- I'd like to thank Skillshare for sponsoring this video. What if I told you there was an easy way to use up your scraps? Or while you're sewing the
seams on your current project, you can be sewing the blocks on your next one with
almost no extra effort? It sounds kind of magical, doesn't it? This quilting tutorial is
all about bonus blocks, and why you should be making them. So stick with me, and I'll
show you how to do it. (lively music) Hi, I'm Karen Brown of
"Just Get It Done Quilts." I give you tips, tricks, and strategies to help you make the quilt
that you want to make. And if you like what you see, please click that subscribe button. One of the frustrating
moments in quilting, is when you first start to stitch. If your thread is too
loose, it can make a nest. If it's too short, the needle
might need to be rethreaded. (lively music continues) Or sometimes it gets all caught
and chews up your fabric. When I first started quilting, I was told to use a pair of scrap crumbs to catch the threads and
prevent those issues. These are often called leaders or headers. But it wasn't long before
I thought I could make a better use of this step. (lively music continues) A bonus block is a more
intentional way of using leaders, that is instead of using two crumbs to be sewn together that
will eventually get tossed, you use scrap pieces
that can be sewn together to make a useful block. Let me use this example. This is block number five from my video "Scrap Sampler Blocks." It has five pieces and four seams, and it's made from 2 1/2-inch strips. So whenever you need a
leader in your project, you sew one seam, and eventually, it becomes a block. Now if you've been watching my channel for any length of time, you have seen me make these blocks. While I was assembling my quilt top for my 100 days, 100 blocks quilt, I made all these bonus blocks. (lively music continues) And that was only just making the top. (lively music intensifies) You can choose any block
layout that you like, but keep it simple. You want to be able to sew straight seams from one edge of the block to the other. So avoid anything with
a partial or Y-seam. And keep it to a block
that you like to make, and that you can easily
cut your scraps to fit. I have made several videos on easy blocks, which might be a good place to start. By far my favourite is this one, but it's best that you have
several different styles to choose from because your mood changes, your scrap pile changes, so
you'll want to have options. (lively music continues) When you decide on what
block you want to use, make stacks from your scraps with all your block pieces ready to go. And keep them near your sewing machine so that you can grab
them as you need them. If you are interested on
how I process my scraps, please leave a comment below. (lively music continues) Obviously, you sew bonus blocks
at the beginning of a seam, but there are other opportunities too. One of the games that
quilters like to play while they're making blocks,
is don't break the thread. That is, instead of cutting your thread at the end of a seam, you chain piece and leave something under
your needle at all times, but there will be moments
when you get stuck and that is a perfect
place to use a bonus block. Here I am making the cheetah
block from the trending quilt. There are plenty of pieces in this block and lots of sub-block units. So this is a perfect
place to use bonus blocks. I can save myself a trip to the iron by working the block units in series. And at the end, not only do I have a great block, I have also all of these
extra bonus blocks. You could also use them
to mark in between chains. I don't know about you, but
when I am transferring things from my design wall to my sewing machine, I could mix them up so easily. Using a bonus block to
mark the end of a row or the end of a column, means you can easily identify the sections and keep them separate. (lively music continues) We've already talked
about making bonus blocks without using much additional effort. And we've also talked about how they can help control your threads and how you can use up
your scraps with them. There are even more benefits
to making a bonus block. When you first start your scene, because the squares are
bigger than scrap crumbs, they give your brain a chance to tune in to what you're doing. And they can remind you to
adjust your stitch length, sit up straight, adjust your
seat, or turn on a light. Maybe change your needle
or change your thread. Because you have a stack ready
beside your sewing machine, they are easy to grab so you can test out your quarter and seam (buzzer buzzing) and adjust it so it's perfect every time. And sometimes it takes a couple
of tries to get it right. (bell dinging) And because they're made out of scraps, they're not precious. So you can use them to
practise your basic skills, sewing straight, and
good ironing technique. Because there's no stakes involved, you can test out different
colour combinations, playing outside your comfort zone and experimenting with value and contrast. (lively music continues) And sometimes your brain is just tired and they are a simple way to relax. Before I get to the next question, let me tell you about Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes, for anyone that wants to
explore their creativity and learn new skills. You can find classes that
will match your goals and interests, like pattern
design, lettering, and writing. Personally, I have used
Skillshare for several years when I've had to level up
my skills in photography, film editing, and graphic design. This month, I've had to
learn about sound editing. And I took Audio Editing
101 with Yahir Smith. It is a complex subject, and I was so happy at how
easy he broke it down. With my iPad right here,
they are easily consumed while I sew, enjoy my lunch or
I'm waiting for appointments. New premium classes are
launched every week, so there's always
something new to discover. The first 1,000 people who click on the link in the description, will get a free trial of Skillshare. (lively music continues) Bonus blocks are supposed to be easy, so don't put a lot of pressure on yourself to turn them into something right away. Let them grow organically over
time and see what happens. And when you need blocks
for filling in your back, just grab them from the pile. You can turn to them when you
need a block for a project like a bag, something fun,
maybe a quick baby quilt, or donate some to a community initiative. You'll also find that since
they come from your scrap pile, there'll be a flavour that can appear. Me, with my love of warm colours, I see that I could have
enough of these blocks to make a nice scrappy quilt. (lively music continues) No, you do not need to pull fabrics from Mt. Scrapmore to make these blocks. You might be a new quilter and you haven't gathered
enough blocks yet. Or you just don't like sewing scrappy. You can cut strips from yardage or fat quarters to make
your fabric stacks. Last year, I turned
some batik fat quarters into 2 1/2-inch strips, and I used my Jelly Roll Block number 6 to day-by-day and
block-by-block accumulate, so that eventually I had enough blocks to make a whole quilt. You can also sneak in other
blocks to use as bonus blocks. As I am sewing together the leftovers from last year's 100 days,
100 blocks quilt-along, I am using the blocks for this year's quilt-along
as bonus blocks. (lively music continues) Don't forget to consider
paper pieced blocks when you're looking for bonus blocks. But not all paper pieces will work. What you're looking for are pattern pieces that the seam starts on one edge and continues right to the other. Ones like the economy block will not work because they are partial seams. Now, I am not the first
quilter to make bonus blocks out of leaders and enders. I can think of Bonnie
Hunter or Cheryl Arkison, just to name two off the top of my head. So there are a lot of great
patterns and ideas out there to choose from. If you want to see other
ways to use up your scraps, I will leave a link to my
scrappy playlist right here. If you want to learn how
to practise the basics, straight sewing, accurate cutting, and a good ironing technique, I'll also leave a link to that playlist. Take care, and I'll see you next time. (logo twinkling)
