Little Penguin Quilts Through the Year

Little Penguin Quilts Through the Year

Friday, September 23, 2022

Table Scraps and more scraps...

Earlier this month, I shared these blocks, made from Bonnie Hunter's String X pattern. 


I enjoyed the process of making them, but could never get them to measure consistently 7.5 inches square.  That, of course, made me not want to continue making them, so what's a quilter to do but turn them into a tablerunner?!  And it fit right in with our Table Scraps Challenge for September - light blues for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, and pumpkins, too!  Zoom in and you'll see them.

Measures 14 x 28

I used leftovers from the front to piece the backing, and had fun with the quilting design, too.

I'm enjoying this tablerunner with some fall decorations on it already.  I grew that one little pumpkin in my garden this year.


A few weeks back, I dumped out the blue scrap bin and started making crumb blocks out of different shades of blue.  There were some larger chunks of a gray-blue print, so I turned it into a pumpkin mini quilt!  The pumpkin is made from the same fabric that I used recently to border an embroidery finish.


I decided to keep it small, added a little quilting, and bound it in the same mustard print that makes the pumpkin stem.  

Just a fun little project!

Along the way I turned one of my light blue crumb blocks into a candy block, which I'm auditioning for a 2023 RSC project.  I believe I've seen these on Maggie's Making a Lather and Cathy's Sane, Crazy, Crumby Quilting blogs.  I used a 6.5 inch center, with 2.5 inch borders and cornerstones.  This makes a 10.5 inch block.  (Looking at Maggie's blocks just now, I think I missed a step, though.  I need to go back and snowball the two opposite corners from the "wrapper" ends, which I will do this week!)


Edited: Saturday afternoon - this looks better!



These blocks make me think of the salt water taffy you see all over the place in touristy areas like Estes Park near us and the little towns we visited on the Oregon Coast this last week!

My goal is to keep making the crumb blocks as leader/enders - hopefully the piles of scraps won't drive me too crazy!  (Okay, they already are!)  Maybe I can come up with a better organizational strategy for these piles...

Sharing at SoScrappy for ScrapHappy Saturday and at 
Joyful Quilter for the September Table Scraps Challenge
Mmmquilts for the September DrEAMi link-up.
















22 comments:

The Joyful Quilter said...

Look at you with a trifecta of projects for the TABLE SCRAPS Challenge! Way to go, Diann!!

grammajudyb said...

What a fun bunch of blue and pumpkin “makes”! I’ve been eyeing those candy blocks also! I really need another “project” like a hole in the head! But they are sew sweet! And BTW ( “by the way” is our young great granddaughter’s latest catch phrase) if you come up with a way to corral your scraps, be sure to share! :)

Ivani said...

Oh My, are you sure you have just arrived from a week vaction? Two beautiful table topper finished and a new block!! This is great, Diann.

Nancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting said...

Too much scrappy fun going on here!!! Placemats, pumpkins and salt water taffy!!! Love it all, Diann!!!

Linda said...

What lovely Scrappy projects! Love the Autumn table runner, makes me want to smile, it would really welcome visitors into your home. Love the mini Pumpkin quilt. Yes, I saw those Candy blocks on Cathy’s blocks ( several years ago, I think) and I made quite a lot using RSC colours. Then I put them away. Perhaps it’s time to fish them out and turn them into a quilt?

Deb A said...

You did great with the blue pumpkin prompt. I take things too literally and am making a blue pumpkin! Your runner and little quilt are adorable. That candy block is cute and a great way to use up scraps.

Cathy said...

Oh my, such cute and scrap-busting projects! The candy crumbs block is what I’m doing for RSC ‘23 too since it would make a cute block for kid quilts. Your table topper is so lively! Great sewing, Diann!

maggie fellow said...

one month I missed the snowball corners too and I knew they didn't look right haha

Linda said...

I love your table topper - I zoomed in and saw those cute pumpkins. You just wanted us to zoom in so we could see your perfect points. ;) Your pumpkin mini quilt turned out so cute with the scraps!
Those candy blocks are going to be so cute. LOL on "Okay, they already are!" driving you crazy. I love to see your projects - so fun.

MissPat said...

I knew something didn't look quite right with the candy blocks. So glad you caught it before you did more. I've been thinking about giving up on crumb blocks and just putting all the little bits in the compost. I seem to spend too much time on them and then just put them in a box. But I like how they look when put in the center of a bigger block.
Pat

Paulette said...

Great way to use those String-X blocks in a table runner! Love the little pumpkin, and that candy block is super cute!

Kathy S. said...

The table runner is so bright and cheery. Love the pumpkin with the blue around it too. Have a great weekend. Looks like fall is here.

Sandy Panagos said...

Wow, you are really on top of things if you're already thinking about RSC2023 blocks. Those candy blocks are awfully cute.

Vicki in MN said...

Your post is so full of fun projects. Love the candy one and it reminds me I bought a pattern for a candy runner and never got around to making it! Yay for growing your own pumpkin! I have one squash-it's about the size of a tennis ball, LOL

Bernie Kringel said...

Bright minds think alike. I also made a stack of the string X blocks and decided not to finish the project. And a table runner was born! I still have a few in my orphan block bag.

LOVE the candy block. That is really a good block and would be such a fun quilt.

Jan said...

Thats a great table runner, lovely and bright & I love that candy block - very dainty!

Nann said...

The turquoise-y corners for the string X are such a lively variation! Cute pumpkin. And the candy twist blocks are a great scrap-user, in any color.

Andree G. Faubert said...

Hi Diann, those are lovely - the cute pumpkin block, the candy block and of course that lovely runner with your home grown pumpkin! How wonderful.

Cynthia Brunz Designs said...

I love your little candies. I think that will make a fun project. But I certainly understand about the piles of scraps. I have been dealing with those all year because of my placemat project. I started just storing them in baggies so I could get them out when I wanted to sew. Thanks for linking up with Oh Scrap!

TerryKnott.blogspot.com said...

Those candies are fun! If you can get ahead of the crumbs er scraps that way, I may follow suit. . .once I can machine sew again!!

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

Love that table mat!!! its so bright and happy!!!

Angie in SoCal said...

Sweet little pumpkin. Love that cracker box blue blocks. A great post.