Last week when I mentioned cutting the biggest pieces for the quilt out first, we are going to do the opposite when it comes to sewing. Begin strip piecing lights and darks together. Sew, Sew, Sew. This is somewhat mindless sewing while binge watching your favorite show or listening to an audible book. This part seems like it will never end but just keep sewing.
GENERAL TIP: I like setting my seams by pressing the strips right after I sew them. This seems to help keep everything nice and straight before pressing the seams to the dark side. The picture below is charm packs, cut and chain pieced together. Use you favorite way to press, but for this project I pressed everything to the dark side to make the seams nest nicely. I put together a few videos to explain these tips.
I stacked up sections right sides together with darks opposing and sub cut into the size needed for 4 patches. This gave me sets to sew, already paired up and could chain sew them. The combinations can be as scrappy as you choose.
-Save any leftovers of strips or 4 patch sections for possible use later.
-Wednesday, October 20th- 9 patches
-Wednesday, October 27th – Center Blocks
-Wednesday Nov. 3rd – Side bars
-Wednesday, Nov. 10th – Assemble Blocks
Break for Thanksgiving
-Wednesday, Dec. 1st – Sashing
-Wednesday Dec. 8th – Assemble Quilt top
Use the hashtag #OhScrapChristmasQAL so I can follow along.
Welcome! Hope you are here to join the Surrounded Christmas QAL. This is week 1 and the goal is to get your entire quilt cut out.
You will need Oh Scrap book available at quilt stores now for the actual measurements.
Today ‘s post is about yardages and cutting for the SURROUNDED QAL.
The original quilt used light sashing so the yardages from the book will vary some if you want dark sashing like I used in my version.
IF using a Fat quarter bundle, cut your sashing pieces first ( Listed under fabrics A in the book- qty 49) This is always a good rule of thumb when cutting fabrics, start with the largest cuts first in case of a mis cut. It is always easier to replace a small piece of yardage than to have to replace fabrics for bigger cuts. Most patterns/books are written this way but always pay attention to this..
Then cut your 80 block rectangles ( also listed under A).
On some of the blocks I cut 4 of the same so they would match especially on the fabrics that would add a bit of pop. This was also where I used some fabrics that I just had small bits.
Shown above where the aqua fabric is
Everything else is pretty much exactly like the book says regarding if it is a dark or a light.
I always cut extra. I don’t know if it is a character flaw or what, but I like to have options.
Keep your pieces together, labeling them by the size. Some of the same size pieces are used throughout and some pieces are almost the same size so it is easy to get then mixed up!
I did not subcut strips into squares for four patches and nine patches. Instead I strip-pieced and then subcut. Do whatever you are comfortable with. Next week we will start sewing 4 patches and I wanted to show you that I even cut strips from charm packs or scraps for this. Next week we will start sewing 4 patches.
GENERAL TIP: Sorting through scraps does add some time to the process. Anytime I straighten up fabrics, i don’t just cut a sliver to straighten the edge, I go ahead and cut at least 1 1/2″, sometimes 2 1/2″ depending on much fabric I have. Once I finish cutting any project I go ahead and submit the remaining fabric into “scraps” and sort them by size. I tend to do this the most with lights. I use lots of lights.
Use the hashtag #OhScrapChristmasQAL so I can follow along.
On my “must make” list has always been a Christmas version of SURROUNDED from my book, OH, Scrap!
When I saw Hustle & Bustle by Basic Grey, I knew this fabric line was perfect for this project. There are enough big scale iconic fabrics to use for sashing and a nice range of greens and reds to be able to easily mix additional holiday lines.
The quilt takes a total of almost 10 yds which is what is in a Moda Fat Quarter bundle of 40 prints, but I wanted more variety so I added Christmas Morning by Lella Boutique and a few other bits and pieces that you will see along the QAL. Start gathering your fabrics!
I could say we are going to have to Hustle to get this done by Christmas 2021, but there is no hurry. Just get started!!
Or if you have already started this quilt and need a QAL to help motivate you to finish, this is the time.
What about making this quilt in Red White and Blue? A combination of your Minick and Simpson fabrics would be yummy. Just get started!
So here is the plan. You will need Oh Scrap book available at quilt stores now for the actual measurements. Each week I will share tips and what I did to make this quilt.
Each post will go live at 6:00 pm central.
– Wednesday, October 6th- Yardages and cutting
-Wednesday, October 13th- 4 patches
-Wednesday, October 20th- 9 patches
-Wednesday, October 27th – Center Blocks
-Wednesday Nov. 3rd – Side bars
-Wednesday, Nov. 10th – Assemble Blocks
Break for Thanksgiving
-Wednesday, Dec. 1st – Sashing
-Wednesday Dec. 8th – Assemble Quilt top
Remember this is a scrap quilt so any fabrics can be used.
Use the hashtag #OhScrapChristmasQAL so I can follow along.
Hope you join me!
SIDE NOTE! The global supply chain has been tough this past year and has created an overall upheaval is deliveries. This is tough especially for the independent quilt retailers. Be sure and support your favorite quilt or specialty retailers during this holiday season.
I recently shared a quilt that my friend made for her granddaughters 10th birthday on my IG feed. Several of you asked for the pattern, so I am sharing my notes. It is not officially a pattern because we made it up as we went along. So here is the story behind the quilt.
My BFF, Kay has decided to make each of her grandkids a quilt for their 10th birthday. She has 9 grandkids, 1 is starting college, 2 just turned 10, and 6 under 10. You may remember when I shared Piper’s quilt a few months ago.
Savanah turned 10 last week so she got a quilt from GRANNY KAY. Kay sewed and sewed and sewed jelly rolls together to make a big square 65″. We didn’t have an exact size of quilt to make, but just big enough to throw on the end of the bed.
Kay picked Jelly Roll strips that reminded her of Savy and the colors she liked. Next step was to join the strips together to make a long strip.
Cut one strip 65″ and then start adding. It is best to add strips alternating sides of the starting strip and alternating what direction you sew. This is not absolutely crucial but does help prevent the strips to be wavy and stretch while sewing. If you have a walking foot for your machine, this also helps. Sew 14 strips together for one half of the heart and repeat for the other half. ( I added a strip to each side of the background fabric so the heart could float a little before the pieced border- this would make strip 15)
At this point Kay and I tagged teamed the quilt. She sent me the heart strips and I added the backgrounds and borders. You know what it is like to be under a deadline and we had to get this off to the quilter and still have time to ship it back to Kay before the birthday.
3 yds background, I cut the borders first so I did not have to piece them.
Shown below is 45″ x 108″. Less yardage is needed if you don’t mind piecing your borders.
Adding the triangles to the strips can be a bit tricky only because they are so big. The measurements for the triangles are oversized so the quilt can be squared up once it is completed. Follow your favorite technique to add the triangles. Save the strips that are cut away when adding the triangles. These will be used for inner border.
Repeat to make the other half paying close attention to where the triangles are added. You don’t want to end up with the other half upside down, speaking from experience!! Trim your heart! My heart was just a tad over 60″.
Using the leftover strips from adding the triangles and subcut them into 2 1/2″ sections. Join them together and add to all 4 sides. ( 2 borders with 30- squares and 2 borders with 32 squares)
Outer border- add top and bottom first. ( I had you cut your borders a tad longer since you may have trimmed up your quilt a bit differently than mine)
Repeat with 2 side borders.
I cut binding also from the leftover pieced strips. This is a tad bit bulky because of all the seam allowances. I was okay with that since I thought that was a perfect ending for this quilt.
Kay puts so much meaning into everything she does and this quilt was no different. She contacted close family members and asked for a few words that described Savanah. These words and phrases were quilted throughout the quilt. ( Thank you Maggi Honeyman for working your magic.)
Have fun and hope this info helps when making A BIG HEART quilt.
Thanks to KAY letting me be a part of this special gift.
Do you have a favorite color? I thought I did, Red, no wait, Blue, no really it is Orange. Well this is what happens to me every time I sit down to start a quilt. I love them all.
So when it came time for Moda’s Block of the Month sampler, My Favorite Color is Moda I count decide.
The program has 6 different combinations of 10 colors. The designer of this quilt is Michelle White who happens to be in the office right next door to me. Seeing all the combinations that Michelle was creating made me fall in love with one of the “rejected” color combinations. I loved the grey, white and red. It was so Scandinavian, fresh and different. I said, ” I want to make that one.” Michelle was too kind to put the info together for me, but she also created options. I am not good with options. I can’t even decide what my favorite color is how can I choose with options? I just wanted to join in on the Quilt-along.
Michelle created another option combining the Scandinavian version and the Cookie Tin version. Then she swapped around some of the reds and greens and I was ready to commit. I knew some one in my family would want this for Christmas.
My Favorite Color is Moda option
This is MY color way version of My Favorite Color is Moda project.
Block 1 is a fun big 36″ block.
2 and 3 are variations of courthouse steps. So very much the same but different.
Block 4 – a variation of a sawtooth star. Turning the triangles in different directions creates all kinds of options.
It is not to late to join in on the Quilt- along. Ask at your favorite shop for the fabric and pattern. For more information, visit the Moda’s Inspiration Center.
I am certainly saving the grey and red color palette. It is dreamy.
Today starts the Instagram hop for my new book, SCRAP SCHOOL. Every day for the next 2 weeks each “professor” will be sharing their quilt on their IG page along with a giveaway.
Each of these people made a quilt for the book. Each one is different and has a story to tell. While we were working on this book, many of us were staying home due to Covid- 19 and what better time to dig into your stash, finish your UFO’s and your WIP’s.
And just look at the results….. A rainbow of scraps.
I wanted to share a little more about my quilt that what I could share on IG. Every quilt tells a story and here is mine.
Today I am sharing 1 of my 3 quilts in the book, Ombre Butterscotch Baskets. I wanted to make a basket quilt and while I was pulling fabrics I kept thinking I would name the quilt Cornucopia. I wanted to make something a little less predictable than basket blocks that are all perfectly the same.
As I was piecing the triangles, I was inspired to go in a different direction. Off and on for many years I worked as the graveyard cashier at the local grocery store. I had several duties during the night including cleaning all the counters, restocking the sacks, stocking the spice section and the BRACH’s candy section.
The candy display had bins of candy that were bought by the pound. Take a Bag -Pick Your Own Mix just like the sign says. What the sign did not say is to be sure and clean up after yourself if any candy spills over into a neighboring bin. Don’t worry about that, the night cashier will do that for you. I spent a lot of time taking the butterscotch candies out of the peppermint’s bin and so forth. There was some sort of square soft candy that was brown, pink and coconut. I never had one and have no idea what kind of candy it was but I loved the combination of color compared to the other solid hard candies and knew I need to add the brown to this quilt.
I just love all the triangles lined up in rows.
Adding the dark triangles gave some weight to the quilt and this is when I decided to ombre the baskets from dark to light through the quilt.
This is one of my favorite blocks in the quilt for a couple of reasons. It represents the Brach’s candy bins at the end of the day, all the colorful candies mixed in one of the bins. The other thing I love about the block, is the teeny tiny spider that was on one of the fabrics and it made the cut, if you know what I mean.
The yummy golden fabrics are also why I decided to name it Butterscoth, after the butterscotch Brach Candies. Maggi Honeyman used an allover orange peel design on the quilt.
You know how I love a pieced back. I couldn’t end this post without sharing my really big basket. I can’t wait to see your version of Ombre Butterscotch Baskets, maybe Blues and Whites or Reds and Greens. Be sure and use #scrapschool on your progress so I can follow along.
Thank you for joining me on my day for SEWCIALITES.
I am making my version using Moda’s Bella Solids and I thought pink was the perfect color for the valentines week.
I have started putting my blocks together. This will be one quarter of the quilt. Once it is complete it will be a big sawtooth star.
I had mentioned in one of of my PROGRESS REPORTS posts that I knew how I wanted to quilt this one. The crew at Moda recently made a quilt for someone retiring and I wanted that project quilted the same way I was planning on doing my Sewcialites quilt. Machine quilted in vertical lines in a small range of colors and some big stitch quilting added throughout is the plan. The picture above was hand quilted by Laurie Simpson, so I will have to consult her when I am ready to dive in to my quilt.
Fat Quarter Shop is doing a giveaway each month, you can enter to win one of several giveaways by posting your progress on Instagram using #SewcialitesQAL.
We all love a good giveaway, so leave a comment here for a chance to win my new book, SCRAP SCHOOL., in stores now.
I will pick a sweetheart of a winner on Feb. 14th.
I am joining Jessica Dayon on a book blog hop
for her new book, Seasons to Taste. I received an advance copy and had a hard time picking which one to make. I choose Sunkissed. I love the yellow and white but
how could I scrap it up some?
I knew the colors I wanted to use, so I started with scraps from one of my quilts in Sisterhood of Scraps and combined them with a quilt that will be in Scrap School this Feb. Pulling these fabrics was fun to think about and how different they look with a few added fabrics.
Originally some of the colors I added were a little out of my comfort zone but they added some “clash factor” took on a life of their own.
Even the trimmings look dreamy!
Adding Low Volume for backgrounds and sashing allowed me to do a deep dive into my fabrics and include a huge variety of lights.
And while I was at it I had fun creating a pieced back. Maggi Honeyman worked her magic on the quilting!
In case you missed it here are the other people on the blog hop.
#seasonstotastebooktour
Seasons to Taste is available now from your favorite book retailer.
I can see why in school we received our progress reports every 6 weeks. It is a lot of work keeping up with the progress or making any progress at all. I finished some and started more so A-.
I am finished with my quilt for the Seasons to Taste blog hop. I am last on the line up and will share my quilt here on Feb. 2nd. I knew the colors I wanted to use, so I started with scraps from one of my quilts in Sisterhood of Scraps and combined them with a quilt that will be in Scrap School this Feb. Pulling these fabrics was fun to think about and how different they look with a few added fabrics. deadline- end of Jan.- CHECK
The QUILT ALONGS continue
Blockheads 3
I have all my blocks done. Just need to decide on a setting.
QUILT BEE
Another QAL I have joined is the one Bonnie and Camille are hosting using their new book, Quilt Bee.
For more info about the QAL, visit their INSTAGRAM.
My Favorite Color is Moda
I am adding My Favorite Color is Moda to the list of QAL’s. You can read all about it on the Moda Inspiration and Resources page. Michelle White designed this project and I loved the Scandinavian feel of one of her initial drawings. She knew I have a hard time making up my mind so she created another color option combining the look of the Scandinavian and added Christmas.
I am going with option 2.
The pattern and fabric kits are available at your favorite quilt store.
Christmas 2021… here I come.
I also want to thank all my teachers for those dreaded progress reports. I really had very good grades but just sometimes messed up on the conduct part. Teachers hang in there. You are are molding the lives of the future either in class or virtually.
There were times in my life that I hated the term progress report. You know, there was always that one class that was problematic or maybe I was problematic as the student.
I can’t think of any better term for holding myself accountable and logging my progress than “progress report” to keep me on track.
The cool thing is that I get to give myself my own grade.
This week I received a B-.
I have finished a few projects, started a few new ones and completely ignored others.
UPDATE:
More blocks for my red and white quilt.
half-square hashtags
Deadline- Valentines. Very Close!!
The kids did finish “making” a quilt for their mom for Christmas. It counts right, even if it is a preprinted panel that they helped me pin and sew like a pillow. They did tie it with yarn and color some of the shapes.
Finished, Completed and Gifted
I am joining Jessica Dayon on a book blog hop for her new book, Seasons to Taste. I received an advance copy and will be making a project to showcase Feb. 2nd. I knew the colors I wanted to use, so I started with scraps from one of my quilts in Sisterhood of Scraps and combined them with a quilt that will be in Scrap School this Feb. Pulling these fabrics was fun to think about and how different they look with a few added fabrics. deadline- end of Jan.
This one is where I have to give myself a failing grade. Usually I stay on task, but the deadline had come and gone. I had set it aside all nice and organized, and I was fairly close to finishing. I just have to do the airplanes. I am just not feeling it. Stay Tuned.
On-the-Go-SIH-050-Let’s-Fly-61×72
I am obsessed with all the Quilt Alongs, so here is my list.
Blockheads 3
I have my blocks completed but no idea how I am going to set them all together.
Blockheads has been going on for an entire year. I have loved being a part of this and have seen so many color interpretations of the blocks that makes me want to start all over.
Blockheads posts EVERY WEDNESDAY. You can get all the patterns on Moda’s blog.
It is never too late to start if you have not joined in, but don’t worry we have something fun planned for the next Blockheads series.
I am tickled pink to be included as one of the SEWCIALITES on Fat Quarter Shops, weekly QAL. POSTS EVERY FRIDAY.
I am way ahead on this project and have the greatest idea on how to quilt it.
Hope it works and if so I can’t wait to share it.
Another QAL I have joined is the Bonnie and Camille are hosting their new book, Quilt Bee.
I am a sucker for anything Bonnie and Camille. The directions in this book are so well written and easy to follow. For more info about the QAL, visit their INSTAGRAM.
What are you working on? Did you make a resolution to finish more of your UFO’s? Resolutions or not, I am just so thankful that I have quilting as a creative therapy outlet especially during 2020.
