Cheapskate

I am such a cheapskate but sometimes it turns out for the better. Take my latest quilt project where I'm using up grandmas' flower garden motifs from my aunt. I added some of my own to use up the last of her quilting projects. Looking at how others have used these patterns into quilts I didn't want to do the usual arrangement. Playing around with them I came up with the following ideas:

In this case I could try to arrange from light to dark hues. Maybe, but it would take a whole lot of these little buggers.

Here's another idea, adding them to white background, adding sashing to extend the size. Getting better.

Now I added a cream layer to each one and then added the green triangles in the created corners for a square block. With the navy pindot background I was giving this a big thumbs up.

But then I continued with that thought and placed them in groups of four with navy pindot sashing. Then I could extend the size with another set of wider sashing between each larger block. With three large blocks across and down I would need 36 of the smaller circles. I had 29 so I kept up my hand sewing until I had enough, adding the green triangles as I finished each one so when I was done I was really done.

Here's the arrangement before sewing them together as large blocks. I only messed up one set (and I'm not telling).

Each set got numbered

and sewn together (above is without borders, below is with borders)

until the top was finally done. The borders were different for me with the corner blocks alternating blue and green and I really like that touch. Here's where the cheapskate comes into play. I didn't have enough fabric for the backing and at 84" square it was going to take five yards. Now, this was a scrappy quilt and no way was I now going to spend $30 on backing. My daughter suggested I piece the backing so I rummaged around until I found enough fabric and came up with this idea:

The blue background fabric was the largest piece and used for the border on the front, the dark green fabric was good sized, too, but there was a flaw in it, some white streaks, so I needed to add something to cover that up. The multi fabric border was a fun part where I sewed strips of fabric from the front  together and then cut in 1.5" strips. When it was done and pressed I laid it down and put the quilt top over it: not quite big enough on one side. At that point I had to walk away and rethink this. I showed my husband an hour later and discovered if I turned the top around it did fit better. Whew! Now I just need to add the batting and get it quilted, one of my favorite parts. This one is so big it's going to take awhile!

Still selling a few sewing machines and some repairs I would rather not dwell on, but with people returning to work and the weather getting nicer I know this isn't the season for sewing except for those of us who are just a little bit obsessed (confession is good for the soul).