So far this week I used two OLFA rulers, the OLFA 12¹⁄₂″ Square Frosted Acrylic Ruler to cut the 8½” x 8½” fabric squares and the OLFA 6¹⁄₂″ Square Frosted Acrylic Ruler which I used yesterday to mark squares for the Cathedral Window Quilt. Today I’m using the small but mighty OLFA 4¹⁄₂″ Square Frosted Acrylic Ruler.

OLFA rulers

My OLFA Splash 45mm rotary cutter and OLFA 4¹⁄₂″ square ruler are ready to start.

OLFA splash 45mm rotary cutter and OLFA 41⁄2″ square ruler

Once I cut all circles for this week’s project, I ended up with 128 of these corner pieces.

Unused corner pieces from cut circles

With the cost of fabric being what it is, I always try to save as many scraps as I can. In this case, the scraps were not big enough to cut them into a usable square. It would’ve been a lot of work. I also wasn’t sure I’d ever use something so small. So, I came up with the idea of sewing four corners together like this.

Sew four corners together.

Once I sewed the corners together, I was able to comfortably make 2” x 2” four-patch blocks.

Cut to 2” x 2”.

From all the Cathedral Window Quilt scraps, I was able to get 32 four-patch blocks.

You can sew these together to make a potholder, a trivet or even a small doll quilt. Combining them with other fabrics will naturally make a larger doll quilt or even a table centrepiece.

Making four patch blocks from scraps

On the topic of scraps, I’d like to introduce the UNIQUE quilting Fusible Batting Seam Tape – 38mm x 9m (1¹⁄₂″ x 10yds). How many times have I had leftover pieces of batting – many of which are long and wide? I take those pieces, butt them together and use the fusible batting tape to join them together. The tape is so lightweight, that once it’s applied, you don’t notice it.

It’s quick, easy to use and fast. I always have a few rolls on hand.

UNIQUE quilting fusible batting seam tape

Squaring off scraps of fabric and joining leftover batting together are ways I try to reduce what goes to the trash bin. Reusing scraps helps reduce waste!

Everyday tools and notions

Another week is over. Hope everyone enjoyed making a Cathedral Window Quilt using OLFA square rulers and finding out how to use the leftover fabric scraps. I’d love to hear of other ways to make use of fabric scraps – please share your ideas.

This is part 5 of 5 in this series

Go back to part 4: Making a square quilt out of circles – OLFA rulers make it work!

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