Friday, May 13, 2011

Biscuit Quilt



There is something cathartic about making a scrap quilt. I don't feel any particular need to save leftover fabric, because there are always more solid fabrics to be had, but I still feel guilty about throwing away leftover bits of fabric.

Last year, I started sewing together scraps from quilts as I made them. I had no particular layout or end goal in mind. It was nice to work on between projects because there was no pressure or expectations. All the pieces were scraps, and various sizes so nothing had to line up or be precise. As time went on, I decided to put together scraps from all the quilts for a particular year and make a quilt out of it, and to keep a visual record of my year in quilting.

It went from bits and pieces...


To rows...


To finished things...


To a whole quilt!




I've been calling it a biscuit quilt, because it reminds me a little bit of when you make biscuits, and you roll the dough and cut out the biscuits and repeat until you can't cut any more out. We always used to bundle all the scraps together for one lumpy looking biscuit.

Sometimes that would be the biscuit that my brother and I would fight over, because we knew what all those perfectly round biscuits tasted like, but the lumpy biscuit was always a bit of a surprise. It's been a long time since I've rolled out biscuit dough though! Maybe I'll just make quilts instead.

18 comments:

{Leila}Where the Orchids Grow said...

That's the perfect name for this quilt, biscuit quilt I love it! There's something very satisfying about making a quilt from scraps isn't there.

Anonymous said...

That is too cool!
I'm not sure if my scrappy scraps would flow as nicely as yours, but you make me want to give it a try! My daughter keeps asking for a lawn/picnic quilt, this would be perfect.

Not Lucy said...

I don't do that with all my scraps but I do try to keep my triangles under control. Here is a picture of my first scrap triangle quilt: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucysquilts/4637088633/
I think I will try one more like yours for the next one.

Jolanda said...

Great job, I love your quilt!

Calicojoan said...

Wow that is something. Looks like a lot of fun to make too!

Debbie said...

That is a project and a half! Totally amazing!

Brittney said...

This is amazing! It's so cool to see how so many scraps can work together, well done!

Laurel H. said...

Cool quilt! It reminds me of a quilting book I read recently, which calls for designing a quilt row by row.

stitchinpenny said...

The technique sounds as if the quilt might turn out a little questionable, but your quilt is beautiful. The biscuit was great this time.

BJ said...

Beautiful!

Eileen said...

wonderful quilt. i love it! amazing what you've accomplished from just scraps. wow!! thanks for sharing and have a great day.

Sara said...

Biscuits are awesome and so is this quilt-lol!!! I love all the colors and the scrap busting that went into it!!! I want to make one now too, I just have to hoard more solids!!

Karen said...

Your quilt is wonderful. What a great way to use scraps. I love your analogy with making biscuits!

Christina said...

It still in the top stage at the last meeting right? I'm looking forward to seeing it all quilted, I love the shot from the back with the rumpliness. You did those scraps justice, and what a great name.

Sarcastic Quilter said...

That's a very pretty quilt. Love the name.

MariQuilts said...

What a fantastic idea.....the resulting quilt is absolutely beautiful.

MareMare said...

ha, I have to be the one that doesn't like the name, since it's not a Biscuit Quilt (also called a puff quilt). Where the squares are each individually stuffed and sewn together? It seems wrong to call a technique something when that word is already used in the quilting world to mean something else. But I love the way it turned out, regardless of the name :)

Tonya Ricucci said...

fabulous quilt - you did a great job.