Today started off with a session with my beginners. As you can probably see we were working on Yo-Yos/Suffolk Puffs. Making Yo-Yos is a great way of using up scraps. Now that I’ve had a little taste of making Yo-Yos again I feel like having a session of Yo-Yo making for Christmas ornaments; even though I’ve already got a tin full of Yo-Yos ready to use! They’re very simple to make especially when using the Clover Yo-Yo maker.
Yesterday I mentioned that January should be declared Use up Your Scraps Month. Why? Well simply because Christmas is coming and we will be spending every spare penny on festive delights. When January rolls in and we see that our bank balances and piggy banks are seriously running low and we need to keep our hands and minds occupied in the height of winter, what better time to turn to our scrap bins to make something useful and interesting. And let’s face it trying to work out how to make something from scraps can be challenge and therefore will keep your mind occupied. I can’t think of a better way to keep my mind occupied than playing with fabric! So far a couple of ladies declared their intentions of using up their scraps. In the meantime I’m going scour the internet and my books/magazines for ideas that I can use to bust my scrap bins. Chances are I will end up piecing another Primitive Wonky Log Cabin Block quilt. I’ve had a little practice at it so it shouldn’t be too taxing. Perhaps my challenge will be to make two scrappy quilt tops, one for the top and one for the backing. I have pieced one or two quilt backs before. It certainly makes a quilt interesting when both sides are pieced.
On the same subject of using up scraps, perhaps you might consider using up your scraps by making a small sampler. You should visit Oh Sew Tempting, Avis has posted a tutorial for a a lovely sampler. There is a wealth of great tutorials on the web is you can be bothered to search. And for those who like smaller seasonal projects, the lovely and generous Gail Pan has posted a pattern for a lovely Christmas ornament. I’m definitely planning on making the ornament next week. I will be adding other ideas on my Use up Your Scraps page as I find them.
So for this evening, this ambitious happy longarm quilter, having set a challenge and needing to produce some ideas, will be searching every avenue to find said ideas to list and perhaps inspire. Perhaps you’ll be doing the same. Until you read me again,
Happy stitching. ♥♥
