How to Use Your Scraps - Picadilly Circus Tutorial Episode 1 of 3 - Jo's Country Junction

Join me as I embark on a three-part series to show you how I made my Piccadilly Circus quilt using scraps from my scrap bin. Many people think the project is paper pieced but it's not. Join me as I show you some tips and tricks to make this quilt AND to use up scraps from your overflowing scrap bin.
The quilt was designed by me. Made by me and longarmed by me. It was later published in the 2018 September/October issue of Quiltmaker Magazine...they published it again in the May/June 2023 issue of Quiltmaker. They wrote the directions for the magazine and they didn't write them using the same method I used. Follow along and I show you some tips and tricks so you can completely avoid paper piecing.
Apologies for the video...I didn't realize the lighting was so bad. UGH. I'm still new at this but working to get better.
If you want to stay in touch you can find me at the following places:
My blog: www.joscountryjunction.com
Follow on Facebook: / joscountryju. .
Follow on Instagram: @jo_joscountryjunction
Find Quilting and Sewing Shirts HERE on my daughter's Etsy shop!
www.etsy.com/s...

[@carolynpoole7314]

Is it just me? I love to listen to the sound of the sewing machine! I love the older ones best!

[@JosCountryJunction]

Anytime a machine is running my heart is happy!! Except patching jeans. HA!

[@ritaweston3116]

I'm so thrilled to find these tutorials for this quilt! I saw yours on your blog and knew this was THE ONE for my color loving granddaughter. I'm so appreciative for all I have learned, and will incorporate into all of my quilting processes. Thank you for your sweet videos! 🤗

[@yvonneallan1020]

I like listening to the joy you get as you join little fabric pieces ❤❤❤

[@karendockter1016]

I am also a crumb quilter. It is something i can do when I have had a hard day at work and I don't want to think about what I'm sewing.

[@JosCountryJunction]

EXACTLY!!

[@sigmacinnamon4506]

Its not just you, Carolyn! I love the vintage machine sound too. All the electronic sounds of new machines jangle my nerves. $15 for machine in cabinet and chair-wow. Thats so great. And puppy love to boot. Great sewing channel. 😊

[@JosCountryJunction]

Thanks so much for the kind words!!

[@jacquelinespivey2413]

I LOVE listening to old machines sew too. So much so that I finally found a 15-91 for myself. It needs rewiring first but it is a beautiful machine. So excited to see another video this morning! I just LOVE your laid back easy style of sewing and love listening to you talk about your life! You inspire me! I love scraps! Thank you!

[@JosCountryJunction]

I love my 15-91!!

[@DawnAtCusterCottage]

I love the African Violets in the window. My grandmother had many of them.

[@murlthomas2243]

Quilting and African violets! Who needs anything else?

[@JosCountryJunction]

EXACTLY!!

[@susantrombley9014]

I was so lucky to find small pieces of material at a garage sale. A true quilt appreciate things like that.

[@JosCountryJunction]

Garage sale and scraps?! YES Please!!

[@megharmon2298]

I have a vintage 301 in a cabinet with a chair. It was given to me by my son in law. I really like it.

[@stephaniewalker1040]

I love this..I just put scraps together for fun. 6inch mostly then they are there when I need them.

[@JosCountryJunction]

Great idea!!

[@paulineglynn5394]

I get inspired when I watch you, I also love scrappy quilts. I’m always quilting on something. I quilt for Meals on Wheels. And for my family. And friends. Love reading your blogs. Thanks joe.

[@JosCountryJunction]

Thanks for stopping by!!

[@reneecorbin8501]

Just found your channel,by reading someones else's comment on another KZbin video, she mentioned watching these videos,,,sew here I am ,,love scraps and old sewing machines, I've quilted for around 15 years learned how by watching Jean Truelove Quilts for you KZbin videos and quite a few others I learn by watching sew KZbin worked out great for me,,I loved watching you so I'll go and watch all your stuff ,Oh and I'm a huge Thrifter too,,we have alot in common, May God Bless you and yours, Renee Corbin

[@JosCountryJunction]

I'm so glad you found me!!

[@diannplatt-roberts8692]

Happy Mother's Day!!! Yes, I'm a scrap user also. Started buying men's dress shirts at the thrift stores to use in some of my blocks.

[@JosCountryJunction]

I make lots of quilts from shirts. I love the vintage feel they immediately have.

[@samantham8025]

You’ve inspired me to make some scrappy blocks! I love watching your videos, it’s like being with a friend 😊

[@JosCountryJunction]

Aw...thanks!!

[@nancydemaria7103]

Jo, I love your videos and your blog! You are inspiring

[@JosCountryJunction]

Thanks so much!!

[@dbuggy1]

thanks Jo. I just found this video so i'll be sewing along a little late :). I'm trying really hard to embrace scraps. Every scrappy quilt i try to make ends up being "controlled scrappy", but i'm going to keep trying lol

[@JosCountryJunction]

Controlled scrappy is good!!

[@wendywilson1736]

Nothing wrong with controlled scrappy! That's what I do! Mine is not totally "mindless quilting". I do try to get adjacent pieces set in a complementary way. But, it's still scrappy, because I'm using scrap pieces totally left over from other projects, and I'm not specifically cutting pieces to have the whole quilt coordinated. I have scraps from my mom, mom in law, my previous wedding and baby quilts I gave as gifts, clothes and accessories I made, fat quarters I've bought and from the cupboard from church quilting I was invited to help myself from. I used a lot of my scraps 4 years ago for mask making, and I still have a lot left. Rail Fence, and Piano Key borders are my thing, right now. I like Flying Geese, too, but they make even more scraps with the triangles.🤷‍♀️ I might do it anyway, but I have so many thread catchers already! 😅

[@faithjohnson]

Good Thursday Morning to you Jo. Thank you so much for sharing how to do your quilt. I received my magazine a few days ago. And yesterday I saw your video on KZbin, and it has helped me a lot. You do such a wonderful job working with your scraps, and your quilts comes out sew beautiful. Thanks again Jo for sharing. I love all your videos, and love seeing you grandkids. And oh I didn’t forget your little doggies too. Happy sewing and quilting to you.❤️😀🧵🪡✂️

[@JosCountryJunction]

Hi Faith...I appreciate your support.

[@greatexp59]

Your videos take all the stress out of quilting! I so appreciate your style and your genius for designing scrap quilts. Thanks for these videos explaining your process so clearly.

[@JosCountryJunction]

Thanks for the kind words!!

[@cherylbrown4058]

I make my blocks pretty much how you do it. One day I sat down to do just five and ended up with twenty! Scrappy is my jam.

[@JosCountryJunction]

I'm totally scrappy too.

[@kenilworthclub6231]

I love making Crumb Blocks and really enjoyed watching you sewing these, Jo. You combined some great shades of green and blue. So pleased you use fabrics and sewing items gifted to you. You thoroughly deserve those gifts - look at all the giving you do to others!

[@JosCountryJunction]

Thanks for your kind words!!

[@elwynmcgaugh1129]

Thank you. You have such a soothing voice. I really like your “no stress” attitude.

[@JosCountryJunction]

Aw...thanks.

[@wendywilson1736]

Quiltmaker was my favorite quilt magazine. I was so sad when they quit publishing it. They interrupted my gift that my daughter gave me. I asked for some back issues I didn't have yet instead, but they wouldnt, even though they still had some.😢 (And, Subbing a home decor magazine just doesn't work for a quilt magazine subscription!) The quilts in their issues were more my style. I'm sorry, but I don't remember your quilt. I love star motif quilts, so I'm sure I would have made one, If I had seen it. Congrats on being published again!

[@beckyjohnson9917]

Always a joy to spend time with you 😊 Thank you for all you do!

[@JosCountryJunction]

THANKS SO MUCH!!

[@sharleensanders7997]

Hi Jo Thanks so much and love all the pics fabrics are wonderful. You are like company coming to the house and visiting. I miss how Bonnie used to have her sewing video's guess she is missing out...Keep up your video's...

[@JosCountryJunction]

Thanks so much for the vote of confidence!

[@lucy7b]

I love doing crumb blocks. I’ve made a scrap vortex quilt and I’m part way through another one. I pick it up when I want easy mindless sewing. I don’t like appliqué much either.

[@JosCountryJunction]

I love scraps...they are mindless and if I mess up I don't feel like I'm "out" anything.

[@katesander93]

It is so funny you are sewing on the singer 15-91 because I recently got 1 from a woman who was selling her stuff To down size after a divorce and she had one. It was missing The bobbin case and I bought a new plug for it because I wasn't comfortable with the one it had. And it's sews like a dream. It is in a nice cabinet which I have never had before and I really appreciate all the space you get when you're organizing blocks to just slide them over and sew them in order I am definitely gonna try this quilt the way you do it because I really don't get paper piecing for something like this. I have been wanting to do a patriotic table runner and I think this will work out well. I'll be sure and post a picture.

[@JosCountryJunction]

Please do post a picture!! I'd love to see it.

[@giovannacasadio9600]

Great to see you back and I love scrappy ❤. I still cannot put the bell for all notifications.

[@JosCountryJunction]

I'll look into that.

[@omisfavorites1054]

Enjoyed scrapping with you and hearing about your approach - and a little about your life. I can picture your garden. It must be wonderful!

[@JosCountryJunction]

I always share garden pictures on my blog and on Instagram. Check me out at Jo's Country Junction.

[@fbc5449]

Love your videos!! I can't wait to try this scrappy star pattern. The only thing is that the video seems hazy.

[@JosCountryJunction]

I have to figure out how to handle my lighting. I've been having trouble with it.

[@joantomlin7281]

Love the dogs! I wouldn't mind seeing them for a bit at the end of your videos

[@JosCountryJunction]

I'll have to see if they will cooperate.

[@lucyklier2153]

Love everything you do! I just found you on KZbin. We are so much alike. Can't wait to watch all your videos 😁

[@JosCountryJunction]

So glad you found me!!

[@HazelDavidson-jf8ux]

Love the scrappy piecing. The frugal nature appeals to me which is typical of the many antique quilts from the Depression Era.

[@JosCountryJunction]

Me too!!

[@carolgarner3128]

Great video. Love sewing with you.

[@heidim.5545]

yes I also appreciate the way you sew. Thank you for making it so simple.

[@JosCountryJunction]

Thanks!!

[@vickyasberry4496]

Love this idea I will have to give it a try 😊

[@JosCountryJunction]

AWESOME!!

[@quiltmekiwi]

Nice Jo! I'm sewing binding on a customer quilt, by machine too. You mentioned about the light coming in from the window behind you & I thought how cute it would be to have a patchwork fabric hung up there to dapple the light even more for videos. Kate at the last homely house on KZbin has some beautiful ones if you like the idea.

[@JosCountryJunction]

Thanks for the suggestions!

[@donnagraham2802]

This is a great idea for a baby quilt. Love your Sew with Jo videos!

[@JosCountryJunction]

It's been fun making it again!!

[@anitadiller4140]

Love your videos. I need to pull out my scraps - this looks like such a fun quilt.

[@JosCountryJunction]

I loved making mine!!

[@juleswells3676]

Just so relaxing watching you sew!love it!

[@JosCountryJunction]

Thanks for stopping by!

[@tblack4719]

Thanks for doing these scrappy blocks. I am drowning in scraps and they tend to overwhelm me because I can’t decide what to make with them.

[@JosCountryJunction]

You can make anything with them. Goodness know scraps multiply when we sleep. There will always be more scraps to sew with!! HA!

[@CoffeeJo]

Hi! I love scrappy quilts, too. I am working on one with adding machine tape. There were a few rolls of adding machine tape that were no longer needed at my work. They were going to throw them away. I took them instead. I am just sewing strips across the tape, it's only 3" wide. When I get enough sewn I will have scrappy stripes to alternate with the background stripes.

[@JosCountryJunction]

Great idea!!

[@annat174]

The lighting in the video reminds me of the old Doris Day movies. Did not impact seeing what you were doing. I love making crumb blocks even if they aren't quick to make and very messy, at least the way I make them! Admire your discipline in throwing your bits into the trash right away, mine tend to go on the floor. Regarding appliqué, I enjoy raw edge appliqué. Fits my style more. Appreciate your videos so much. Think if I ever did take a class, which I never have, and got even a semi-rigid instructor, I never would have quilted again. Thanks, Jo.

[@JosCountryJunction]

I'm SUPER relaxed. My theory is to assume you're going to make mistakes and learning to fudge is the most important step in sewing!!

[@kathleenmayhorne3183]

With those bobbins, does a stick or pencil fit through the hole? It will run faster, just pull thread off above a plastic tub? Tiffany I think, put bits in plastic christmas baubles once. She also glued something thickly/stiffly aound a small balloon, then took out the baloon. Either throw out the thread, or stuff something heavy with it. Mum used to do the multi bit, she'd say she didn't have an empty bobbin, drove me nuts. She used it for mending. You can sew hems, or use it for tacking thread if you use that. The bobbins will be useful once the thread is disposed of. My sister uses odd thread for tacking cross-stitch, onto the tapes on the frame. How much of a pain would it be, to use them as the top threads, as random colours for machine quilting a small gift? I've been crocheting small things tonight, could you start about ten bobbins at once and crochet or Knit a scrubby for make-up or face washing, and let all the ends dangle here and there? A friend may do that for you, if you don't use hooks and k needles? All the best.

[@MonaBreaux-v3v]

First time watching you be watching again soon. I also make scrap quilts.

[@JosCountryJunction]

Scrap quilts are my favorite. I'm pretty frugal and like to use up all the little scraps!

[@sharleensanders7997]

Hi Jo You mention pictorial directions on your blog but can't find it. Could you possibly post where it can be found. Thanks for everything you do,

[@JosCountryJunction]

Hi Sharleen. Here is the link to the instructions from my blog. www.joscountryjunction.com/where-were-published-quiltmaker-3/

[@earleneharper9353]

I just started a scrappy sewing I am excited to sew with you.

[@debbiewood2675]

I love scrappy quilts. They are definately my favorite. Question: on your scraps do you sort and store them all by color? What about your strips are they by color and size? Love your tutorials.

[@JosCountryJunction]

I typically don't sort by color...I sort more by genre`. Bright color strips have their own sorted containers as to reproduction fabric, batiks and recycled shirts. Within that, they are all sorted by size. I'll try to do a video and show you what I do.

[@brendahinton6571]

Thank Jo I have the 18 book I ping have make it one day I have too many I working on right now you know how that go

[@roseswalls3468]

I love scraps, and I cannot even think how many crumb quilts I have made. Or maybe I should call them crum/chunks. Depending on your definition of crumbs. There has been a lot of stress the past few years and it is so easy to just sew pieces together and trim to size later.

[@JosCountryJunction]

I totally agree. Sew now...trim later!!

[@jolynnsholmire2785]

You would love to Fabric shop I use. She has very large totes in the back room where people donate unwanted fabric. Everything in the totes is free.

[@Liverpool1957]

Hi Jo, Just love this quilt design, many thanks for all your inspiration. Qu: Do you reduce the stitch length? I too wasn't an applique gal, until......... I found basting glue, wahoo it cuts the time and boy it looks neat.

[@JosCountryJunction]

I don't reduce the stitch length but you sure could.

[@HesterGroenewald]

Hallo I am enjoying your videos. Thank you. Do you sew with 100% cotton? Which brand? From Hester

[@JosCountryJunction]

I'm assuming you mean thread. I am not picky at all. All thread works. Often blog readers send me thread that doesn't work in their long arm. I use that.

[@vikkiemonument7807]

I love this quilt , going to make my scrappy blocks 😊. What is the finished size?

[@JosCountryJunction]

It's about 46" square.

[@janicelam4125]

Thanks for sharing love the video

[@SoPatch33]

♥♥♥♥

[@JosCountryJunction]

Thanks for stopping by!

[@pamelaarbour3368]

I found the piccadilly quilt pattern on pintrest. I thought you might find that interesting

[@JosCountryJunction]

It is...

[@AvivaHadas]

If the squared were to be bigger that 4,5 inches, would you use bigger scraps? (I am about to do 8.5 & am contemplating using scraps that I probably could get a 2.5 inch square out of & am naysaying myself a bit... I have small scraps too, but I think with all of those seams it would be bulky and not as nice as if I used bigger pieces... I'm piecing a Spiderweb with long skinny scraps first while I continue to think about it.)

[@JosCountryJunction]

You could do it either way. If you kept them the same sizes I used, then there would just be more open space. Love that idea too!!

[@fraserdonaldson7928]

What kind of thread are you using, cotton, polyester or a blend 40:36

[@cathymonroe8191]

I've made a few scrap and crumb quilts, but never seem to make a dent in my stash. I"m curious, if you had to really knock your stash down, how would you do it?

[@CoffeeJo]

Hi Cathy. I have a friend that makes "hospital" quilts. These are made intentionally UGLY she says. Nothing matches so its always scrappy, colors clash, and the effect can be jarring. The point is no one would want to steal the quilt. One of her friends lost a beautiful quilt while taking chemo treatments 😢. My friend decided that hospital quilts would have all the love, warmth, and feel of a beautiful quilt without the beauty. I found this a wonderful idea! It can be ANYTHING thrown together and your patient has a wonderful piece of home at the hospital.

[@cathymonroe8191]

@@CoffeeJo Thanks! I'll check our local medical facilities and see if I can give quilts there.

[@JosCountryJunction]

Great idea!!

[@paulineglynn5394]

I just finished a scrappy quilt. Ok if I send you a picture

[@paulineglynn5394]

Sorry can’t figure out how to send a pic.

[@cherylhobson6633]

Hi! Do you ever do a log cabin quilt? My friend who is a master quilter is teaching me to do a log cabin quilt.

[@JosCountryJunction]

I have done a log cabin quilt. I'm not a master quilter though...I'm more of fly by the seat of my pants quilter.

[@cherylhobson6633]

@@JosCountryJunction I am so glad you are! I love my friend cause she has lots of knowledge but I scared to quilt with her. Jo, your kind of quilting is actually fun fun ! Thank you!

[@joettewarburton8005]

I did not have the magazine. Is there a way for me to get this pattern?

[@JosCountryJunction]

The instructions are truly completely different so you don't need it but they do have a way to buy it here. www.quiltingdaily.com/product/piccadilly-circus-quilt-pattern-download/

[@bettyback1564]

what issue was the original quilt in ? TY

[@JosCountryJunction]

2018 September/October Quiltmaker magazine.

[@sisterdube6235]

LIKE YOUR AFRICAN VIOLETS

[@63Kelsey]

How do we get the pattern?

[@JosCountryJunction]

You really don't need a pattern. Just cut some squares in the sizes I mentioned and start sewing.

[@HesterGroenewald]

Hallo I am enjoying your videos. Thank you. Do you sew with 100% cotton? Which brand? From Hester

[@JosCountryJunction]

I'm assuming you mean thread. I am not picky at all. All thread works. Often blog readers send me thread that doesn't work in their long arm. I use that.