All because of a little hashtag
January 15th, 2013
I’m not sure who started it, but I know for me it was because Katy, Megan and Brenda lit a fire under my butt with their #scappytripalong on Instagram (I’m pretty sure they’re behind all the madness/scrappy crack). I was just minding my business, getting my daily fix o’ pix on my Instagram feed - and the next thing I know I’m up to my eyeballs in 2½” squares.
It’s so funny to go back in time only a few weeks to read Megan’s blog post, where she mentions about 8 other people making the scrappytripalong. HAHA… It’s more like 800 people now making (or have made) one! The Flickr group has almost 800 members, and the #scrappytripalong hashtag on Instagram has almost 3000 photos. Talk about a quilt project going viral. Clearly the internet was invented for cats and for quilts.
The magic of the #scrappytripalong is that it’s easy, it’s fun and uses scraps. The instructions can be found via the flickr group or directly here. The second one inhales the potent hashtag… one is ready to go and start quilting. A stack of Dear Stella solids I bought last summer at West Seattle Fabric Co. was begging to be scrap’d up.
I jumped in, peppered my solids with a few prints, and was instantly hooked… and next thing I know I haven’t showered for days.
I wasn’t using the traditional tube method often used in a Trip Around the World quilt, so I got myself organized with a paper plate trick I learned from Darlene Zimmerman to keep my block pieces tidy and organized.
I made two blocks. Then four. And then I wanted to eat, sleep and breathe making these blocks.
Oh look, a squirrel. Ok, so everyone on Instagram was mentioning how fast and fun the tube sewing thing was, so of course I had to try it. I grabbed a Moda honey bun (1½” strips) of American Jane’s Snippets and went on a fact finding mission (<— which sounds way better than having ADD). I joined the rows and lobbed off the first 1½” strip (why join that in a tube if I’m only going to have to un-sew it?!).
Well that was fun, but I’m curious how long that took me. So I set out to do another block, this time I was going to time it. Seriously, what is wrong with me?
Maybe I’m watching too much Mythbusters, because I really needed to do some more time tests.
Crap. Then I had to make a forth one so I could see how they all look together.
Back to my first attempt. Blocks just waiting to be made. Momma, is that you? Pretty sure I heard them talking. Or maybe it was that I hadn’t slept and showered in days.
I was two blocks shy of 24 blocks to do a 4×6 setting, and I figured it would be way faster to do some cascading blocks on the top, bottom and sides (like my Farmer’s Wife quilt) vs just making two regular blocks. And it probably took me 10 times as long to do that. Because I’m so smart like that. Time management is not my friend. (in fact she’s a bitch and out to get me)
Setting my blocks in Kaufman’s Essex Yarn Dyed in Flax (I want to marry that fabric). OMG I’m almost done!
Last piece to join… OMG I’m so excited I’m done. And then… OMG I’m so sad that I’m done. SERIOUSLY, what is wrong with me?!
Top and side
Bottom and side
And finito.
So happy I’m done, but so sad I’m at the #scrappytripalong finish line. But I can’t be too sad for too long - Megan is at it again, this time tempting me with the #xplusalong.
RESOURCES:
Scrappy Trip Along flickr group: flickr.com/groups/scrappytripalong
Instructions/tutorial: quiltville.com/scrappytrips.shtml
Shop: West Seattle Fabric Co.
Essex Yarn Dyed (in flax): Robert Kaufman
Solids: Dear Stella
Honey bun: Moda
Posted in Make Something |
Farting around with needle & thread and then blogging about it.
Okay when I get around to trying out the tube method, I’m going to have to time myself…did your time include cutting??
January 15th, 2013So pretty. And also, I miss snippets. I loved that line. The perfect orange.
January 15th, 2013starting on this quiltalong right away, you make it sound so fun..love your blog, and you are soooo funny and happy, wonderful traits..
January 15th, 2013Love those escaping blocks in the border.
January 15th, 2013I love the way some of your blocks are making a break for freedom! (Or are they all gathering, and begging to be included?!)
Your colors are a breath of cheery spring, in these long dark winter days :D
Julie
January 15th, 2013I LOVE this! I can’t believe nobody else has thought to use a lot of solids! It’s so pretty!
January 15th, 2013Oh what fun! This is a great post and I just love your cascading blocks!
January 15th, 2013Love the uniqueness that only you can add.
January 15th, 2013LOVE LOVE LOVE :) I am also trying really hard not to look at the hash tag, not sure how long I can last though.
January 15th, 2013I LOVE your quilt! I can’t wait to finish mine…and I’m so trying to not look at the other one that started…but I’m pretty sure I’ll get drawn in!
January 15th, 2013I love the sorbet colours in your trip-along, plus all the little extras. And I LOVE the tumbling squares - and that you’ve used the same idea from your awesome farmers’ wife quilt. Gorgeous quilt.
I’ve already started on the x+ along - it was uncannily perfect timing - I had chosen the x+ as my bee block, and made a test block just the day before. Resistance was futile. Catherine.
January 15th, 2013I’m up to my neck in quilts started and I really do want to make this one. Just wanted to say thanks for planting just one more thing in my brain……….:)
January 15th, 2013I finished my scrappy trip along today and am curled up on the couch with it wrapped around me right now. I love your cascading blocks, way too cool!
January 15th, 2013SPECTACULAR WORK
January 15th, 2013I actually read this from top to bottom. It was interesting funny and all that. You have talent, are you an author on the side, hiding as a quilter? :O) you’ve got talent both as a quilter and writer. love the cascading blocks. they were well worth the extra time.
January 15th, 2013Holy crap, it looks awesome! I feel like I’m so far behind everyone else, I was away on holidays when it all started.
January 15th, 2013Love it!
January 15th, 2013It is gorgeous! I love the tumbling blocks!
January 15th, 2013That quilt is fantastic!! Love your style :)
January 15th, 2013I love your version! I’m still making blocks and loving every minute of it :o)
January 16th, 2013This is hands down the nicest one of these quilts I have seen and you made me laugh!
January 16th, 2013I absolutely love this quilt. I have been seeing all the scrappy strips and keep thinking i need to make one too but have been avoiding it (my to do list is to long already). Then I see yours and WOW I am in love! I agree with Joanne and this is the nicest one I have seen too. Guess I will just add it to the list and see what comes of it. Thanks for the inspiration.
January 16th, 2013I have been watching these quilts and decided this week to jump in. It’s snowing here so a perfect day to stay in the pj’s and cut me some fabric.
January 16th, 2013Oh, I do love those floating blocks and the odd print here and there ~ really makes the quilt.
January 16th, 2013I finally gave in and made my first block of the scrappy trip along yesterday. It was so darn easy and additive too ~ guess if I’m going to be addicted to something it may as well be the STA!
NOW we know why we haven’t heard from you!! You have been really, really busy making that beautiful quilt!!
Love how the squares look like they’re falling into place on top and the randomness of the print fabrics. Glad you abandoned the other version - this one is perfect!
January 16th, 2013It looks like candy and is absolutely gorgeous! If I weren’t so behind on sleep, I would knock one out tonight.
January 16th, 2013I love it!! The falling squares are a touch of genius and I love the little peeks of print in amongst the solids - divine!
January 16th, 2013OMG that is amazing. The quilt is stunning and I like seeing how long it takes per block :)
January 16th, 2013oh wow, stunning! I don’t really like these Scrappy Trip quilts, but yours is stunning.
January 16th, 2013Love the colors and the cascading blocks with the additional blocks in the borders - FANTASTIC! Great idea on top an already great idea.
January 16th, 2013I love this! This is definitely one of my favs!
I stayed clear of this quilt along, because I’m already swamped with “work” to do! I will just admire them from afar. ;)
January 16th, 2013OK - this is my very favorite one I’ve seen! I haven’t had the urge to do this scrappy trip-along yet until I saw yours. Love the cascading squares!!!
January 16th, 2013AWESOME!
January 16th, 2013Totally love how yours are kind of trailing off at the edges there ! LOVE it!
January 16th, 2013brilliant to cut that initial strip off first! Now…if only you had posted this two days ago…before I sewed all my tubes together! I’ll definitely do that on my next trippy quilt.
January 16th, 2013I just love how you have squares falling away. I got addicted myself and am using solids too.
January 16th, 2013This is awesome. I love how you solved the problem with the blocks just tumbling off in border.
January 16th, 2013Adore your extras falling blocks in this quilt … totally makes the quilt fun for me. Your fabric is delicious of course! Thank you so much for sharing!!
January 16th, 2013Looks awesome! Especially the prints in the solids blocks. I love that yarn dyed flax too. So soft! I am working on a quilt with it as background fabric.
January 16th, 2013Susanne
I loved watching this happen over the holidays, but I’m even happier I resisted because everyone is so damn fast and I am so not! I would have lost it under my own pressure to keep up. Instead, I’m plugging away at my scrap vomit and it’s keeping me deliriously happy. Seriously, your scrappytrip is one of my favs. Super coolio.
January 16th, 2013Dang - I don’t even want to look up that hashtag, the last thing I need is another quilt begun!! But it looks so FUN! I’m going to cave and join in! Love the solids with just a couple of prints - awesome!
January 17th, 2013Dude, If I said you effing piss me off, would you understand that I meant that as a compliment?! LOL! You just might have put the final nail in my “I am NOT doing this” coffin … much like you did with the Farmer’s Wife … ;)
xo k
January 17th, 2013OMG I LOVE THIS QUILT!!
of course, I am chained to my desk at work so can do nothing about this but believe me, this is at the top of the ‘clear the cutting table and go play’ list.
January 18th, 2013OMG I adore your trip along, it’s lovely, and the falling blocks at the bottom= genius!
January 18th, 2013& dude, those xplus blocks, I have to make one for a bee I’m in, as the final month of the bee- isn’t this how dealers get you hooked- just make me one only one, yeah I can see me making a lot more than one when they look that cool lol! :D Once I’m finished my scrap vomit that is lol!
Seriously love how your blocks fall off the quilt!!!! I need one of these!
January 18th, 2013I am allowed to be super totally IN LOVE with our quilt…. like get out of my way so I can go buy some solids… kind of love!!!
January 19th, 2013Wonderful! I love how it is falling apart (or is it falling together? :) ).
January 19th, 2013Ok you finally convinced me to start my own Scrappy Trip using a Ruby jelly roll, text prints & your method. 5 blocks down & I love it!! Thanks for the inspiration!!
January 21st, 2013g.e.n.i.u.s
(ps. totally love that you timed yourself!)
January 21st, 2013This is so cool looking! What great colors. I have never seen the falling blocks(?)before. Again, you did great work. Congratulations!
January 22nd, 2013That’s stinkin’ adorable! What a great re-imagining of the scrappy trip-along!
I have quilt ADD, too, and I appreciate your work to legitimize it. :)
January 23rd, 2013The little cascading end blocks make the quilt amazing and were so much worth the extra time!
January 26th, 201313 minutes?! WTH am I doing wrong??
Your quilt is beautiful, BTW.
January 26th, 2013Love this post, hilarious! I’m avoiding starting one of these beauties because I know everything else will go on the back burner, including showering (doubt I’d skip meals though!). Your quilt turned out gorgeous; especially love the falling blocks.
February 3rd, 2013Yours is most definitely the favourite of these I’ve seen. Most definitely.
February 11th, 2013In a sea of scrappy trip alongs this one definitely sticks out (in a great way!) Love how this is orderly, yet not, all at once!
February 15th, 2013Hi! I’m so happy to meet your and your beautiful blog! I love your work and this quilt is so adorable! I want to pick those missing squares! Thank you for very joyful post! Sunny wishes from Greece!
February 28th, 2013Reading your blog and visiting your site just makes me HAPPY! Never change.
May 31st, 2013