Scrappy Saturday - 7/16/11

Scrappy Saturday - 7/16/11


This was a little scrappy experiment to see if I could use a coffee filter as a base/stabilizer for a Drunkard’s Path block –

I started with a little square in the middle of the coffee filter -
And some scrappy string/strips - 
And sewed a couple of rounds – log-cabin style – clockwise -

Then a couple of more rounds -

Turn it over to make sure I didn’t miss a spot -

Pin it to a square of muslin -
Right side down -
Stitch around it -

Trim it – 1/4" all around -

Tear off the coffee filter paper -
Make a slit in the muslin –
Turn it right side out -
Looks a little lumpy around the edges to me -

So I dig out my handy-dandy pinking shears -
Remember those?
These are so old – you can’t see in the photo – but the price sticker is still visible - $3.47 –
Yeah – those suckers are OLD!!
(And before you ask - yeah - they're right-handed - making them a real pain to have to use!)

Turn it back inside-out -
Pink the edges all around -

Turn it right side out – again -
Doesn't look as lumpy this time - much better - 
Pin the circle to a yellow background square (I LIKE YELLOW!)
And blanket stitch it all around - 

Then – because I thought I was being clever -
I drew a chalk line through the middle of the circle -
Horizontally and vertically - (a little crooked - 'cuz they didn't come out the SAME size!)

Then I basted (long stitch) - 1/4" to the left and the right of both lines -

I cut down the center – between the seam lines -
MAGIC!! –
I have 4 Drunkard’s Path blocks – all with the edges already basted –
Clever, huh?  Yeah, I thought so!

So I played with them a bit – re-arranging them this way and that -

I kinda like the circle – you know – just mixed up - for a little table topper –

So – I sewed them back together –
And pressed the seams open trying to reduce the bulk

Then pressed the other seam open

Nah – this sucker is REALLY thick in the middle -
My “clever” trick wasn’t so clever after all!!

So I cut both seams out

Then I trimmed out the excess layers

And layered all four with batting – for coasters

I tried the first one - "envelope" style

It came out way too small for a coaster -
See it next to the little bitty (3 oz.) candle –
So I quilted the other three - and pulled some strips out for binding

You can see the last one I made on the left -
Much bigger – huh?
The smaller one lost 1/2" in size because the seam allowances were on the “inside”

All done –
Four coasters – or “Mug Rugs” as they are now called –
Not exactly the same size –'cuz I didn't pay attention when I cut them -

But they are going to be scattered around my room -

So – it works for me!

Talk to you later – gotta go – gotta sew -