Postage Stamp in progress

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Ten ten-inch blocks so far- all with 1.5″ pieces. I alternated a low volume with a print or solid square.

Yes, I’ve finally lost my mind by joining the postage stamp quilt craze. How fun that I can use some of my favorite fabrics down to the tiniest scraps. The squares you see began as 1.5″ and after sewing, they measure about one inch. I began this project with the same thought as quilters of the past. Let me use up the tiniest scraps of fabric rather than wasting or throwing them out. Here are some photos of my work thus far. I have at least ten blocks that are 8 x 8 and measure 10″ x 10″. However, something tells me that there are more blocks hidden on my table!

What is a postage stamp quilt, you ask?

Postage stamp quilts were named because many quilters in the late 19th and early 20th centuries used pieces of fabric as small as a postage stamp to make a quilt. Each scrap of fabric was precious and using tiny pieces to create quilts was how the practical craft came to exist. Using extra small pieces was practical while allowing quilters to exhibit their skill. Some postage stamp quilts had over 9000 separate pieces sewn by hand. It took tremendous patience and skill, especially without modern day conveniences like sewing machines, rotary cutters and electricity.

Making postage stamp quilts allows you to use favorite little pieces of fabric that remind you of past projects.
This red bear fabric is a fairly new favorite fabric of mine!
I can’t be without some sock monkeys in my scrappy quilt!
These Tula Pink red ladybugs are a long-time favorite fabric that make everything more cheery!

Many traditional postage stamp quilts had the additional challenge requirement of using only one scrap from each fabric in the entire quilt. In other words, you would have needed hundreds of different fabrics to work with!! There wasn’t money to buy fabrics so that meant you had to share and trade fabric scraps with neighbors and friends. These quilts could take years to complete one quilt could have fabrics going back decades or more.

Do you want to see some traditional postage stamp quilt examples? Click here to see an “Around the World” postage stamp quilt top from the 1930’s. Then click here to see an antique postage stamp quilt top from 1870 that’s for sale on ebay. If you’re in the market to finish a quilt top, this would be incredible once finished. Imagine all the work that went into that top only for it to never be used as a quilt!!

So what design am I going to use for my quilt? I have no clue yet. I’ve put out a question to a facebook quilter’s group for ideas and photos. I’ll keep you posted on where I end up. For now, I’m enjoying the journey of mindless sewing. In the end, however long it takes, I should have a wonderful quilt with lots of scrap fabrics to remind me of past projects.

Linking up to:

Midweek Makers

My Quilt Infatuation

Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Peacock Party

Finished or not Friday

13 responses to “Postage Stamp in progress”

    • Thanks so much. I feel a little crazy joining this craze. However, on facebook today, I saw a posting with a whole quilt done in 1″ pieces. OK so I’m not as crazy as some!!!

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    • Thanks so much. I have high hopes for this quilt but it’s a long term project so I’m savoring the journey.

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  4. HAHAHAHA! You’ve lost your mind?!! I can’t help but agree . . . kind of. I love the whole idea of this project. It’s the actual doing that bothers me. I say, no rush. It will take forever to sew 5,000 – 9,000 pieces together depending on the size you’re aiming for. It’s a fabulous leader/ender project and I adore the fabrics you’ve shared. Those happy popsicles are so darn cute. ~smile~ Roseanne

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    • Roseanne, you’re right that I have lost my mind. It’s been a leader and ender project and fill in between other projects. I have no timetable but the journey has been fun. I would love to keep it going and need to start thinking of where I’m headed. I try to think of it in blocks rather than pieces, or I’ll be very, very scared indeed!!

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      • You could even enlist friends to send you some different 1.5″ squares. Ahem, I am 100% certain that they would do that – another friend made her version using only reds. I seriously doubt she will ever use red fabric, in any form, again. Ever. Enjoy the journey!! ~smile~ Roseanne

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      • I think that’s such a lovely idea. Yup, red would be off limits for quite some time! I met a quilter from Australia who is collecting different ones so that the entire postage stamp quilt is only 1 square per fabric. Now that’s commitment!! I’m looking into how much it will cost for me to send her some. I would gladly collect scraps from other quilters but isn’t the whole point to use up our own stash first!??

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