Up early last Saturday, I wanted to find a way to use the rest of a bunch of jelly roll strips, odds and ends, bits and pieces of patriotic prints. You can see part of the messy pile on my table. I had some larger 12-inch nine patch blocks, and some small 6-inch nine patch blocks for the center of the stars in my To The Nines quilt pattern. But I have made so many of this pattern, I wanted to use up the leftovers with something new.
I had an idea of using the jelly roll strips in large blocks to simulate a basket weave. But this was too busy and haphazard.
I thought the blocks went better with a tiny print that reads solid.
I had a great many of these three patch strips that had been cross cut from jelly roll strip sets that hadn’t been sewn into nine patches. I began sewing them end to end for a scrappy border.
I added a thin solid red border to the top, then began working the scrappy border around it.
A little adjustment here and there, and they fit nicely. One more top done and ready to quilt.
After lunch, I went back to sewing the big strip sets. These were cross cut into 10-1/2 inch squares. I pinned up the little 6-1/2 inch nine patches on point to play with ideas.
I could only get eight of the large strip blocks, so something else will need to go in the center. Perhaps I can do a star in the center, surround it with the rail blocks, then do some kind of on-point nine patch around that like a round robin. I made more strip sets for another scrappy border, to finish the time I had to Sunday afternoon when I headed home.
Four tops with two ready to quilt, and two more just needing borders. Not too shabby for getting some things done without any plan before I left!
So now, the plan is to finish off the QOV and the Project Linus quilts so I can count out that fabric on the Stashbuster Challenge. Did you report your totals last week? The rest of those jelly roll strips and bits of squares left over will get donated somewhere. I have had quite enough of those, thank you very much!!
What are you working on this week?
From My Carolina Home 
You spark my energy every morning with my cup of coffee. I love your thought process with your creations. Thank you so much for sharing!
Next retreat everybody gets to bring their scraps in a brown paper bag to exchange with another quilter & see what they can design in a day. Looks like you’ll win!
The simpler version is much better. I love seeing your idea audition board. Process always fascinates me!
Que maravilla!!! Te felicito por tus avances. Te rindieron las costuras
It’s wonderful to have dedicated sewing time with like minded quilters! So happy you got this opportunity! Nothing like camaraderie and progress on projects to refresh the soul!
I especially enjoyed your design thoughts and auditions..
You are one busy lady. I’m working on my grandson’s graduation quilt and its making pull my hair out. But I hanging in there with it . I have until May.
You did some fun things with your patriotic prints at the retreat! I like the strip sets combined with the 9 patches on point. I bet you’ll be happy to be finishing those up. I finished my Stay at Home Round Robin project this week – happy about that!
Those are looking great, and what a nice feeling to be done with a huge batch of fabric! Can’t wait to see what you decide to do next Carole!
Very impressive when you say you didn’t really have a plan!! You got a lot accomplished.
Made a quilt from an internet pattern and the math was wrong. So after a little adjustments, my 4 hour quilt, now an 8 hour quilt, was done. Was gifted some panels and making some headway an what to do with those. Love the semi solid blocks, sometimes we gift a set of pens with a quilt like that to make it an autograph quilt or prayer quilt. Love what you do with just that one block. Thanks
It looks like a great retreat and you kept yourself very busy.