Tuesday, October 08, 2013

The Tin is Ready

Do you save tins specifically to store your sewing items?
These are some of the tins I can see around me right now... a Christmas cookie tin to save little triangles, a chocolate tin to keep all my large clips together, and an Easter Lindt tin to keep large basting pins at the ready. 


My son recently sent me this little blurry video clip that reminded him of trying steal cookies as a kid. Can your kids relate?!?  Poor hungry kids looking for a treat, only to find the tin full of thread and pins. LOL!


I save pretty tins when I come across them, and this is the one that has been chosen to hold the 1" scraps for my Omigosh project. The tin is exactly the same size as the pattern, so everything can be kept together for when I feel like working on it.


Now I am trying to decide how scrappy to make the little double 9 patch blocks. The pattern calls for completely unorganized scrappy style, which I might do a bit of, but mostly I think I will want to co-ordinate the blocks a bit more because I like doing that.
But do I want the blocks to be different colour 9 patches with the same background square fabrics (top block), OR do I want scrappy background squares and all the 9 patch blocks to be the same colour (bottom blue block) ?

Do you have any advice and/or words of wisdom for me as I start making blocks for Omigosh??

18 comments:

Darlene said...

I can relate, Kathy. I love tins and find myself buying something just to get the tin. :-)

Carla A Few Of My Favorite Things said...

I have special boxes. A antique wooden box with sliding lid for my thimble and aunt becky, a galvanized box with lid for my hand quilting thread, a wooden box that a pecan pie was shipped in, to hold my small notions. I also use plastic shoe boxes to hold projects. I am cutting up scraps for a postage stamp quilt, not sure it will ever happen!

Missy Shay said...

I think both would work, but I really like the top with that scissor fabric! I love tins, and collect penguins so all of my sewing stuff is in penguin tins! LOL

Bonnie said...

And don't forget keeping grabdma's buttons in an old tin! In the past I've enjoyed making some scrap blocks as beautiful little quilts until they are joined with other blocks. I guess I would lean to the bottom double 9patches.... But either will work brilliantly.

Mary said...

I keep my orphan blocks in one of those black tins that held shortbread cookies and my 16"X 2.5" strips for scrappy trips are in a Cadbury chocolate tin, it was the only one I've ever seen 16" long.

margaret said...

so that is the excise you have for buying chocolates, biscuits and things, you need the tin for your stitching! I do use tins but can never remember what is in each so end up opening them all, have tried labels but they never seem to stay on would rather have see through containers.

SandraC said...

I like the scrappy look. I am biased, though, as mine is scrappy and I love it. It will help in the end to have a fabric that reads as a solid for the border (tone-on-tone, very small print, etc.), then your eye is settled down from all the scrappiness! Just wait til your done, this will be the heaviest quilt top ever because of all the seams!!!

Barb said...

how about a little of both - some matchy and some scrappy but related.
I like using little stationery boxes and tins for projects.

The Cozy Quilter said...

I think you should follow Gwen marston's advice...Don't commit too soon. Wait a while and see what the quilt tells you to do.

Barb Neiwert said...

I have that exact same Santa Christmas tin as you! It stores fudge every Christmas though, not quilty things. I do like containers of all sorts!

Deanna W said...

Ahh tins...do love them but my fav is glass jars...all shapes and sizes. As for your dilema...like the matchy matchy but when in doubt go with totally scrappy...you can always add more and not worry about having enough fabric. Good Luck!!

jeaniequilts said...

I would vote for nine different coloured 9 patches with the same background squares. I like the way it pops. The bottom example is a bit too muted for me. Just my two cents.

Jane's Fabrics and Quilts said...

Hi, not sure if this will help but I was at a quilt show last month and I took a picture of one. Just scroll done the post and you will see it.

http://janesfabrics.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-quilt-show.html

beaquilter said...

very cute nine patches, i sthe background all beige/white? then do scrappy but stick with that beige/white color, from a distance you won't see what's what :)

Kate said...

I like the different color 9 patches with the consistent background.

Teresa in Music City said...

My best advice would be to just enjoy the journey!!! One of my friends has made this quilt - it is so wonderful to see up close :*)

AnnieO said...

I love tins too! I have a Patterson's shortbread biscuit tin a lady I used to houseclean for have me many years ago--perfect for my basting pins. I have no advice for your omigosh project except to cheer you on!

scraphappy said...

I think it is too soon to know. I am picturing mine as grouped by color and then arranged into rainbow diagonals. Still, there are a lot of blocks to sew before I need to make a decision. I forget the final number, but just remember that I need to make A LOT of nine patches.