Climbing those mountains.....

 takes a full head of steam from the old Orphan Train. Mostly it's a 'slow-go'...but progress is being made. This "begun" has grown...
 into this over the past week. The parts in use are mostly from Em. Sometimes I dis-assemble or partly dis-assemble an orphan block and it becomes something else. That's the case with the little tan house in the lower left corner. And the row of pinwheels.
 This humble beginning, mostly Em's...has been growing quite nicely also.
 
As of this morning, it looks like this. This top has parts from Sara, Em, San,Betsy and my pineapple passion bonus HSTs. There isn't much of anything you can do wrong working on an orphan blocks and bits quilt top. No rules to follow, not many suggestions. Working row by row, is perhaps the easiest. All you need is the materials; orphan blocks and leftover parts. Fitting them together usually involves "fillers" or odds and ends of scraps. Keeping the row the same height is about the only challenge. Some of your rows might be 12" high while others can be 6". When you reach the width you want, stop or chop off the extra...easy peasy! Give it a try during your play time.

New Beginnings...jumping in, pushing on....

 Every child is different, similar in make-up, but unique. The same is true of Orphan block quilts. I thought I'd share a journey with you, from the beginning......hopefully to the end. In my last post I share a peek into the box of orphans and scraps from Em of Em's Scrapbag. The unit you see in today picture are "parts" I pulled from that box....6 rectangles of fabric. I'm not sure if they came from the same quilt or not. It really doesn't matter in Orphan block quilts. I thought they are a bit on the dark side, but they sort of seem to like each other. So I sewed them together. And where does it go from there? Well, anywhere your heart desires. I keep an assortment of scraps in containers near my machine. Last week I got new scraps from Betsy. One of those hadn't made it into a drawer as yet. It was long enough to put on two sides of my new "center" unit, altho the scrap was narrower on one end than the other. Does that matter, nope! So lets sew it on and see.
 

Looks good to me...definitely a darker feeling, but ok. This morning, as I sewed the Corn and Beans UFO for Pieces from my scrapbag, I needed something to send through as a leader and ender. There was left over binding near the machine from the dozen potholders I made for DD in early October. Hmmm, that light with touches of gold looks pretty good next to the dark, so I sewed that on. And that's how it begins...an Orphan Blocks Medallion is being born. What will I add next? Well, we'll just wait and see. It could become an "almost" Round Robin type, but probably not. It would be hard to have enough of anything to fit around 4 sides.

Making it work...

is exactly what is required as you work with orphan blocks. Here are two examples. Both of these came in the package from Chris in San Diago. I can imagine anything more odd to work with than a stack of triangles *VBS* Sooo much bias! I puzzled over them for abit, and decided if I added a triangle to each side that would take care of the bias edges. What did I use? Some large triangles leftover from a Delectable Mountains quilt top. The orange square w/fish is a fun block to work with. But a bridge is needed before it joins others of similar size. Thus the funny little odds-n-end piano keys are beinging added.
 On many of my Orphan blocks quilts, this is how I work. I build them. I suppose, in a sense, that's how we make quilt anyway. Part of the difference is that the blocks are multiple sizes. Spacers are needed fairly often. If I used all spacers, it would function like sashing or lattice, and that's not what I want.
 I don't always lay the blocks out to see what will fit where. More often I stay seated at the machine, with a "beginnings" in my lap and audition other orphans, blocks and bits. If I like it, or it mostly fits, I sew it on. Too much? Just cut it off! I have both of these in progress at the same time. The last picture is a lovely box of donated fabric,blocks and quilt tops from Diannia in Iowa. Thank you so much Diannia, it will all get used *VBS*
 

Time tables....

Railroads run on orderly schedules...I don't. The combination of sorrow and deep bitterly cold weather have kept me inside and close to home this week. And...my poor Pfaff has suffered a serious disorder and refuses to stitch nicely. What's a girl to do??? Pull out lots of Orphan blocks and use the Janome Sew Petite sewing machine and sew! The quarter inch is totally 'relative' with the little Janome. The presser foot is plastic and even with my new improved vision, it's hard to see the edge. With Orphan Train quilt blocks, the seam allowance is a very forgiving thing. The goal... to combine odd sized and assorted shapes. These assorted blocks are one set I'm playing with. Today I'm showing approaches I use of OT blocks. This isn't the configuration these blocks will be sewn in...probably. I lay them out to see what I have for size, color intensity, as well as shapes. Some of these are sewn together, but not all. Will it be a "section quilt"? Maybe...or maybe it will be come a "row by row" quilt.
 Another bunch of blocks and a totally different approach. This top was begun by sewing those two 'centerish' log cabin blocks together. I then add something to one side or another. Building out, as you would with a log cabin or medallion quilt. These blocks have come from San, Gypsy Quilter, Granny Lyn of Just Granny's, Julie from Through the Barn Door and mine. There are more bow tie leftovers that will be added, etc, etc. to get to the size it needs to be.
 This quilt has gone to its new owner, a sweet 2 yr. old girl. This Orphan Train quilt was made 'row by row', all the spare parts and blocks caming from my scrapbasket. I've had many Orphan Blocks mailed to me since I began this blog. They have come from across America, coast to coast, but they all seem to play together quite nicely.

Information about working with orphan blocks...

can be found at my main blog, Pieces from my Scrapbag. I have published parts 1 through 5 over there, and rather than double publish, please link over and find the tutorial on my sidebar. The joining up has begun...read all about it at my main blog *VBS*

Working with orphan blocks....Part 1

Do you need a little help with those odd blocks and bits? Here's a little tutorial to help you get rolling. Gather up all those odds and ends that might work. It's amazing how many there can be. Think about a size and shape(quilt top)that you want to make.
 It doesn't matter if some are big and some are small. They can even be odd shapes. I suggest sorting the blocks into sizes. It's easier to pair them up with a similar size. Think about sorting by color perhaps. That works too.
 One possibilty is to make sections.That is how I did the original Orphan Train Heading West quilt. Putting them together like a jigsaw puzzle to create a section. Or think vertical or horizontal rows. I've done both. It makes no difference, it all works.
 When you've got a stack(or pile)of same size blocks, don't worry about them not matching...close is perfect..lets sew!!If you HAVEN'T got a stack of same size blocks, think about adding a strip ot two to achieve the needed size. Just "kinda" match them, almost everything goes with everything else. I try to avoid putting big sections of lights together, etc. At this point don't worry about the final outcome. It will grow like a seed given sunlight and water.

Rolling along....

Lots of sewing going on at my house *VBS* I'm working on 'finish up' projects.  Saturday mail brought a BIG surprise *VBS*. Well, I confess to knowing it was coming, but it DID feel like Christmas. I received this wonderful jam-packed-full computer paper box of scraps and pieces from a quilter in Iowa, Diannia. She had emailed a week or so ago, offering a collection of scraps, pieces, yardages, and orphan blocks. You don't think I'd say "no",do you? Not likely for an old scrap hound like me! Lots of future orphan quilts in this box!! I've begun sorting over the weekend, while watching old movies...Thanks a million Diannia!!!
 My current work, in progress,is based on the Indian Hatchet blocks(browns with tea dye background) my OLDEST UFO. I other odds and ends and some donated rectangles from Gypsy Quilter. They are all finding a home, right here. I have the 60" length, and am working out to 40" wide that WTIL needs. How are your orphans growing???

Making progress...

For me, working with orphan blocks is a slow process. It's not that difficult to fit them together, but having them located where they are happy takes some time. Today I puttered with things of a similar WIDTH.
I had left over sections from my "Railroad Crossing" quilt of last year. One pastel "Cracker" block(not sure if it will stay with the "Prairie Braid" or not). I had two 'wrong' blocks from a challenge(Shoo Fly) and lots more possibilities in the box.
And I had 3(yes 3)blocks that were intended to be a "chicken" quilt...way too putzy for my taste. Together they can make a statement for "chicken-dom". Long live chickens! Sticking a 4.5" left over square inbetween the railroad crossing sections made them go further. But what fun, I discovered later, to see that neat black print with baby chicks and eggs on it, next to a chicken. I may just go back and substitute ALL chick pieces between those sections...LOL I wanted to continue playing, but the laundry was calling and so were the dirty dishes. Maybe more tomorrow.*VBS*

The Reckoning......

To speak of reckoning in 2007 is to use an almost obsolete form of a word indicating action of gathering up, counting or tallying. It means "to measure", to judge, to weigh as in a decision. A big aspect of working with oprphan blocks is the 'reckoning'. Do you have enough? As with many things, you can't do much without "enough". Can't furnish a home or school, can't make much of a meal...you can eat, but a meal requires there be somewhere close to 'enough'. And so it would have been with the orphans of the Children's Aid Societies back in the 1800's. You couldn't send a train westward without a full 'load' of children for placement. There was expense involved in transporting these children. The Aid Societies were dependent on private financial donations. I also take donations....*VBS* As I began to work with the orphans I currently have, I'm lucky to have a lovely box full of "parts, bits and orphans galore" from San at Gypsy Quilter . I will add it to our sidebar. She's got a really great quilt posted called Kitchen Sink #1. I love it! Do stop over and say "hi and welcome to blogland"...*VBS* San was onboard early with her Tote Bag quilt...look for it under her name on the Volunteers list. It will link you to the post I made about her quilt. The leftovers from the Tote Bag Quilt are in my box from San...fun!!
I think each of us approaches working with odd sized blocks differently. There are only so many ways it can be done. I tend to be a 'puzzle maker' type. I sew two 'parts' together, and then add something else. I DON'T lay the blocks out and decide where they go...LOL Probably would be better if I did that!! Jack the Ripper is always close at hand to help me..*VBS*