Iceblossom

Some things I just don't want to know, how much I spend/saving receipts might or might not work for me -- but it would be interesting. I know I used to allow myself $20 per week at the thrift stores, which works out to $1k per year and I'm ok with that. Is about what it costs for us as a couple to go bowling once a week and now that husband is on two leagues, I don't want to know what he is spending on his bowling.

When I was doing the shop hop trips I left the fabric out on the couch to show me what I've already gotten. For me it was important to see it spread out, it looks so much less folded up in little shopping bags. Then going ahead and doing my prewashing and the effort that took, along with the time spent with the fabric and it slowing my desires to accumulate more.

I'm pretty well into the Dragon Hoard project now. I will be using at least as much from stash as I bought, and what I bought I will be using up! I made my first set of the quick crazy blocks. Learned a few things -- like 10 (blocks) in a set is too many and I got confused. Not that it really matters, just slowed me down a bit. If I had done it 5 at a time it would have been much easier to keep straight. I like using 10" squares but I think to make the pieces smaller it would be easier to put together smaller blocks with less cuts to make... so I started with 10" squares and 9 cuts, next I will try 8" squares and 5 cuts... nice thing is I can slice and dice the blocks until I get the sizes I want. These won't be wasted, they are just part of the process. I will be using a couple different slicing patterns as well. The alternating blocks themselves will be about 14" by the time I get the sashing around them.

So picture 1 is a first look of what the hoard will look like. Pretty well matching my imagination (other than piece size), but how they blur and blend and compete with each other is going good! Picture 2 is my first set of 10, one of the squares was pieced and is about 1/2" larger than the others, I just left it that way knowing trimming was coming in the future!

QuiltMom2

I really like the Dragon Hoard so far!

Gemm

That stack & whack is such a great approach for this dragon-themed quilt, Iceblossom!

In terms of tracking fabric acquisition, I don't buy a lot of fabric but still manage to bring quite a bit into the house, so receipts wouldn't be very helpful for me... However, I know I definitely need to use some more up because I still don't have room in my totes for everything I've acquired. Keeping at it!

Iceblossom

Yesterday I tried starting with 8" blocks. I'm still using 8 cuts but I'm happier with the end sizes. With this many seams, you lose about 2" per rough cut to ending size -- that is with a 10" square I end up with an 8-8.5" block. With the 8" start, I end up around 6-6.5. I cut 10 blocks but then I stacked them into 2 sets of 5. I have 5 blocks completely done, and the other 5 are set up ready to go. Next set I might try 6" blocks with only 5 cuts. Sewing would be easier/faster, less seam loss, but that seems like it would be thousands of sets. Have to remind myself that I'm actually almost half done (maybe) with the dragon hoard.

This size works better with the blocks, still maybe not quite right once I add the sashing around the dragon blocks but a lot closer. Or, with a big block and a little block and some filler that should work pretty well too.

The mistake for yesterday was I know I want to use the parasol fabric in every set of blocks. Since I had 2 sets, I thought I could use 2 pieces. But wrong-o, you want to have 1-2 more unique fabrics than you have cuts, so with 8 cuts (and doing it as 10 sets) I should have still only had one red piece. When I realized the problem, I didn't realize the solution yet so I did some mixing in pieces. What I should have done was simply cut a different piece and substituted it entirely as it was in place. I'm hoping today's set is smoother because we aren't in the double-parasol point. I should mention that it really doesn't matter so much, when the hoard blocks are combined the same fabrics will be touching and stuff like that. But at this early point I'm trying for unique between blocks, and two different sets of fabric to start. Third set will do more combining of the first two sets.

Pictures are the 8" slicing diagram, the big and little blocks, and 2 of the little blocks next to a dragon

Iceblossom

Philosophical post -- probably better in the Personal section but don't think it deserves it's own thread.

I'm doing the quick crazy blocks based on the book(s) Stack the Deck by Karla Alexander. This is a link to her store site and books, I have most of them!
https://www.saginawstreetquilts.com/store.php?cat=1

I discovered Karla's methods and books about the same time my eye issues were diagnosed. I am ok that in terms of my quilting, in many ways my best work is behind me, or at least some of my most precise. Is a journey, we all start and end somewhere. Karla's projects give me something that isn't so demanding that I can do, even if I don't see well enough to be precise. But I can quilt in a wild exuberant style!

When I show some of my recent (last 10 years) works, it can be hard to believe that deep down I truly want to work in traditional (tiny vine-y) calicos and styles. I've been trying to embrace or at least learn to work with the fabric, rather than making the fabric work for me. And now I need to make my vision issues still work with quilting, and I am noticing the hands are starting to have a lot of complaints.

I don't mind "wasting" fabric with the trimming down. I could design the blocks or use a template with less sharp angles that result in less loss. But sometimes, it is just nice to slice and dice! I've learned to trust Karla's process and my fabric selections -- and I've learned to live with my mistakes because deep down, random results in things like the same fabrics touching or whatever.

Gemm

I think you've hit on two really important points that work really well in the Fabric Moratorium/stash-busting context, Iceblossom.

First, "work with the fabric." This is such a helpful approach when you're trying to shop from/reduce stash and it is actually one of my favourite parts of playing with and building from scraps and other people's cast-off fabrics. It's amazing how well disparate fabrics can work together, even if they're from completely different lines/designers/eras, if you just give them a chance to audition with some of what else is hiding in your totes or bins or closets. :-)

Second, you speak of "wasting" fabric when you choose to cut down, either from a trimming perspective or from approaches like Karla's process, but waste can be subjective and contextual. While working with a limited supply of fabric (such as what you might have in your stash from 15 years ago) can lead to some supply & demand challenges, it can also be very freeing to think you are working with fabric you probably paid a lot less for than if you had bought it new. (I know that you did buy some fabric for your dragon hoard blocks, but there is a lot of stash in there as well.) Cutting large and trimming down can go a long way when you want seams to match or points to be crisp and pointy - another argument in favour of being willing to "waste" fabric for a good cause! There is also the fact that many kits also include a rather limited supply of fabrics and woe betide you if you miscut something! Off to the store you must go! When there is built-in flexibility in size and shape, you can make whatever happens work, even if it wasn't necessarily part of the plan.

And the most important thing of all - whatever you decide to do with your fabric - how you choose to cut and sew and use it up - every piece you used counts, even if some of those pieces are trimmings that end up in the garbage or compost (which is what I do with mine)!

Lena1952

I love the fabrics and how they are being used in your dragon quilt Iceblossom and can’t wait to see it completed. The blocks remind me of dragon scales. And I’m totally on board with letting fabrics fall where they fall with touching blocks. In the end it will all come together.

73+quilts

Back to the FELT Problem.

I was talking to another person on the city bus about getting the felt basket and finally giving it to one of the schools for the 3rd grade teachers. That person thought that altho' the teachers would enjoy using it I made a big mistake. She said that her Mom always made dolly quilts and stuffed them with felt instead of buying the cotton batting. Sounded like a great idea for any dolly quilts for any child NOT in my group of children getting the Dolly quilts. All dollys are also getting square strips for their quilts. Same as their new Mommies.

Iceblossom

MaryKa, lol it often happens to me that as soon as I finally throw away the odd object, I find it's use. Or, shortly after giving it away a fabric that has baffled me for years, along comes the perfect project! As I've said, I've learned to live with regret and there is always next time.

I haven't done anything further on the Dragon Hoard, Mostly the hubby and I messed around on Saturday. Then after bowling on Sunday we got a call that my cousin's husband had passed. He was more like a brother-in-law than a distant family member, one of the few of my family my husband could enjoy. When we moved, I made the determination that I wasn't going to go back for funerals. But I will go back to help my cousin if she needs me.

Today though, I hope to get those 5 blocks waiting for me made.

QuiltMom2

It's that time of year I begin to feel like I should have started Christmas sewing eons ago! That being said, I don't have many holiday themed fabrics. It's going to be placemats for a while ( scrap of course!) which mix well with machine embroidery.
Iceblossom: I too have had the issue of giving something away only to have the perfect project pop up a day or two later. That's life!