I did. I cut this quilt up into a rectangular table runner. I just took a deep breath and let the rotary cutter do its thing. If you are just joining in, this is what I had to start with:
The quilt is made up of seven rather complicated, labor intensive blocks, which are sewn together as shown just above, then trimmed down to the size shown in the first photo. I know. When I realized what I was supposed to do, I was muttering "Seriously? That is insane." to myself and wondering if I could really do it. It seemed such a waste to discard the equivalent of two entire blocks, or over 25% of the total quilt.
So I made something with those four leftover triangles!
It took some thinking, but I was determined not to let that work go to waste.
So I made a zippy bag. Once I sewed the triangles together, I had two blocks that measured 9 1/2". I lined the blocks with batting and a contrasting inner fabric, and put in a zipper. I then sewed up the sides and bottom and squared off the base so it would stand up on its own. It just goes to show you, you can made a zippy bag any size and pretty much out of anything. It is a good size for traveling, and will be perfect for holding cosmetics and other toiletries.
And by the way, I love my table runner after all!
(Details: Pattern is Pie Birds by Kim Diehl, found in The Big Book of Table Toppers by Karen M. Burns).
78 responses to “Waste Not, Want Not”
Brilliant!! Love the table runner, the zippy bag, and your creativity! The dark binding on the table runner is just perfect, too. Well done and applause!
Hugs!
Brilliant!! Love the table runner, the zippy bag, and your creativity! The dark binding on the table runner is just perfect, too. Well done and applause!
Hugs!
Brilliant!! Love the table runner, the zippy bag, and your creativity! The dark binding on the table runner is just perfect, too. Well done and applause!
Hugs!
Yea for you! Love them both!
Yea for you! Love them both!
Yea for you! Love them both!
AWesome table runner and the bag is really cute. Great job all the way around.
Mary
AWesome table runner and the bag is really cute. Great job all the way around.
Mary
AWesome table runner and the bag is really cute. Great job all the way around.
Mary
You are a brave woman and it turned out perfect! The bag too! I love them both!
You are a brave woman and it turned out perfect! The bag too! I love them both!
You are a brave woman and it turned out perfect! The bag too! I love them both!
Love your runner. Am thinking long ago that I was going to make this from one of her books and was cutting the strips from projects I was working on. Maybe need to find and dig out?? I also like the wavy cross hatch. Made a small topper and straight line cross hatch won’t work and this just might!
Love your runner. Am thinking long ago that I was going to make this from one of her books and was cutting the strips from projects I was working on. Maybe need to find and dig out?? I also like the wavy cross hatch. Made a small topper and straight line cross hatch won’t work and this just might!
Love your runner. Am thinking long ago that I was going to make this from one of her books and was cutting the strips from projects I was working on. Maybe need to find and dig out?? I also like the wavy cross hatch. Made a small topper and straight line cross hatch won’t work and this just might!
Looks great, Nicole!
Looks great, Nicole!
Looks great, Nicole!
Table runner is fabulous. And so is your zippy bag. A lot of work and a little ingenuity makes for two great results!
Table runner is fabulous. And so is your zippy bag. A lot of work and a little ingenuity makes for two great results!
Table runner is fabulous. And so is your zippy bag. A lot of work and a little ingenuity makes for two great results!
You can never have too many zippy bags. Great save. Love the table runner too!
You can never have too many zippy bags. Great save. Love the table runner too!
You can never have too many zippy bags. Great save. Love the table runner too!
The table runner is wonderful! And I just KNEW you’d come up with a project for the sliced off pieces. Good job!! I have that book, so I’m going to go take a look and see how in the world this project goes together.
The table runner is wonderful! And I just KNEW you’d come up with a project for the sliced off pieces. Good job!! I have that book, so I’m going to go take a look and see how in the world this project goes together.
The table runner is wonderful! And I just KNEW you’d come up with a project for the sliced off pieces. Good job!! I have that book, so I’m going to go take a look and see how in the world this project goes together.
The little bag is perfect!! I think I have the book, so now I need to look at things with a whole different perspective.
The little bag is perfect!! I think I have the book, so now I need to look at things with a whole different perspective.
The little bag is perfect!! I think I have the book, so now I need to look at things with a whole different perspective.
I love your table topper and zippy bag. Great job, beautiful fabrics. Now I know what to do with the leftover triangles from the table topper. Thanks for sharing your beautiful quilting projects.
I love your table topper and zippy bag. Great job, beautiful fabrics. Now I know what to do with the leftover triangles from the table topper. Thanks for sharing your beautiful quilting projects.
I love your table topper and zippy bag. Great job, beautiful fabrics. Now I know what to do with the leftover triangles from the table topper. Thanks for sharing your beautiful quilting projects.
The runner is stunning, and the use of the leftovers was brilliant!
The runner is stunning, and the use of the leftovers was brilliant!
The runner is stunning, and the use of the leftovers was brilliant!
Your are so clever and think outside the box!!
Your are so clever and think outside the box!!
Your are so clever and think outside the box!!
You are a genius. Wow. I love the table runner and the bag as well. I am a huge Kim Diehl fan myself. I too did a double take yesterday when you mentioned chopping those triangles off.
You are a genius. Wow. I love the table runner and the bag as well. I am a huge Kim Diehl fan myself. I too did a double take yesterday when you mentioned chopping those triangles off.
You are a genius. Wow. I love the table runner and the bag as well. I am a huge Kim Diehl fan myself. I too did a double take yesterday when you mentioned chopping those triangles off.
Great table runner! Looks like a lot of work was involved in the piecing. The result is definitely outstanding.
The pieces you cut away reminded me of mountains, or more precisely “majestic mountains.”
I frequently tap for a close up and am always rewarded by the lovely colors and beautiful piecing. Thanks as always for sharing the process.
Great table runner! Looks like a lot of work was involved in the piecing. The result is definitely outstanding.
The pieces you cut away reminded me of mountains, or more precisely “majestic mountains.”
I frequently tap for a close up and am always rewarded by the lovely colors and beautiful piecing. Thanks as always for sharing the process.
Great table runner! Looks like a lot of work was involved in the piecing. The result is definitely outstanding.
The pieces you cut away reminded me of mountains, or more precisely “majestic mountains.”
I frequently tap for a close up and am always rewarded by the lovely colors and beautiful piecing. Thanks as always for sharing the process.
I love the dynamics of that quilt pattern too, but my thought is to add two more blocks and make it a big square quilt. I would hesitate to cut off that much work too, but both of your projects are impressive looking.
I love the dynamics of that quilt pattern too, but my thought is to add two more blocks and make it a big square quilt. I would hesitate to cut off that much work too, but both of your projects are impressive looking.
I love the dynamics of that quilt pattern too, but my thought is to add two more blocks and make it a big square quilt. I would hesitate to cut off that much work too, but both of your projects are impressive looking.
Great idea with the zipper bag!
Great idea with the zipper bag!
Great idea with the zipper bag!
Great use of the leftovers! I plan to just leave off the 3rd and 4th sides as I make mine. Or at least that’s my plan. Yours is lovely!!
Great use of the leftovers! I plan to just leave off the 3rd and 4th sides as I make mine. Or at least that’s my plan. Yours is lovely!!
Great use of the leftovers! I plan to just leave off the 3rd and 4th sides as I make mine. Or at least that’s my plan. Yours is lovely!!
Agreed, that is a big chunk of work to remove! Your solution is great looking!Enjoy both 😁
Agreed, that is a big chunk of work to remove! Your solution is great looking!Enjoy both 😁
Agreed, that is a big chunk of work to remove! Your solution is great looking!Enjoy both 😁
Brilliant idea to turn those cut off pieces into a zippy bag! The runner is outstanding! Productive week in your sewing room!
Brilliant idea to turn those cut off pieces into a zippy bag! The runner is outstanding! Productive week in your sewing room!
Brilliant idea to turn those cut off pieces into a zippy bag! The runner is outstanding! Productive week in your sewing room!
That is beautiful! I understand the trepidation, but wow, what a wonderful finished product!
That is beautiful! I understand the trepidation, but wow, what a wonderful finished product!
That is beautiful! I understand the trepidation, but wow, what a wonderful finished product!
Your tablerunner came out fantastic! Love how you used the leftovers, beautiful zippy bag!
Your tablerunner came out fantastic! Love how you used the leftovers, beautiful zippy bag!
Your tablerunner came out fantastic! Love how you used the leftovers, beautiful zippy bag!
The official project is gorgeous, but I think the parts you rescued are every bit as sweet as that zippy bag. Maybe even more so given they were already made.
The official project is gorgeous, but I think the parts you rescued are every bit as sweet as that zippy bag. Maybe even more so given they were already made.
The official project is gorgeous, but I think the parts you rescued are every bit as sweet as that zippy bag. Maybe even more so given they were already made.
Love, love love!!! I have cut quilts – most of the time I’ve had good results (one unfortunate disaster) – good for you saving a lot of hard work! And the zippy bag is fantastic! 😊
Love, love love!!! I have cut quilts – most of the time I’ve had good results (one unfortunate disaster) – good for you saving a lot of hard work! And the zippy bag is fantastic! 😊
Love, love love!!! I have cut quilts – most of the time I’ve had good results (one unfortunate disaster) – good for you saving a lot of hard work! And the zippy bag is fantastic! 😊
i love it..i made one too..i took apart the leftover triangles and used them in other things…..i’m a frugal fabric fiend too!
i love it..i made one too..i took apart the leftover triangles and used them in other things…..i’m a frugal fabric fiend too!
i love it..i made one too..i took apart the leftover triangles and used them in other things…..i’m a frugal fabric fiend too!
I would have been muttering too! Good job using the scraps and making something so pretty with them. The table runner is a stunner!
I would have been muttering too! Good job using the scraps and making something so pretty with them. The table runner is a stunner!
I would have been muttering too! Good job using the scraps and making something so pretty with them. The table runner is a stunner!