Friday, February 2, 2018

Stamp Collecting Quilt

I am so super excited today to share another finish.  And this finish has been over a year in the making which is what makes is so super exciting to share.  So without futher ado . . . my Stamp Collecting Quilt!!!  Isn't it just so fun!!!!


A long time ago, like clear back here in 2015, I broke up all my Moda Candy packs and sorted them into a whole slew of piles.  (which of course I add to each time I have a small scrap when cutting out new quilts ;)     I planned to use all of these little 2 1/2" squares  for Leader and Ender Projects.    I used the strictly tone on tone piles for my first Leader and Ender project, the Super Scrappy Triple Irish Chain quilt.    When I finished it, I wondered what I could make with the next pile of  2 1/2" squares, the ones that read a certain color but had other colors mixed in with them.   And then it hit me, I have always wanted to make a postage stamp quilt and what better way to make it happen then as a Leader and Ender project.   And how perfect would it be to show a collection of all my favorite fabrics and designers!!!


So a postage stamp quilt became my next Leader and Ender project.    I love that these projects just slowly build while working on other quilts ;)   I started by making 2 patches, sewing a white background square to a color background square.  Some of the "white background squares" read pretty dark and some of the "color background squares" read pretty light, but I didn't stress to much about this.   I just went with it, trusting it would come out in the end.  After having a massive stack of 2 patches, I turned them into 4 patches, and then 8 patches and finally into 16 patches.  


I didn't worry about counting out the squares in the beginning, I just kept working up to 16 patches, and when I had a large enough stack of those (as in a few weeks ago) I finally sewed the blocks into a quilt top, and I am just so excited with how it turned out!!!!  I didn't stress to much about placement, again, I just tried to keep it relaxed sewing and made sure I didn't have a super dark print right next to another super dark print.  It pretty much balanced itself thanks to the initial 2 patch sewing.  


And I just love all of those happy colors popping out among the lighter prints.  I just love how it kind of looks like there is a pattern but then it also looks pretty random.  So ya, Balanced is a good word I guess, and I am just thrilled with that because it is just a wonderful way to show off all of those 2 1/2" squares :)   And I can now say I made a postage stamp quilt!!!!


When it came time to quilt it up, I decided on simple arches.  I just love the way it makes the squares pop ;)   And in the border (which I added last minute and love how it highlights the patchwork all the more) I did fun little swirls.   


And look how awesome that texture is.   So much fun!!!  I love that arches come together to make that cool orange peel design.  The interlocking circles just make me smile ever time!!  And I made it 72" x 72" so we could use it as a picnic blanket and you better believe I will be running my hand over all that yummy texture every time we take it out :)


And for the binding, I got to go to my binding extra's box ;)  Every time I finish binding a quilt, I put the bit of leftover in this cute little box.  Then when I need a scrappy binding, I just pull out the pieces that match the quilt, sew them end to end, and I have a scrappy binding ready to go in just a few minutes.   Love it!!!

 And I just love how it adds that happy color of finish on the edge of the border.  It really ties it back into the patchwork :)  I just love, love, love a scrappy binding.   And if you noticed in the picture above, the brown got nixed while I was sewing it to the quilt, it just didn't fit with all of those happy pops of color ;)


And that is my Stamp Collecting Quilt!!!!   And I just love it ;)   And like any true collection, the fun part now is looking over it and seeing how many little pieces of patchwork I recognize.    My kids were blown away last night when I let them randomly pick a square and then I would tell them the fabric line and the designer of the fabric ;)  I did pretty good too if I do say so myself !!   It truly is a fabric Stamp Collection of so many wonderful projects and memories all tied into this quilt ;)


You can play along too!!!   It really is fun :)  See a square your recognize, (you can click on the picture to see it larger)  leave a comment with the name of the fabric line name and the designer.   I wonder how many we can list ;)

And just in case you are wondering, I have my next Leader and Ender Project all planned out and ready to start working on.  You can see more about it here :)  

I hope you have a very Happy Quilting Weekend!!!

Linking this finish up to Amanda's, and Sarah's :)   
Pin It!

38 comments:

  1. Love it! I want to make a postage stamp quilt.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love this sew much! The quilting is also perfect for it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is fantastic! I love how you quilted it. I spy some squares from Road 15 by Sweetwater! :D

    ReplyDelete
  4. Melissa I love this quilt. Everytime I buy fabric precuts, I buy a mini charm pack and store it. I have a lot now and have been wanting to do a postage stamp quilt. I like how you tackled this and may need to open my mini's, throw them in a bucket and start making 16 patch blocks. Thanks for sharing your project.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oooooh! I spy Ducks in a Row, Posy(!!!), Reel Time, Figures, Modern Neutrals(?by Amy Ellis), Color Theory, Persimmon.....oh my! yeah, this is a doozy!! I love it, and such a great way to get it done!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Marvelous! I need to set up a basket to fill as I go.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Melissa,
    What a great finish and a great kind of 'free' quilt. I have been cutting my scraps into 2.5" squares whenever I can to make a similar quilt so day soon. Then to complete it as a leader/ender project is just fab as well. It sure looks nice and cuddly. ~smile~ Roseanne

    ReplyDelete
  8. You have just spurred me on to go ahead with a plan to use my 2018 scraps for 2.5" squares. I planned to cut a square or two from each fabric I touch in 2018 and sew them in pairs and blocks along the way. Thanks for the motivation!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I’ve been collecting scraps for a postage stamp quilt for years, and if it turns out even half as great as yours, I will be a very happy camper!

    ReplyDelete
  10. This is fabulous and inspiring. I've been kicking around the thought of doing a postage stamp (yes, with 2.5" squares, I'm not crazy)quilt. Pretty sure this has gotten me moving in that direction, maybe even today. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love, love, love this quilt. Congratulations on a happy quilt finish.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Love your quilt. And I can understand why you love it as my finish this week is a leader and ender scrap quilt and I'm just so happy at the way all those colourful scraps come together too. I even used my binding off-cuts to make a scrappy binding! allisonreid.neweverymorning@yahoo.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  13. OMG, had to click on your link to learn about the leader and ender trick. Now I get it! I will stop throwing away those small pieces of fabric. I want a postage stamp quilt all my own!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Beautiful and i really like the quilting. :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. So fun! Congrats on a terrific scrappy finish!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I love this quilt very much. I am so glad you made it and shared. I am inspired like crazy 🙃😂

    ReplyDelete
  17. I love this. I am slowly putting together 2 1/2 inch squares myself, everyone and then I make a 16 patch block and jus put it away with the rest. Eventually they will all be ready to make a quilt.The quilting design works perfectly too. x

    ReplyDelete
  18. I love it...I love it! Melissa, did I say I 💟 it?! -Jean

    ReplyDelete
  19. Love, love, love ... there's just something about scrappy quilts that make me happy!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I have an extra leftover binding box too! Congrats on your postal finish.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I love your quilt, so many fun fabrics!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Such a beauty! I have started on one exactly like that too! We'll see where it gets me!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Thanks for sharing! now if I can only follow through!

    ReplyDelete
  24. It's gorgeous! Love the border, a frame for a wonderful trip down quilting memory lane for you :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. Great quilt. Love this idea - I think I might just give it a try!

    ReplyDelete
  26. What a bright happy picnic quilt. My 2.5" drawer is overflowing, but I seem to have an abundance of dark colors, which is weird because I make lots of kid quilts in bright primary colors. I should just start making the two patches.
    Pat

    ReplyDelete
  27. Such a pretty and happy quilt!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Melissa, you are so creative and fun! Well done, it's absolutely wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  29. This is a stunning quilt with a lovely story spun too!

    ReplyDelete
  30. This is an amazing quilt! I've always wanted to make one...maybe someday. It was a sweet treat running into you today at Quilted Works. Lots of bargains for sure!

    ReplyDelete
  31. A girl after my own heart! I love 2.5" squares so much.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for your sweet comments. I just love hearing from you!!
Have a Happy Quilting Day :)

Melissa