Have you ever fallen in love with your scrap pile after working on several special projects? Do you store up your scraps because they are too good to throw away? The potential is overwhelming!
Melanie and I have challenged each other to what we like to call our "Scrappy Cabin Challenge"
The aim of this challenge is to create a gorgeous scrappy log cabin quilt (hopefully queen size) by the end of the year. The one rule is that we can ONLY use our fabric scraps. For the purposes of this challenge, a scrap is any piece of left over fabric smaller than a fat sixteenth. The wonderful thing about using up all those scraps is that we feel more justified buying more fabric for new projects!
Every time we complete a project we look down at the fresh pile of scraps and cannot throw them away. Now they serve a purpose. We plan on whipping up several scrappy cabins after every sewing project. The beauty of this plan is that the quilt will become a "journal" of our years crafting. Every time we look at our beautiful quilts they will be full of memories of the things we have made. Here are some we have started this weekend.
We have challenged each other, but we are really hoping that some of you will join in the fun! To help begin this project, we have created a foundation piecing tutorial which is located in the right side bar. From this you will learn the dimensions of each block. We have also created a flickr group so we can all share our WIPs and hopefully one day our completed scrappy cabin quilts!
We plan on sharing other ideas for your scrappy cabin blocks as we go. Another idea we had for the challenge is to co-ordinate a scrap bag swap to add interest to the project and perhaps even a block swap somewhere down the track.
Please send us an email or post a comment to let us know if you'd like to join the fun. We would also love to share some photos of your finished work on here so we hope for plenty of progress snaps. You may also come up with some other ideas to incorporate your scrappy cabin blocks. We would love to hear about them over the next few months.
We are so excited!!
May the floss be with you! - Rosie and Melly
I always love a good challenge. This one sounds fabulous. I am not sure, however, whether the challenge will be in the sewing of the scrappy blocks or making the time to sew the blocks. So much sewing, and only 24 hours in a day. Ho hum....
Posted by: Kim | March 11, 2007 at 06:33 PM
That sounds great! I'm in on this one :)
Posted by: Ash | March 11, 2007 at 09:03 PM
I saw the salvage edge w/ copyright info and swooned. Too clever!
What a wonderful idea. You will have such a wonderful quilt full of memories when it is finished.
Posted by: Tink | March 12, 2007 at 01:36 AM
Now that is a scrap pile worthy of rolling in! I'll be in the swap :)
Posted by: kirsty | March 12, 2007 at 08:37 AM
What a great idea - i hate throwing fabric away, so this is perfect! I'm your swap partner, so i'll be sending you a softie this week. We seem to have the same taste in fabric so hopefully you'll be pleased with my creation! I really like your blog :-)
Posted by: Vic | March 12, 2007 at 09:23 AM
Sounds like fun. However there is never enough hours in the day, I'll see how I go perhaps mine will be a very little quilt.
Posted by: Leanne | March 12, 2007 at 09:29 AM
I would love to join in, sounds like a great idea. Got to go and have a look at my scraps now.
Posted by: Elissa | March 12, 2007 at 10:07 AM
How fantastic are those blocks. I have never done log cabin blocks before, so I hope they are easy to do. I will have to check out your tuturial first to make sure I can make one before I sign up.
Posted by: Sue | March 12, 2007 at 01:45 PM
Great idea with the scraps, those first log cabins look great.
LOVE the photos of you two together as littlies, gorgeous!!
Posted by: Kirsty | March 12, 2007 at 03:54 PM
I like it, something to do with the ever increasing scrap pile. Count me in. I love the colour's in your blocks, so bright and happy.
Posted by: Tatania | March 12, 2007 at 04:10 PM
great idea for a challenge, would love to join but not sure how big my quilt would be, have lots of scraps and so little time. Will let you know if I get my act together.
Posted by: kerry | March 13, 2007 at 08:38 AM
your blocks look wonderful so pretty. This is a great idea. I have never made a quilt so it seems a little daunting for me! But I can't wait to see what others come up with.
Posted by: Linda | March 13, 2007 at 11:39 AM
great idea! i don't quilt but if i did i would be all over this. i can't wait to see everyone else's work!
Posted by: risa | March 13, 2007 at 12:33 PM
Sounds like a fun idea. The fabrics you use have such great colours! I love all my scraps and never throw them away (I have them sorted into small scraps and tiny scraps). It would be great fun to make blocks as I create scraps. Count me in! Thanks for the comments on my blog. It's a bit silly how excited I got when I saw people had commented.
Posted by: Jess | March 13, 2007 at 05:00 PM
Wow - what a great idea - I love the fact it will be a kind of history piece as well as just being beautiful to look at. Unfortunately I don't have any fabric scraps (although am beginning to build a nice little fabric stash for some future sewing fun) I do know what you mean about hoarding though - I have a big bag of wool ends - the bits I've trimmed off the bunnies after sewing them up. I'm not quite sure why I'm keeping them, it just seems wrong to throw them away - who knows someone may come up with a great idea for using 3 inch long bits of yarn! Any ideas - let me know!
Posted by: Julie | March 13, 2007 at 09:00 PM
Those log cabins are lovely! Excellent tutorial, too. Much better structured than the way I currently do my log cabins. Can't wait to see what everyone else does...sadly I can't yet join in the fun until I finish the quilt top I'm in the middle of doing. But I'll let you know when I'm ready to hop in. Also, thanks for the good wishes you left on my blog :-)
Posted by: Jade | March 14, 2007 at 12:55 AM
what a great challenge. lOve it!
Posted by: tiel | March 15, 2007 at 07:16 PM
Okay my girls - don't forget the quilt label on the back!!!! Only teasing - what a GREAT idea!!!! After seeing the blocks in 'real life' today I'm tempted to join in!
Posted by: leanneshouse | March 15, 2007 at 09:51 PM
What a fun project! Too bad my scraps collection doesn't even come close to queen size... maybe I can do a bag ;)
Posted by: Amelie | March 17, 2007 at 04:00 AM
I have just found your blog - how exciting!! I LOVE your fabric scraps and would be happy to just look at them and hold them!! LOVE your blocks too - I think this is a great challenge BUT I want your fabrics... Thanks for the inspiration x Janelle
Posted by: Janelle Wind | March 23, 2007 at 10:26 PM
I would love to join in on this wonderful challenge!! I can't get the link to work though for the tutorial...any suggestions?
Posted by: raesha | March 25, 2007 at 01:37 AM
Thank you for your suggestion on the Sherbet Bag..I have had a look and LOVE it!! Will be purchasing the pattern soon. :-)
I hope I'm not too late..but I would love to join this challenge..what a wonderful idea. I'm not sure how I will go though.
Posted by: violet | March 29, 2007 at 06:54 AM
I just discovered your blog! I love all of the scrappy log cabins.
Posted by: Amanda H. | April 20, 2007 at 12:11 PM
hi would love to join the challenge and look forward to making my scrappy log cabin, saw the block last weekend in hobart and they are gorgeous can't wait to start. Cheers
Posted by: Marja | April 26, 2007 at 12:53 PM
hi I just stumbled across your blog, I'd love to be part of the challenge, your blog is very inspiring!
Posted by: Samantha | May 19, 2007 at 11:34 AM