There’s something satisfying about turning a pile of leftover fabrics into something cozy and full of heart. Easy patchwork, fun sewing, and a bit of therapy at the sewing machine—it doesn’t get much better than that.
 |
| Kitty quilt with improv patchwork and free-motion quilting. |
I brought two “kitty quilt” [charity quilt] tops to my Intro to Free-motion Quilting workshop at the Folk School earlier this month. I used them to demonstrate basting and the Kwik Klip tool.
 |
| Demonstrating basting with the Kwik Klip tool on a charity quilt. |
Students also got a chuckle over the “franken-batting” I made by zig-zagging leftover batting scraps together.
 |
| Pieced batting using up batting scraps: “Franken-batting.” |
Using up scraps, the patchwork for these quilt tops (as well as the batting) is simple and improvisational. These tops are the perfect canvases for some easygoing, free-motion quilting. One top was used in class to demonstrate free-motion zig-zags.
 |
| Two completed charity quilts for the Cat Clinic. |
The quilts are finished with scrappy bindings that are attached with a machine zigzag and a variegated thread.
 |
| Scrappy bindings applied all by machine. |
Bonus: the flannel trimmings from the quilt backings were pieced together for the back of a future kitty quilt! Hooray for more scrappy improvisational patchwork!
 |
| Making do: fabric trimmings were used to piece another quilt back for a future quilt. |
In addition to quilting the kitty quilts, I also pieced a cuddle quilt top for my guild’s charity.
 |
| Charity quilt top ready for basting and quilting. |
Scrap quilting is always a joyful process for me. It’s a great reminder that even small, forgotten pieces can come together to make something beautiful and meaningful.
