Hi everyone! I’ve been mulling over the quilt design for my circle of the Do. Good Stitches for April, and I think I have *finally* settled on what blocks I want the members of the group to make. My initial idea was to make a lattice quilt, and I made some test blocks. But these just seemed a little drab to me, and I’ve really been craving color! So, I decided to modify the plan, and I whipped up this test block to share with members of the circle.
The block is made using a paper-piecing method, and the tutorial I used can be found here. Instead of using a white strip down the middle of the block, I went for all color. Each big block (which measures 12.5 inches square) is made up of 9 separate 4.5 inch blocks. For each block, I started by cutting 9 squares of paper that were 4.5 inches tall and wide. Next, I used a gluestick to lightly attach the center strip to each piece of paper. I cut these middle strips to be 1.5 inches wide and 7 inches long.
Next, I raided my scrap bin for all brightly colored, saturated fabrics that I had that are green, yellow, orange, and pink. I attached the scraps to the paper squares until each square was covered, and then pressed with a hot iron. I trimmed the excess fabric, and then peeled the paper off the back of the squares. Finally, I laid them out in a diamond pattern, and sewed the blocks together.
Here are a few tips I have for those making these blocks:
1. BE SURE to reduce your stitch length when sewing scraps to the paper block. This will really help when trying to pull the paper off the back!
2. I found it easiest to press my seams to the side. This did make it a little bulky when I joined up my squares, but my machine could handle it just fine, so I am not worried about a few bulky seams. It also seemed like it helped hold things together well to iron to the side.
3. Make sure your scraps are large enough to fully cover your square. A few times I thought I was all set, but needed one last small scrap to cover the very end of the block. This is not a big deal, but it can be frustrating.
4. For this particular quilt, I tried to mix up the colors evenly, so I didn’t have any blocks that were mostly one color.
5. I made the middle strip 1.5 inches wide on each square, but I allowed the rest of the strips and scraps that I attached to vary in width and size (and placement– I think the “wonky” look works well with all the color!)
6. Have fun! Hopefully the bright colors and freedom to piece wonky scraps will make these enjoyable blocks to make!
Looks great! I love this block. Time to get scrappin’.
You have a great scrap bin!! I think I might be alittle jealous.
Great blocks.
Looks great, I am very excited to be joining the circle this month and can’t wait to try this!
Yeah, that looks fun! I hope I have enough scraps. I’m sure i do really, it’s just I’ve been sewing from them so much lately that the pickens are getting slim. I guess i need a new project then!
[...] Good Stitches quilting bee, run by Rachel of Stitched in Color. I gave the members of the circle these instructions back in April, and by May I had a pile of quilt squares that had been sent to me to put together [...]