HOW TO USE YOUR FABRIC SCRAPS | Sharing some of my scrappy 16 patch quilt blocks

[@tonigould2589]

I love your 16-patches! All the quilts I slept under in my growing-up years were scrap quilts. None were perfect, and all were wonderful. Scrap quilts just make me happy. Now, as a caregiver with varying emotional and physical bandwidth from day to day, the quilts I piece feature simple shapes - squares & rectangles mostly - and many 4 patches, 9 patches, 16-patches. The last thing I need when I sit down to sew is something demanding; simplicity is doable and soothing, and the results always make me happy. Continuing to hold you & your mom in my heart and prayers!

[@PattymacMakes]

YES!!! You completely understand where I'm coming from! I don't have the bandwidth for anything too fussy these days, so I'm keeping things simple and fun where ever possible.

[@germainehouse7504]

I’ve just started cutting my scraps into 5 inch squares today. This is perfect timing and convincing me not to overthink my colors. Have fun and stash bust!

[@PattymacMakes]

I'm so happy to hear this!! This is the equivalent of high school art class where you just get to play around!

[@kimberlyleet7929]

I love that you show us your mistakes! It happens to us all and someone will still be lucky to receive the quilts.

[@PattymacMakes]

Yes!! People spend entirely too much time in pursuit of perfection, and forget to enjoy the process. I generally sew for myself and immediate family and I love using my own handmade creations!

[@teeh917]

I can't tell you how much I love these blocks, Hun. They bring back so many wonderful memories with my Granny and Momma. Now I want to go through my scraps and start cutting them up. 😊 Unfortunately, right now I've got too many projects that I absolutely have to finish but after Easter I'll be a happy lil square cutting quilter. Thank you for your inspiration, Patty and your dedication to us. You will remain in my prayers!!!! Have a great week. 🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻

[@PattymacMakes]

Thank you so much Teresa!! I'm so happy it brings such warm memories!! Truly, it's a really fun project, and you can make a lot of progress fast. It's fun for summer to be sure. And thank you so much for remembering us in your prayers. It's so appreciated.

[@teeh917]

@@PattymacMakes You are so welcome, Hun. 🌹

[@shellcshells2902]

I spent a few hours today making mini bolts with my stash and I must say, I'm shocked at the fabrics I forgot were there!!! I am making mini bolts for all my yardage and going to take my scraps and cut them down to squares for patchwork quilts like you're doing. I just love your channel so thank you for all the sharing you so for us. ❤

[@PattymacMakes]

Oh my gosh!! Thank you!! I love wrapping my fabrics for that reason! I have some I need to get out and get folded and stored and it's so enjoyable. Like visiting with a friend. I really appreciate you watching and participating.

[@leanichols6824]

These blocks are so pretty and the kind of blocks that are fun to look at just to enjoy the pretty scrap fabrics. Scrap quilts are my favorite. I didn't even notice things not lining up perfectly. There was a time when I would take apart anything that didn't line up right. No more. Once the quilts is quilted, bound and washed it looks beautiful.

[@PattymacMakes]

Yes exactly!! People absolutely obsess over the perfection of their quilts, and unless it's being submitted as a show quilt, I don't understand why people fuss over it so much. In all that fussing, we miss out on having fun!

[@connieweaver7348]

Patty, I love your blocks, and really enjoy your video's! Looking forward to your next video. Prayers for you and your Mom!

[@PattymacMakes]

Thank you so much Connie!!! I sure do appreciate it! I've got something new coming up on Wednesday and I'm going to get more new videos up for the weekend. I'm still considering a live sewalong this weekend but I haven't done anything to get ready for it. So.....I'm not sure how that's going to work. I'm so overloaded with extra tasks these days. So I might just go for a couple of shorter videos to share this weekend.

[@carlynnewright1816]

What a great video. Sometimes it is great just to sew. I am making a Wedding ring quilt.using scraps for my 30th anniversary. I started to stress about the colors but you have made me relax. Thank you. Thank you.

[@PattymacMakes]

Thank you!!! I'm so happy to hear this helped you move forward! Always remember that we are doing this for fun. Hobbies should be fun for us and time to relax. That's how I feel anyway. Sometimes we get so hung up on perfectionism and it steals our joy. Don't let that happen!!

[@marcellarodriguez7955]

I made about 5 blocks of 16 patches of 2 1/2” squares the other day just because I felt like it and it was really relaxing and rewarding to prepare probably for a baby quilt. I’m not sure what yours going through but I heard you say thank you for the prayers and your mom isn’t giving up. I will pray for you and your family. Thank you for the video , take care 💐🙏

[@PattymacMakes]

Thank you so much!! I do appreciate that. I'm cutting 2.5" squares of everything too small for the 4.5" size to use for something else down the road.

[@carolecossette1677]

Thank you for sharing your scrap blocks. Great ideas. Gave me confidence to start cutting my scraps. Really like scrappy quilts. ❤

[@PattymacMakes]

YES!!!!! This is the most fun I've had on a project in a long time!! It's freeing and I love using the leftovers instead of adding more to my storage. I'm in a place now where I'm really into decluttering and reducing my excess, and this was great way to get started.

[@BFF-qr3qj]

Listening to you explain the journey of all your blocks is interesting. AND reinforcing that you don't have to buy the most expensive fabric. And if your cuts aren't perfect, so be it. Happy quilting to you, and light is around the corner for you.

[@PattymacMakes]

Thank you so much!! Yes!! I don't think every thing has to be the highest quality possible. I frequently mix brands in my quilts and it's been perfectly fine! I'm not entering competitions and I do this because I enjoy it, so that does make a difference.

[@DianeM-hy4np]

These blocks are so pretty. All the fabrics are so pretty also. I have some of the same fabric. They would look very nice as curtains. The pattern is also a good one to put together in an easy block to block quilt as you go method if you wanted to make a quilt. I'm sure what ever you do with these will be very pretty. Praying for you and your mother. God bless.

[@PattymacMakes]

Thank you! 😊

[@chi2tan]

I love these! Such a great way to manage scraps.

[@PattymacMakes]

Thank you!! I highly recommend the project!

[@janesalisbury3686]

Forgot to say, I am now subscribed . . . cheers from England!

[@PattymacMakes]

Tally Ho Jane!! A big ole HOWDY from the States!

[@janesalisbury3686]

OMG, you popped into my laptop just when I needed you! I'm currently overthinking a bedspread for my Granddaughter and her new partner . . . I need to let my creative juices flow and stop obsessing, thank you for being so relaxed about it. Also, btw, I LOVE your hair.

[@PattymacMakes]

Thank you!! I got tired of coloring my hair and in 2020 I grew it for a while in between normal haircuts and in two trims the color was gone. I'm glad I don't worry about it anymore, and I don't mind my grey. Oh yeah, I see people flip over their perfectionism and it absolutely takes all the joy out of the process. Just cut your scraps and play a little. You'll have 25 of these done in no time. And see if you can repurpose an old sheet for the backing. Young people appreciate repurposed stuff.

[@weaver7249]

Thank you so much! This has been so inspiring - have a good week.

[@PattymacMakes]

Thank you! You too!

[@phyllisdippert2216]

I love scrappy quilts. Working on a polka dot quilt using hsts. I always see my mistakes! I have alot of 5" squares.you are an inspiration!

[@PattymacMakes]

We all see the mistakes we make, but not allowing them to ruin our enjoyment is the key. I think anyway! Polka dots are the best, aren't they?

[@rebeccamulkern1051]

Beautiful blocks, sending you hugs❤

[@PattymacMakes]

Thank you! 🤗

[@phapy2451]

Enjoying your content.

[@PattymacMakes]

Thank YOu!

[@caroltanori2442]

I glad to find u on your live i feel better better on doing a4 pack

[@PattymacMakes]

I love to break my blocks down to more simple parts! And thank you!

[@lisagilbert8472]

I love it the blocks and to me they look perfect!!!

[@PattymacMakes]

Thank you sooo much Lisa!! They are absolutely NOT perfect, but I appreciate such kind words.

[@valeriespackman4019]

The bird fabric that you made curtains out of, I used the exact same fabric to make my daughter some napkins. She loves birds!

[@PattymacMakes]

Oh gosh. I just love that print!! I need to clean my window and get them back up!

[@StephanieBurnem]

I just started on my first 16 patch quilt and I am loving it so far!!

[@PattymacMakes]

I'm so excited to hear this!!! Have you decided on your size yet?

[@StephanieBurnem]

@@PattymacMakes I think it’s going to be 3 x 5 with a 2 inch white piece to break them up. I might end up adding a 4th row if I think it’s too small

[@PattymacMakes]

@@StephanieBurnem that sounds wonderful!!!

[@Metdiva1]

I could see possible café curtains, a beach bag, a duffel bag, or maybe laptop travel bag. Continuing to keep you and your mom in my prayers.

[@PattymacMakes]

Thank you soooo much!! I like the curtains idea quite a bit. I think a simple cafe curtain using those rings I have would be perfect. And pretty easy to put together. I think I would line them, though. They would look nicer in the video lined and probably last longer.

[@Metdiva1]

@@PattymacMakes I agree with lining the curtains. It would help with light control, hang better (and could be lightly weighted, if needed), and look finished on the outside view.

[@PattymacMakes]

@@Metdiva1 Oh thanks!! It's kind of particular to get it all lined up but I think I'm going to make them that way if I do them

[@MartyLawless-kh2jd]

You have some very interesting fabric...the blocks look GREAT!!

[@PattymacMakes]

Thank you! 😊

[@suehancock8229]

Your awesome ,collecting 5 inch squares ❤

[@PattymacMakes]

If you have a bunch of charm packs or find some on sale, they can go right into something based on 5" squares. It's such a fun project!

[@peggiebrown5569]

Love the curtain idea. At some point if you decide to you can make curtains into a quilt. I bet if you used those blocks at an angle that would make a pretty binding!

[@PattymacMakes]

Both GREAT tips!! I love the idea of them being curtains. They would not fade terribly because there is never direct light coming in those windows. I would probably still line them, though. The muslin at Joann would work well for that.

[@terrigunning5745]

My first 2 quilt tops were squares. Fueld furrows out o all the remnants of our clothes we sewed.

[@PattymacMakes]

That's how quilting began!! Using the old clothes and the left overs from sewing other clothes. I love that you made quilts that way!

[@diannplatt-roberts8692]

I agree with you. Sometimes it doesn’t matter, just move on.

[@PattymacMakes]

Thank you!

[@sandracedar368]

Don’t let the stress of cutting your fabrics, possible imperfection (my motto: There are no mistakes - only “signatures”; Jenny & MSQC: “Done is better than Perfect!” Enjoy!🧵🪡✂️❣️

[@PattymacMakes]

YYYEEEESSSSS!!!!!!

[@karenbrunette6314]

I’ve been watching you for about 18 months i enjoy all of them infact I often binge watch 😂 I have yet to make a scrappy quilt I find that the reason is the scraps that I have from quilts are very specific and they don’t work together if ya get what I’m saying 😂 Pokemon doesn’t go with hunting fabric or hearts not even by trying to find a common color how does one get past this dilemma? Have a great week patty

[@PattymacMakes]

I would just start cutting in a uniform size until you get a good pile and then reach in and grab something. Whatever you grab is what you sew! And thank you so much for watching!! I appreciate it so much.

[@SpeakTruthBeKind]

Your scrappy quilt could contain hearts, hunting, Pokémon etc just call it a Seek and Find Quilt. 😉

[@shannonbrown7488]

I have that exact Harry Potter fabric. I'm not even a Harry Potter fan, but someone from my guild gave me about a yard of it. I've cut it up and used it as a low volume in my scrap charity quilts.

[@audreynanapreps2543]

What are mini bolts

[@PattymacMakes]

I love that print and this is the last of it for me. Though I have a couple other Harry Potter themed fabrics in stash.

[@PattymacMakes]

I wrap my fabrics on comic book boards. They look like mini bolts!

[@rhondasimpleman5905]

My grandmothers quilted with patterns cut out of paper by them. No quilt rulers and used scissors not rotary cutters. Their quilts were perfect because they made them. Don’t worry if things aren’t perfect. That’s not the point of quilts.

[@PattymacMakes]

That's amazing!! I like to be as precise as possible, but this project was more about the stress relief of the sewing.

[@marilynpodoll3278]

what do you mean by the direction joanns is taking????

[@PattymacMakes]

Oh gosh, they really aren't doing all that well financially. The stock is down to just about nothing and they are in significant debt.I don't think it's a very good long term outlook given the conditions of the world economy. Sewing Report has been doing informative shows about it if you're interested.

[@marilynpodoll3278]

We have had two large fabric stores close and two small quilt shops close in the last couple of years. I'm running out of places to get fabric. Joanns is all that is left close to me. Love your videos.@@PattymacMakes

[@PattymacMakes]

@@marilynpodoll3278 I know!! It's not good out there. I kind of think the writing is on the wall for joann but it pains me to say that. Though to be honest, the quality of the fabric hasn't been great the past couple of years and it's not the bargain it used to be. I think they lost their licensing agreements, too so no more Harry Potter designs. But I'm not sure as it was something mentioned in a comments section.

[@blkbird022]

I’m fairly new at quilting I started after joining a facebook group making face mask for healthcare workers and family members after that was over I use my leftover scraps to make my first quilt and that’s how I got started quilting and also learning how to sew at the same time. So I remember the quilts on my grandmother’s beds and they were always scrappy didn’t know at the time they were called that being so young, however it’s the very kind I enjoy making. Thanks for sharing…🦋🦋🦋🙏🏽