Scrappy Strings

 

I have long wanted to make a string quilt, and this one is my scrappiest scrap quilt yet. My previous "scrap" quilts have used 2.5" squares, but they weren't exclusively scrappy. Originally, this quilt was going to have 99 blocks. When I decided to add 21 more, I did have to cut some strings from wider strips and scrap rectangles so I'd have enough variety. 

Purple and Orange Butterflies

I bought the Hex N More ruler at least three years ago now intending to make the Comet quilt. That still has not happened. This is the Lotus. After a baby quilt detour, this butterfly print was once again my next project. I bought a few more orange and purple prints to make it happen. Originally, the butterflies were going to be the triangles, but I ended up having enough to cut jewels.

Variegated Rainbow

 

 

When I found out my cousin was having a baby girl, I thought, "Perfect! A recipient for the butterfly quilt!," as it was next on my list. However, my sister disagreed. She was not a fan of that color scheme for a baby quilt. I have a small group of people I survey for quilt opinions, but this time I expanded my survey to include a couple coworkers. The next day, one of my coworkers asked if I wanted this stripey variegated rainbow fabric, and it was perfect the perfect pastel color scheme for a baby quilt! 

 

Forest Gnomes Quilt

My third and final Christmas quilt for the year! The only one of the three I thought I'd actually complete this year and it's the last! The gnome print is the Christmas fabric I acquired most recently. Most of the fabric was already in my stash. I was very pleased at how perfectly the tree print worked for the back. I did have to buy the polka dot print to finish the back. The red and green dots could not be more perfect. I used a tiny grey polka dot print for the binding. I really like the compass stars. I needed five more blocks to add one more row, and I didn't want to make more trees since they are most efficient in sets of three. I quilted in the same light grey thread I used for the penguins. I used my Hera marker to mark the diagonal lines. 

Penguin Quilt

 

Like the reindeer quilt, this quilt was also on my list of aspirational goals for 2025. It experienced some delays in completing it. I almost finished it in May - it was completely quilted and ready to bind - but then I decided to rip out all the quilting and buy a walking foot. With so much straight-line quilting, it had pulled badly. It took about 12 hours to undo all the quilting, but it was worth it. The walking foot made a big difference, especially when it came to the binding.