Scrappy charity quilts and free-motion fun

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.

Can you envision a scrap-buster quilt in your future? I hope so.

2nd Make Nine finish: Scraps and Crumbs prompt

Two for nine! The Make Nine Scraps and Crumbs project is finished. 

Machine binding on four scrappy kitty quilts.

Using Scraps and Crumbs

It's no secret I enjoy:

• using up scraps (points for upcycling and reducing fabric waste)
• improv patchwork (it's liberating, stress-free and anything goes!)
• making functional art (kitty quilts keep the kitties warm and comfortable)
• practicing free-motion quilting (trying new designs, brushing up on my FMQ skills)
• learning to master machine binding (experimenting with decorative stitches and machine feet)

These kitty quilts check all the boxes.

Units for the blue kitty quilt were from an online Improv Patchwork workshop with Sherri Lynn Wood. The pre-work scrap sorting exercise was a good learning experience.

Blue improv kitty quilt.

The star test block made with M&S Textiles Australia fabrics was the nucleus of this quilt. I experimented with piped binding and a new ditch walking foot for my machine on this quilt.

Star block improv kitty quilt.

There were just enough flannel fabric swatches from a holiday fabric line to make this quilt top.

Coordinating scraps from a flannel holiday fabric line make up this quilt top.

Below is my favorite from the group as it's going to a friend for his rescued kitty, Misho. When it's cold, Misho retreats to an old styrofoam cooler with a door cut into it. I hope she likes a quilt of her own, and I think her owner will like the bold color palette and the improv patchwork.

Purple and orange improv kitty quilt for Misho.

Using up batting scraps

All of my kitty quilts use batting scraps and pieces too small for larger quilts. 

Franken-batting uses up scraps and trimmings.

Three of these recent kitty quilts have two layers of poly batting trimmings which will make them more lofty and warm.

Two layers of batting in a kitty quilt.

All the kitty quilts are backed with a naturescape flannel.

Kitty quilts have a flannel backing.

Tested and approved

Spot has kitty-tested the blue quilt.

Spot kitty on the blue quilt.

Stan Leigh obviously approves.

Stan Leigh sleeping in the cat bed.

Progress continues on the my Make Nine 2022 Challenge.

Make Nine 2022 worksheet.

Putting scraps of fabric, batting, binding and orphan blocks to a good use!

Although charitable giving should be a year-round activity, I seem to have more sewing machine time during the holidays. I was able to devote some late night hours this month to piecing batting, machine quilting and machine binding five charity quilts for the kitties at the Cat Clinic of Chattanooga. We dropped them off last Friday.

Machine binding small charity quilts for kitties at The Cat Clinic.

Scrap busting and repurposing orphan blocks
I fit scrap-busting patchwork into my schedule throughout the year. It's a great mindless activity to do while de-stressing, mentally sifting through To-Do lists, and overcoming creative blocks... while still being productive! A guild program on re-purposing orphan quilt blocks also prompted an archeological fabric dig to uncover a few of my own. Results of these activities went into completing recent kitty quilts.

Left: flannel scrap buster top.
Right: three re-purposed orphan blocks from a block swap.

Scrap buster quilts.

Leftover 2.5" strips from pre-cut strip collections are put to good use on the bindings. I had fun mixing and matching colors and prints!

Right: a hexagon orphan block upcycle.

These are great little projects for patching together and using up leftover batting bits, too! Use a machine zigzag stitch, fusible batting tape or hand stitching to hold the batting pieces together.

Batting bits are pieced together.

Flannel backings provide softness and warmth

The quilt backs are flannel so the kitties have one side that is extra-snuggly. (These flannels happened to be cat prints.) Due to a scrap collection of flannel fabrics I was working with, a few of the quilts also had flannel patchwork on the front. Double snuggle!

Flannel cat prints are used for the quilt backings.

The quilt with the hexagon orphan block prompted the machine quilting design. I started the quilting in the center of the hexagon block and went out from there (see the quilt's back below).

Hexagon quilt back showing the free-motion quilting.

Eleven kitty quilts donated in 2019

Cassandra (Cassie) is one of the Clinic's office mascots. She was more interested in her box than investigating the new quilts this time. However, the staff is always appreciative of the donation and they like the colorful fabrics and novelty prints in the quilts.

Cassie (left) decided to stay in her box rather than investigate the new quilts.

With these 5 quilts added to the 6 dropped off in September, the total donation comes to 11 quilts—almost one for each month of 2019.

If you're looking for something meaningful in which to use your fabric and batting scraps, small charity quilts are a good solution. Check with local organizations or shelters to see what their needs are. Or here is a list of national organizations that accept donated quilts, fabrics and sewing supplies. Pass along some quilty goodness!

No-sew products for piecing batting scraps, and more

Rarely (if ever) does the size of a quilt batting perfectly coincide with the size of your quilt top. There are always trimmings and irregular-sized pieces left over. And... the frugal and efficient makers that we are... we save them. Right? 

Using Heat Press to fuse batting scraps together.

If you're not making a lot of little projects—mug rugs, zippered pouches, soft books, and such—you probably have a "collection" of these miscellaneous chunks... too big to throw away but not quite big enough for a current need.

Heat Press to the Rescue
I posted two methods for joining batting pieces together: by machine in this post, and by hand in this post. But here is a great product for piecing batting scraps together—using an iron. It's called "Heat Press."

Heat Press is 1.5" wide and is packaged in a roll.

Heat Press is a lightweight, fusible tricot product. It comes on a roll: 15 yards by 1.5" wide. Just lay out the batting pieces, butting them together. Cut a length of Heat Press to cover the join and fuse (low heat with the iron*). Easy and fast and the product is undetectable when machine quilting. [NOTE: I have not tried it with hand quilting, but would be interested in hearing anyone's experience with hand quilting or hand stitching with this product. How 'bout you, my blog stalker, have you hand stitched with this product?]

*The package instructions recommend different heat settings depending on the fiber content of the batting and whether your iron has a teflon plate or not. Be sure to read this so you don't melt the fusible or damage the batting.

More products for other uses
The Heat Press website is chock full of helpful information: video demos, tips and information about related products such as an Appliqué Tape and (OMGosh) a "Stretchy Hem Tape" for working with knits that comes in white and black! Anyone tried this stuff?

These products were invented by Jeanne Harwood, a quilter, garment sewer, instructor and consultant to apparel manufacturers. The products are 100% Made in the USA and can be purchased through the Heat Press website or ask for them at YLQS [your local quilt shop].

Got batting scraps? Use 'em and fuse 'em for your next project.