Happy (almost) New Year!! Today, I wanted to share with you a project that has been a draft blog post for about a year now. It is perfect for the New Year holiday because it makes me think of confetti. I worked on this in December of last year when I decided to repurpose a project into a quilt back.
I have a confession to make: I have gallon-size Ziploc bags everywhere. They’re how I store my scraps. Each color gets its own bag. And I also keep leftover piecing from quilts in Ziplocs, with each finished project having its own bag. After finishing the Garden Star 7 quilt top, a quilt that hung in my booth at QuiltCon 2025, I came across a bag from two quilts I made back in 2012. Yes, I’ve been holding onto them for more than a decade! What can I say? I’m the child of someone who lived through World War II, so I tend to value everything—big or small. I may have even earned the nickname “baby hoarder” because of it, and I fully blame my mom.
Earlier this year, I gave a lecture on scraps at the Jabez Quilt Seminar. In preparation for this event, having a quilt top to turn into a finished quilt. Gave me the perfect opportunity—and canvas—to repurpose an old project into a quilt back.
The Original Project
The original project consisted of two quilts: a baby quilt and a throw quilt, which I gifted to my sister and her child—who is now 15. WHAT?! How is that possible?
The idea was a baby-and-me quilt set, and I absolutely loved making them. It was a wonderful learning experience that helped me grow in so many ways. The project started with a jelly roll, but I wasn’t sure I had enough fabric to make the sizes I wanted, so I added more. After finishing both quilts, I still had a lot of leftover pieces.
What Was Left in the Bag?
- Full diamonds
- Half diamonds
- Many strips cut and ready for making more diamonds
The Mission
My goal is to create a quilt back that uses all the scraps from my bag, along with the leftover pieces from my new quilt top, Garden Star 7.
Repurpose A Project Into A Quilt Back
The first step was choosing a background fabric that would make all the scraps shine. I picked Speckled Caviar by Ruby Star Society, and I couldn’t be happier with how beautifully it complements the scraps.
Then I got to my favorite part—cutting everything up! I started by cutting 13″ squares. Next, I created strips to add to the blocks. To do this, I sewed together the strips made from the diamonds so they would be long enough to add to the block. Once I ran out of strips, I ripped the seams of the diamonds, turning them into more strips to incorporate into my blocks.
Making the Blocks
I began by cutting a diagonal line into the 13″ square. Then, I sewed a strip to one side of the diagonal edge of the partial square and pressed the seam toward the background fabric. After that, I sewed the other diagonal edge (BG Fabric) to the raw edge of the working unit and pressed the seam to the background fabric again.
Next, I cut another diagonal line into the working unit and sewed another strip to the diagonal edge of the square. To ensure the strips aligned properly, I marked where the first strip should be on the second strip, then pinned and sewed the pieces together. Marking the line helped make the strips look like they realistically intersected.
This process is all about improvisation—testing things out and being playful. I created several blocks using this technique. Feel free to add more strips to one block. To bring the quilt together, I added a border to two of the edges. I also included random strips in the border, along with a single diamond, bringing the quilt full circle—paying homage to the leftover pieces that started it all.
I love being able to work through ideas on the backs of my quilts. It is a great way to keep my scraps in check. Making this quilt back was such a joy. I love that the leftover pieces have a story, and now a new life in a quilt that’s as playful as it is colorful.
Do you save scraps from past projects? How do you give them a second life? I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments below!
Have a wonderful week and a great start to the New Year!
