ends that were too small to make a block. There were 8 identical pieces to play with. what a coup.

Linda said...

Love your little blocks! so cute

Kitchener Quilter said...

Hopping over to say hi from Kitchener. Love your scrappy log blocks. Lovely.

Judy Cooper Textile Artist said...

Such colourful 'scraps'! Visiting from St. John's, NL