2-1/2" - The Perfect Strip

Hey there!  It's been a while, hasn't it?  I want to start this post with a pretty picture.  This is my Curvy Log Cabin quilt that I made using the Creative Grids 8" Curvy Log Cabin Ruler.  I purchased the dark blue background, and the other fabrics are all from my stash.  I sorted through my fabrics and picked out ones that I liked together and cut them into 2-1/2" strips.  Honestly, I found these blocks to be so addicting to make.  I stopped because I ran out of background fabric.  And I just knew this quilt would be perfect above my piano.  I was right!

This quilt didn't even make a dent in my fabric stash.  I have discovered that there are different kinds of "stash."  Some people buy beautiful fabrics to save them up for just the right project or to make quilts look scrappy.  I don't really have that kind of stash.  My stash is all leftover pieces from the last 20+ years from other projects that I have made.  I had BOXES and BOXES of fabric stacked up in my basement.  As much as I love quilt shop retail therapy, I would be left sometimes feeling worse when I would look around and see how much fabric I already have.  That is why I decided that I needed to find a way to make it manageable.  

Please keep in mind that this has taken me months, and I'm not finished yet.  I sorted through all of my stash, took out pieces that I would never use and donated them, threw some away, sorted out some larger pieces that might be useful the way they are, and the remainder is being cut into 2-1/2" strips.  I sorted all of those scrappy pieces into color families.  Each piece needs to be ironed and cut into strips.

And there's the not-so-pretty picture.  That stack on the bottom right with the teal blues, yellows, and oranges is significantly smaller right now, and you'll soon see why.  The other stacks are patiently waiting for their turn on the ironing board and cutting mat.

(Batik fabrics, Christmas fabrics, and Moda Grunge fabrics are not included in this process!!  They have their own special storage places in my house.)

If you know me a little, it's no surprise that I have the perfect Creative Grids Ruler to cut 2-1/2" strips with.  There is no guess work or accidentally lining things up wrong with this ruler.  Look at that unfortunate piece of orange Moda fabric.  For some reason years ago I cut an oval shape out of it.  Well, now it has a useful future in a jelly roll quilt someday.   The Creative Grids 2-1/2" x 24-1/2" ruler is also great for measuring 2-1/2" strips to the lengths needed for your quilt pattern, kind of horizontally as pictured above.  I've been stacking the color family strips up very neatly and putting them in storage drawers.

How nice will it be to open these drawers and choose strips for some more great looking scrappy quilts?  Log cabin blocks, curvy log cabin blocks, or pineapple blocks (just to name a few) will be great with these homemade jellyroll strips!

I recently purchased the very inspiring book "Jelly Filled" by Vanessa Goertzen, full of quilt patterns featuring 2-1/2" strips.  Tempted to make a few of these quilts using my own 2-1/2" strips, I made a "quilt kit" for the future for the Heartthrob pattern.  The pieces are all cut and ready to sew!  I really love the Smart Cookie pattern and decided I had to make a kit for that one also.  I cut all of the strip sets for the blocks, but I just couldn't wait to sew up a couple of blocks to see how they would look.  

There's a little preview of what this quilt may look like.  Even with bad lighting and ugly carpet underneath, I think it's going to be a fun one when it's all put together!  And this was all - yes, ALL - from my stash of fabrics, including the white background.  The binding strips are even cut already.

Oh, I have another surprise pandemic quilt top made entirely from my stash that I can't wait to show you, but there were no strips involved, only squares!  Stay tuned!

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by your collection of fabrics?  Maybe you should give this a try!  I know how hard it is to start cutting.  I started this process and put it all away once because I couldn't bring myself to do it.  Then I started again, and I feel great about it.  These neatly organized strips are so much better than folded up, wrinkled up, odd-shaped chunks of fabric lost or forgotten about.

I'm so glad you stopped by today.  Come back soon, and happy quilting!