Sew Joy: Make something new out of quilt backing leftovers

There's always more fabric - isn't that true! This is the third post in the Quilt Backing Leftovers Challenge; you can find the first post by clicking here.

The last post listed three ways to use up the leftovers; this post exists because I left out one special way to use up leftovers -

use them up to make something you've never made before!

There are always one or two new projects that show up in one social media feed or another that I want to try out. Finding time is one thing, but sometimes it's also wondering what fabric to use to make it. What if I don't like the project and I regret using special fabric?

Sometimes what also happens is that the more I look at a fabric, the more likely I am to find a project that it would look good in:)

Case in point - I used some of the backing leftovers trimmed to 2 1/2" strips and cut some more batik strips to go with them.

fabric strips batik fabric ready to create with

Then I went back to a lookbook I had gone through and decided I could change the pattern enough to make it fun and doable. The giant leaf is supposed to be 'it' with no background. Instead I used my machine's blanket stitch to applique the leaf to a black background.

Here's a link to Jessica Swift's blog post that has a photo of the leaf project and a link to her lookbook - it's for her second line of fabric with Art Gallery.

giant fabric leaf appliqued to black background

Then I quilted it with a batik fat quarter on the back. You can see from the photo that I quilted in the ditch between each strip to secure the layers; I'm pretty sure it will get used and need to be washed!

batik fat quarter as backing of table topper

This project will actually get to go and live with my daughter in her university residence. And, with the trimmings from THIS project, I made potholders to coordinate with it.