Confetti Quilt-Along - April
Sewing with scraps is at the center of the quilting heritage. In our modern times we buy fabrics just for quilting-making and many of us have more than enough in our cabinets to last for years to come. And yet, we still feel not just compelled but delighted to take the leftover bits and pieces and make them into something beautiful, useful and new.
Scrap quilting - it’s just so satisfying.
I hope you are feeling satisfied and even delighted as you sew Confetti quilt blocks this spring. New folks are joining in each day, so don’t be shy if you’re just now ready to buy the Confetti Quilt pattern and dig into your scrap fabrics. Check out the master sew-along page for links to helpful blog posts as you get started.
Wishing you happy scrappy Confetti fun!
Progress
The Confetti quilt is a great long-term project to sew between other projects through the year. Once you’ve sewn a few, you probably won’t need to refer back to the pattern much as the key info is noted on the pattern print outs. And best of all - each time you pull it out again you’ll have new fabric scraps to use!
I’ve been sewing lately with Heather Ross fabrics and have set aside a pile of small scraps. These will be perfectly delightful additions to my Confetti quilt!
Since my background fabric is low volume, I don’t usually use white-background fabric scraps. Those sweet kittens are tempting, but the mouse on the pink background will pop so much better.
I’ll admit that sewing these blocks is not a tidy process. Scraps, trimmings, background strips and tools - they’re all needed all the time.
But who says a tidy workspace is more fun anyways. I do love the process and the results!
Tip
Not sure which fabrics to keep and which to toss? What is the smallest size scrap you should save? These are personal questions and ones you’ll probably keep asking yourself as your quilt style develops.
I think a helpful approach is a combination of fact and feeling. Maybe you set a guideline, such as scraps must be 2” or larger on every side. But the guideline isn’t enough. Sometimes smaller scraps are going to call out to you, they’re just so special. A quilt like Confetti will justify your choice to collect fabric crumbs. Other times scraps that are big enough don’t speak to you. As you’re sewing Confetti quilt, be on the look out for scraps that you keep avoiding. If you don’t want to use it in your Confetti quilt, it might not be worth saving after all.
Community
Lunaquilts - you inspired me to dive into my Heather Ross fabrics! Quiltwerke - the Essex background and selective color scheme = dreamy. Clwirsing - so fun to see low volume scraps for the background. Love them all!
Visit #ConfettiQuiltAlong on Instagram to see more from our community. You can share your photos with us by adding “#confettiquiltalong” to the image caption when you add a progress photo to your Instagram feed.
April Prize
Creativity is its own reward, and I know you don't need to be convinced to sew. Still, it is rather fun to win new fabric, which might ignite a fresh wave of creativity! Fenceline Fabrics is sponsoring our quilt-along with a fun fabric prize each month. They’re known for making lovely custom bundles, and you just might win one.
Make sure you follow @FencelineFabrics to win!
This month the Cool Pastel bundle is up for grabs! It’s a 6-piece fat quarter bundle, cut in generous 22” x 19” slices. The colors coordinate beautifully, while the patterns have a pleasing variety of pattern scale and type.
Want to win? Each photo you share to Instagram of your Confetti quilt progress this April enters you to win - if you tag the photos with #ConfettiQuiltAlong.
I’ll announce the winner and contact them via Instagram messaging at the beginning of May. Prize ships free to the USA and Canada. An international winner will receive a gift certificate in the same value.