My First RSC (aka RSC18)

I'm going to do it. Tame that scrap monster lurking (prettily, I do have to say, though) in my closet. I'm joining the Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC) for the first time. You can read all about RSC18 at soscrappy. I've admired Angela's challenge and linky party for the last few years. Here's my first month's worth of blocks. (Light and medium blues) This could be trouble. I am loving it!!

I thought for a long time about how I want to do this "my way." I'm starting small, with 8 five-inch string blocks a month. 

I considered using a fabric foundation, but settled on paper instead since that's a familiar technique for me, and I have a big box of newsprint paper on hand. 

I'm extending the strips far enough over the edge of the five-inch paper squares so that I can trim seam allowance beyond the paper. That will make it easier to sew blocks together and remove the paper later on. (I prefer to keep paper on the blocks until they are joined, and keeping paper out of the seam allowance reduces bulk and makes paper removal more efficient.)

After I complete a block, I stay stitch about 1/8 inch beyond the paper.

Just before I sew them together, I'll trim seam allowance to 1/4 inch.

I have a limited range for my strip width sizes because I wanted to make the best use of my smallest scraps. Cut strips are 1 inch, 1 1/8 inch and 1 1/4 inch. Some corner pieces are probably a little bigger.

I go to my bins of smallest scraps first and cut strips from them. Then I check in my drawers to supplement with strips from some larger pieces (which in my stash are still fairly small but big enough to fit around half a comic book board).

You have probably noticed some other colors have snuck (sneaked? Nah, I like snuck better) into the blocks. That's because each month, I will choose one of 8 colors from other months for a special strip in each block. I'm hoping that will bring some cohesiveness and a little spark to the whole quilt when it's done.

So here's the back of a block. I'm using a big needle and tiny stitches, so the papers will tear out easily later on.

I still have some strings left (as well as plenty of blues in my stash), but this is a good start for me. And some of these strings will find their way into blocks for other months.

Well, this is FUN!! I think it's going to be hard for me to hold back and do just one color a month. For February, the color is purple/lavender. That will be a bit more of a challenge for me because I have a lot less range of color and pattern for purple. But I can do it.

I'm linking up this week with Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social, with Angela at soscrappy for ScrapHappy Saturday and with Cynthia at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework for Oh Scrap (on Sunday). I'll update the links as they go live.

If you are interested in a little more scrappiness, Angela and Mari (at The Academic Quilter) also have a neat BOM called Squared Away to go with the RSC18 challenge. I'm passing on that one as this yearlong project participation is new for me and I'm a tentative joiner, but it looks like a lot of fun.

Okay, time to sort and cut some purples. Have a good week, scrappy or not!