Sunday, November 18, 2018

Elephant Quilt Progress

Here is my progress on the elephant quilt.  This little elephant pattern was rather small, long and skinny so I had to add extra borders on the sides to make it a more pleasing shape and big enough to be a blanket.  I'm almost done with sewing down the pink splashes and will be tackling the elephants next.  Then on to the quilting!  The grandma's request was to keep it a light blanket that the little girl could carry around with her so there will be no batting in it.  Just the front and a really soft plush backing.  Probably very light quilting to keep it soft.


Do you remember Miss Frizzle and the Magic School Bus?  I have a daughter who is an Elementary Education major and she is already planning fun things to wear as a teacher.   She is going to be JUST LIKE Miss Frizzle.  She will be one of those fun teachers the kids will adore and never forget.  Lucky kids!  😊 I might end up having to learn how to sew clothes.  We will start with something simple like a circle skirt.  Don't think I"m quite ready for a dress like this, but isn't this the cutest?


And now!  On to a very fun project I've been working on (well fun for me anyway).  I LOVE organizing!   I was inspired by Tish over at Tish's Adventures in Wonderland when she wrote a post entitled "Slash that Stash!"  I have not been happy with my system of fabric organization (or lack thereof) for quite a while so I am joining Tish in her endeavor to SLASH THAT STASH!  Although I am taking my organization a step further.   I am taking a handfull at a time and sorting as follows:  anything that is a fat quarter or larger I am wrapping around comic book boards.  They are a board that is stronger than just plain card stock but not quite as thick as a cereal box.  Fat quarters fit on them PERFECTLY.  The cards I ordered measure 6 3/4" x 10 1/2".  

Here is a FQ ready to load on a board

Fold it in half short side to short side keeping the wrong side to the inside.

Lay card in the middle

Fold left side over card

Then fold right side over and pin through the layers to hold together.  It's probably better to put the pin in facing toward the bottom instead of what you see here.  

Here is my before . . .

And here is after going through 2/3 of my stash.  Starting to look orderly!  I plan to put everything in color order once I'm all through going through everything.  I can see what I have to work with so much better now and when I do a fabric pull I'm not messing up the whole pile just to get at something on the bottom and have to refold and restack every time.  The cards I ordered come in packages of 200 and I was SHOCKED to discover I used them all up before I was even close to being done.  I had to order more.  What you see here is about 250 different fabrics and I haven't even started on the bottom shelf yet.  Yikes!  I need to use up this stuff!

Anything not big enough to go on a board is getting cut into either
 5 inch squares, 2 1/2" strips or 2 1/2" squares.  I gave my Accquilt Go! Cutter a workout this weekend!  So much so that I need a new cutting mat!

Seeing all that luscious color made me want to do a fabric pull for a block.  Can you guess what these fabrics might potentially become?  Not all will make the cut.  And the ones that don't make the cut get put back in the stash just like a library book with no muss, no fuss.  How cool is that!

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15 comments:

  1. Your cupboard is going to look so awesome when you are done. I wrap my fabric like you but use my 6.5" ruler to wrap around and then pull it out. My fabrics stack instead of side by side. I'd go broke buying enough cards for my stash, LOL Your elephant is looking great, I love the borders you added.

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  2. Being organized so worth it and you've made great progress. It does make it easier to use it up when you can see it.

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  3. what a difference! I have done this so many times and I have a lot folded and put into color organized boxes for my little pieces and pre-cut boxes too - but I still have so much to use. I have to keep telling myself year after year to not buy more - only for backings and background if I must.

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  4. Kudos for being organized! It takes a lot of time initially, but then fairly easy to control. And it sounds like you've used the heck out of that cutter, my goodness! I've started manually cutting up 2.5 inch squares with leftover fabric. Goal is to have a nice selection for that Migration Geese quilt that I someday will finish!

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  5. Your elephant quilt is just so adorable! I love the appliqued parts, and the different pinks and grays together. Good for you doing that organizing! It's looking great already!

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  6. The elephant pattern is a favorite of mine. It is so sweet. I like the idea of a cuddly backing and loose quilting. It will be so soft. Best of luck with the organization. Mine is a bit of a mess too but I don't have time to tear through it right now. Probably a first of the year sort of task though.

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  7. Your new organized stash looks great, Janice. Love the elephant quilt too! What a lucky little girl the recipient will be!

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  8. I think having your stash organized always helps to use it up. If it is easier to find, you won't be tempted to just go buy. Thanks for linking up with Oh Scrap!

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  9. What a fun quilt. I am not the most organized person. Janice

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  10. Love what you’ve done with that elephant quilt! It’s absolutely adorable! Congratulations on taking your stash. I decided to jump into mine, too, but took a different, much slower approach.

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  11. I, too, need to get my stash in order. I have a plan but need to buy some shelves or get some made before I can really do anything. The elephant is adorable.

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  12. Oh, I just LOVE organizing posts!! Your comic board system is working great, Janice. Look at all that luscious, gorgeous color, yummmmmmm! I think you'll sew more with all that inspiration right in front of you :)

    And speaking of inspiration, your elephants are looking super! And that dress is darling. Your daughter will surely be everyone's favorite teacher :)

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  13. My stash is in disarray since I got rid of my storage cupboard when I got a cutting table (which I love). Dwight is supposed to put shelves in the closet but hasn't done so yet. I will remind him as we get closer to Christmas so I can get all the mess sorted.

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  14. Love your elephant quilt, so sweet! And looks like the sorting out is working!

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  15. I'm so smitten by your elephant -- good luck on quilting that beauty! Also: I am so with you and your stash dilemma. I keep pulling and sewing from my stash, but it doesn't seem to get smaller!

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