Do you remember Schnibbles? They were a series of patterns designed by Carrie Nelson of Miss Rosie’s Quilt Company. They were table-topper-sized patterns that used charm packs or smaller fabric cuts. They were super fun to make: fast and cute–and you could use a bit of a current line of fabric without the cost of buying the whole fat quarter bundle. I loved them. For a time, Sinta of Pink Pincushion and Sherri of A Quilting Life did a monthly series called A Year of Schnibbles, where people did a little table topper each month using one of Carrie’s Schnibbles patterns. It was great fun. Who can’t use a new seasonal table topper?
I’ve been feeling a bit bored with all my current projects, and was rummaging around in my stash closet and came upon a bin of Fig Tree Fruit Cocktail fabric. I had several larger cuts and a Jolly Bar (a 5″ x 10″ pack of the fabrics in the collection). That was the perfect recipe for a Schnibbles pattern, which often called for two charm packs.
I am pretty sure I have made this Paganini pattern at least twice, but I recalled that the block was fast and really fun to make, so I started fooling around.
The main tool you need for this block is a BlocLoc trim tool, or another ruler to trim your block units down to 4″. The pattern directs that you start with a five-inch charm square. I starched my Jolly Bar fabric, so it now measures 4.75″ on one end. No matter. I cut 4.75″ squares, drew my diagonal lines, and made two half-square triangles out of each square. There was still more than enough fabric to trim down to a 4″ half-square triangle. So, if you are a starcher, never fear, there is enough fabric for you to do that.
I had fun making the blocks while listening to an audiobook. I may remake a few of them, because I like the look of the ones that form a more solid-looking circle, with less contrast between the two fabrics that make up the block. Do you ever do that? Just abandon everything you are currently working on and go rogue and start up a new project? Story of my life. That’s why table toppers are such fun!
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That is the first I’ve heard of it, but very cute. I like the more solid looking blocks as well. I have been working to get over a 1000 pieces of fabric cut for quilt I can’t wait to start sewing. Maybe I should have worked on one block at a time..or done something small in the middle of it all. I am determined to start piecing next week.
I love the way you can bounce around from project to project.
I have always enjoyed the cutting process in quilting, but 1000 pieces is a lot!
Many quilters call them “squirrel” projects. “Oh look! Let’s work on this!” The schnibbles patterns are so cute! I think you mentioned them before some time ago and I borrowed Carrie’s books from our library to copy a few.
That is a good way to get the patterns!
So cute! Yes-I frequently abandon a project and turn to something else-and it is almost always a table topper or smaller wall hanging. I guess we need variety!
I agree. I like to intersperse the bigger projects with some smaller ones. Instant gratification!
I really enjoyed the Year of Schnibbles – whatever happened to Carrie Nelson? Her patterns were always so fun to make. And, to answer your question, yes, I do drop a current project to pick up a new one. That happened just last night. I’m supposed to be contemplating how to quilt a bed runner for my sister, but I decided that making a little basket to coordinate w/ the bed runner (made from scraps, of course, so I’m really doing something beneficial), needed to happen first.
Carrie had some serious health issues that caused her to step back from her design career. She is much better now, and you can find her on Instagram, where she shares some of her personal quilting projects. @live.life.make.stuff is her “handle” on IG.
No, not me. That concept would not work for me. I would have a very messy studio and constantly be searching for the right background fabric. I understand wanting to move on to the next shiny object, but there is always a next nice shiny object. It would never end.
I was in danger of having UFO’s this year, so I joined the UFO group in order to prevent UFO’s. That strategy is working! Mostly it is pushing me to get quilt labels on and quilts bound.
If I do not want to finish something, that’s okay, but then I give it away, and move on to the next thing. Each thing gets resolved, one way or the other, before I move on. I stick to my list/order.
You are so disciplined!
I certainly enjoyed Schnibbles. It almost seemed like instant gratification to create a small piece that didn’t take a long time to make and turned out so cute. I used to make a Schnibbles in between large quilt projects. I need to get back to doing that, thanks for the reminder!
When I want a new seasonal table runner, I almost always turn to my Schnibbles pattern collection. Most are square, but are easily adjusted to be rectangular.