Leaders and Enders

I have pieced 2 tops and backings for 2 twin quilts in the past couple of weeks.  During that time, I was also able to sneak in these blocks by doing Bonnie Hunter's leaders and enders method of making every minute and stitch count.  You can find her over at Quiltville.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME!  I am a believer! 

The above blocks were sewn together by using them as leaders or enders as I pieced these 2 quilt tops.....

 

I already have enough to make 10 nine-patch blocks for a charity quilt....and it only took me a few seconds as i was piecing these quilt tops.

I had about 4 charm packs from a previous life that I knew I was never going to use. As I pieced the quilt tops and came to the end of my chain piecing or just sewing a border, I grabbed a couple random charms and stitched them up, leaving them under the presser foot until I was ready to sew another row on my quilt.

When I snipped them off, I tossed them in a basket under the table.  I was amazed how fast it piled up.  

Later, I pressed and re-stacked the charms sewn together so I could start adding the 3rd charm.

I have used scraps for leaders and enders for years.

Just think of all the missed opportunities here that could have been pieced! 

I have literally tossed dozens and dozens of these scraps over the past 5-6 years.

As I pieced the quilt tops when I came to the end of my chain piecing or just sewing a border, I grabbed a couple random charms and stitched them up, leaving them under the presser foot until I was ready to sew another row on my quilt.

The best part of leaders and enders is that you never have to lift your presser foot, you sew on and off the leader and it's extremely fast.  No fiddling with holding your threads or straightening thread behind your presser foot.  I love it!

Bonnie has a couple of book out on leaders and enders.  She has lots of books on quilting with scraps. She also has a lot of free patterns.  Check her out: http://quiltville.com/

More: Leaders and Enders

My little experiment with leaders and enders had not ended, it is just beginning.  I can't wait to sit down to piece and slip a random charm under my presser foot.  Stay tuned...  It makes me feel like I have more time on my clock and have an extra hand.

It also reminds me of a Dr Seus book we had when we were kids called,  Dr. Seus' Sleep Book.

"A Mr. and Mrs. J. Carmichael Krox

Have just gone to bed near the town of Fort Knox.

And they, by the way, have the finest of clocks.

I’m not at all sure that I quite quite understand

Just how the thing works, with that one extra hand.

But I do know this clock does one very slick trick.

It doesn’t tick tock. How it goes, is tock tick.

So, with ticks in its tocker, and tocks in its ticker

It saves lots of time and the sleepers sleep quicker"