My Great Stash Clearing Project

Last year we had a used book sale at work. People brought in books and we sold them as a fundraiser for the Court's employees social activities like the annual holiday party [that I do not go to]. We are having another book sale in a couple weeks. This year I hope to look over the books before the sale. i am always in court when th sale happens and I lose out on some great deals...

G> Better fabric than books. =A0I remember an earthquake years ago that

Every year during the Little Balkan's Festival over Labor Day, the Library has a sale on Saturday. If you are a "Friend", you can go on Friday evening. $5 makes you a "Friend of the Library".

I found some great books. Hardbacks $1 - paperbacks $0.50. But it was like being in a washing machine. A hot washing machine with lots of hot, sweaty bodies. Including mine because we had been setting up for the quilt show all stinking day.

I suggested to the woman who checked me out that they needed to look into have a "Really Good Friend" of the library group. I'd a paid $50 to go in with 10 of my closest friends instead of 100.

Cindy

G> Better fabric than books. I remember an earthquake years ago that

I have spent my summer doing exactly the same thing. I am staying home to care for my mother so there isn't the temptation to think I need "just the perfect fabric" to complete that scrap quilt and run to the store to purchase more fabric.

My first goal is to just finish the numerous UFO's. A friend is also helping me. She comes one day a week to go over UFO's I have found while cleaning the studio. We spend several hours planning what can be done with the blocks, choosing borders, bindings and backs. She then takes home one project and leaves the rest for me. Many of the UFO's are step-by-step examples leftover from 25 years of teaching quilting.

All projects are being finished to a HUG size (approximately 53" to

60" by 68" to 72") I find this size is large enough to wrap around the body and give yourself a HUG when needed. I have a donation in mind but want to have enough on hand before I approach the organization. I don't want to be under pressure later to finish a set number by a set time.

As part of the organizational project I cleared the fabric stored in the library closet. Each top is not considered completed until it is hanging in the closet with its chosen backing and binding made. I bought hangers at Linens n Things which are a little heavier than the usual plastic hangers. It is so fulfilling to hang another quilt in the closet. So far there are 19! When the borders are on the quilt by the machine today the number will be 20. The binding and backing are already finished.

I know that sounds like a lot but most of the quilts so far have been made from already completed blocks. If the project started life as a queen size quilt you get several HUG quilts from that number of blocks. It is amazing to see the variety of fabric colors and styles. Most UFO's I remember starting but there are a few I hardly recognize, some I had long forgotten about but remember once I open the storage box.

Occasionally we have allowed ourselves the fun of choosing a focus fabric and gathering fabrics to coordinate. Those fabrics are folded together on the top shelf of the closet. Once the UFO's are finished we will decide patterns and make them. We are also collecting a large file of quick and easy but not Yellow Brick Road ideas. When we find an idea I put it into EQ and calculate how many blocks would be needed for my preferred size.

The only problem currently is that is HUG project is so much fun that I am neglecting my class samples and two wedding gifts due this fall. This quarter I am only teaching two classes. All the samples are finished for one class through the end of the year. The other class needs a sample by next Saturday. I have procrastinated all month. October class will be on curved binding but there is nothing planned for November and December. It is a 30's club and none of the UFO's are

30's fabrics. Maybe if I plan a 30's HUG I can use it for the November and December clubs!

I will post pictures >I've been off list for a while but am back with what-I've-been-doing

I'm impressed! I'm only at 5 top and back sets.

Some questions--

Does it seem like the amount to do is decreasing? I said earlier that the fabric must be reproducing in the boxes since I keep using it, but the same amount remains. I know this is impossible, but you'd have to see my sewing room to understand.

Are you making the backs from scratch too? I have been, and this might be why the amount of fabric doesn't seem to decrease. In order to make the backs, I've been dipping into the big pieces of fabric from another part of the sewing room.

What are your plans for basting and quilting? I've been assuming that someone at my guild will donate the batting and basting and that I'll be able to machine quilt them quickly, but I've never timed myself. It could take me a week or more to finish each one after I get them back from a guild member. I haven't considered binding either. I figure that when the time comes to bind, the fabric will be there.

This project has been such a return to roots. Log Cabin really is the best way to use up strips. 9-patches used in Irish Chains or Road to Jericho really are a great way to use up squares. These tried and true quilts have been made by generations of quilters before me. I'm feeling a connection as I rediscover how handy the old patterns are when you're just trying to go fast and use fabric.

--Lia

Good for you, Susan! You are using what you have, having fun with a friend, and donating to charity. So, how are you quilting these? Do you have a long or mid arm machine? I can't imagine how you would finish that many quilts without one! I am sure the eventual recipients will be thrilled. PAT, procrastinating in Virginia

...cut...

Good for you Susan!! what a great feeling of accomplishment! and i totally understand the magic of self-replenishing fabric. i made a king sized quilt out of only 2 1/2 inch squares of scrap fabric. i think the top had over 2,000 squares..really. omg. i cant imagine doing another one. but, the box i got the scraps from is still overflowing. i think our Jill may get somemore fabric from me. amy in CNY