Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Irish Chain Scrap Buster Quilt - Part 1

Work in Progress
Irish Chain Scrap Buster Quilts | Red Pepper Quilts

The last few days I have been cutting my fabric stash and the larger pieces in my scrap bin into 2.5" squares. Maybe not my entire fabric stash, but it sure felt like it. Some of the square have been fussy cut - with ruler and rotary cutter - to feature a print, but most squares were cut using a fabric cutter and a 2.5" die, cutting multiple layers of fabric and squares at once. It saves time and saves my back from aching, and is very accurate, with only minimal fabric wastage. 

Irish Chain Scrap Buster Quilts | Red Pepper Quilts 2015
Irish Chain Scrap Buster Quilts | Red Pepper Quilts 2015

My project is a super scrappy Irish Chain Quilt - a traditional quilt design with layout variations that vary from simple to intricate. I am keeping it simple, two alternating blocks - one scrappy and one with a structured layout. This design is not unlike the Scrap Vomit Quilt Movement of 2013 led by Katy Jones from I am a Ginger Monkey, although I've added an extra row of squares to the repeating design that then flows into the scrappy block.

Irish Chain Scrap Buster Quilts - work in progress | Red Pepper Quilts

At this point in time I have a few more blocks to piece together and then I get to arrange and rearrange my blocks. I have also worked out a way to press seams so that regardless of how I turn my blocks all seams will "nest" when sewing together the blocks in this alternating layout. My goal for today is to end the day with a quilt top ... and I will have sewn together more than 1200 squares in the last few days. Good times.

Irish Chain Scrap Buster Quilts - work in progress | Red Pepper Quilts 2015

More soon,
Rita
Irish Chain Scrap Buster Quilts - work in progress | Red Pepper Quilts 2015

RELEVANT LINKS:
Irish Chain Scrap Buster Quilt - Part 2 and Tutorial
Irish Chain Scrap Buster Quilt - Part 3 - The Finished Quilt
More RPQ Scrap Busting Projects

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Sunday, June 28, 2015

Sunday Stash #287 Retro 30's Child Smile ~ Spring 2015

Retro Child Smile - Spring 2015 - Lecien | Red Pepper Quilts
Retro Child Smile - Spring 2015 by Lecien
The latest Retro 30's Child Smile collection (Spring 2015) by Lecien has arrived in stores and has once again been welcomed as an addition to my fabric stash. My love for these small scale reproduction prints continues for not only do the background colors blend well with my stash, the designs are super cute, playful and reminiscent of childhood.
Retro Child Smile Spring 2015 - Lecien | Red Pepper Quilts
Retro Child Smile Spring 2015 - Lecien | Red Pepper Quilts

The collection features six different designs in up to to six different colors - colors we've come to associate with quilts made in the 1930's. Designs include dots, dogs, classic cherries and a floral prints which is my pick of this collection (pictured directly above).

Retro Child Smile Spring 2015 - Lecien | Red Pepper Quilts

Retro 30's Child Smile by Lecien is in stores now and available from:
The Fat Quarter Shop
Westwood Acres

Retro Child Smile Spring 2015 - Lecien | Red Pepper Quilts
Retro Child Smile Spring 2015 - Lecien | Red Pepper Quilts

Enjoy Sunday!
Rita

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Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Pickle Dish Variation Quilt Part 3 - A Finished Quilt

And a Quilt in Pictures.
Pickle Dish Variation Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2015
Pickle Dish Variation Quilt
A final blog post today of the Pickle Dish Variation Quilt and what follows is photos of the finished quilt. This quilt is one of my favorite projects this year for not only is this a unique design but also a great stash and scrap buster project. This project completely satisfies my own sewing brief for the use of simple traditional patchwork blocks made with colorful and modern fabrics. 

Pickle Dish Variation Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2015
Pickle Dish Variation Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2015

QUICK QUILT STATS
72 Drunkard's Path blocks
72 Quarter Star Blocks
All blocks measure 6.5 inches x 6.5 inches.
100+ different printed fabrics have been used to make this quilt.
Quilt measures 72 inches x 72 inches

Pickle Dish Variation Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2015
Pickle Dish Variation Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2015
Pickle Dish Variation Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2015

For the back of the quilt I have used my current favorite backing fabric ~ Newsprint from the Paint Collection by Carrie Bloomston; this was the only backing fabric that I had on hand with sufficient yardage ~ for this is the biggest quilt that I have made this year (other than the Oakshott Kaleidoscope Quilt) and also quilted myself. The quilt is quilted with an all over 1 1/2 inch grid of intersecting edge to edge lines - which includes ditch stitching seam lines as well as using a quilting guide (attached to the walking foot) to evenly space the lines. 

Pickle Dish Variation Quilt - binding | Red Pepper Quilts 2015
Pickle Dish Variation Quilt - binding | Red Pepper Quilts 2015

And no surprises ... I have matched the backing fabric with my favorite binding fabric ~ black and white stripe by Timeless Treasures

Pickle Dish Variation Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2015

This quilt was listed for sale in my Etsy Store and has sold already.

Pickle Dish Variation Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2015
Pickle Dish Variation Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2015

RELEVANT LINKS

Pickle Dish Variation Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2015

As always, thank you for stopping by,
Rita

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Sunday, June 21, 2015

Sunday Stash #286 Ella's Basics for Ella Blue Fabrics

Ella's Basics by Ella Blue Fabrics 
Ella's Basics is the first in-house collection by Ella Blue Fabrics; a collaborative range that was generated both in house and with the input of Ella Blue’s designers. Ella Blue Fabrics is a fabric house for Australian designers and collections that capture modern designs through strong color, beautiful prints, as well as an expression of Australian culture.


Stash basics - checks, dots, stripes, small scale designs - are what my fabric stash is all about, and this collection is the perfect addition. The designs range from standard stripes (I do love stripes!) and dots, to hopping kangaroos and text fabrics. All Ella Blue Fabrics collections are printed in Japan and I was excited by the beautiful quality of the base cloth as well as the clarity of the prints. You will no doubt see snippets of these fabrics appearing in my quilts.

Ella's Basics by Ella Blue Fabrics is now available from:
GJ's Discount Fabrics 
The Fat Quarter Shop
Westwood Acres


Also from Ella Blue Fabrics ~
60's Scrapbag by Emma Jean Jansen | Red Pepper Quilts 2015
 60's Scrapbag by Emma Jean Jansen.
60's Scrapbag the latest fabric range by Australian designer Emma Jean Jansen, and is inspired by vintage sheets from the 1960’s. There are funky retro designs including large scale colorful florals, bright daisies with a fresh white background, and a diamond check.
There are 14 fabrics in the range using Emma’s signature color palette; four designs in up to five different bright colorways. Suitable of course for quilting but also cheerful dresses and accessories.


With thanks to Emma and Ella Blue Fabrics for the surprise delivery of these beautiful and generous bundles of fabric.

Enjoy Sunday!
Rita

SPONSOR NEWS:

Expired sales information and coupon codes have been removed.

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Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Pickle Dish Variation Quilt Part 2 - A Tutorial

Pickle Dish Variation Quilt - tutorial | Red Pepper Quilts 2015
Pickle Dish Variation Quilt 
measures 72 inches x 72 inches
Today a tutorial for the Pickle Dish Variation Quilt. This quilt is made from two patchwork blocks - a Quarter Star Block (pictured on the left) and the traditional Drunkard's Path Block (pictured on the right):

Quarter Star Block and Drunkard's Path Block
BLOCK 1: QUARTER STAR BLOCK
The Quarter Star Block is a four-patch block made from two squares and two triangle in a square blocks.  

Fabric Requirements:
1 printed fabric measuring 3.5" x 3.5"
1 background (light/low volume) fabric  measuring 3.5" x 3.5"
and fabric to piece the two triangle-in-a-square blocks.
To sew the triangle in a square units I have used a 3" Bloc Loc Triangle in a Square Ruler. The ruler is a 3 piece set and includes two over-sized fabric cutting templates (pictured on the right) and a double grooved trimming ruler to lock onto both seams of the pieced unit. You sew the unit with the over-sized fabric pieces, then use the trimming ruler to accurately size the block. This set of templates and rulers is so easy to use and a great time saver. The alternative is to use the exact size templates and piece accurately, or foundation paper piece the units. More on these two alternative methods later.
The next step is to piece the Quarter Star Block:


Arrange the four units as pictured and with a 1/4" seam allowance sew together into horizontal rows, pressing the seam allowance in the direction as indicated by the arrows.


Then nest seams and sew rows together.  Press this last seam in the direction indicated by the arrows.

The Quarter Star Block measures 6 1/2 inches x 6 1/2 inches (including seam allowances).

To make a quilt measuring 72 inches x 72 inches you will need to make 72 Quarter Star Blocks.

BLOCK 2: DRUNKARD'S PATH BLOCK
Next is the traditional Drunkard's Path Block. The curved seam will nest with the Quarter Star Block side seam and as such the radius of the inner circle needs to be 3 inches after piecing. 


I have used 4 inch Drunkard's Path templates (with a 3 inch radius circle) to cut my fabric pieces. The large background fabric was cut oversize at 7 inches x 7 inches. I then pieced the block - see also Sewing Drunkard's Path Blocks - the no pins method.  


To ensure that the Drunkard's Path block seams nest with the seams of the Quarter Star block press seam away from the circle as indicated by the arrows (above).

Trim the block. Place ruler on top of the block, match the 3 1/4" marks on the ruler with the seams of the curve (see arrows above) and trim the block to measure 6 1/2 inches x 6 1/2 inches. [The ruler pictured here is a left handed ruler - if using a right handed ruler turn your block so that the quarter circle is in the top right hand corner and match the seams at the 3 1/4" marks on the ruler].

To make a quilt measuring 72 inches x 72 inches you will need to make 72 Drunkard's Path Blocks.

A word about contrast and value:  the use of color/contrast  (value) in the Drunkard's Path blocks is an integral part in allowing the "pickle dish" pattern to emerge. For each Drunkard's Path block I have used two fabrics: a light fabric for the outer (the concave or "L" shaped piece) and a darker fabric for the quarter circle (convex) piece of the block. The value of one fabric relative to another is usually immediately obvious, and a fabric that is light in one block can be used as a dark in another block. Don't over think this part of the process. Work instinctively and try not to second guess your fabric choices. 


Once you have completed all 144 blocks arrange the blocks on a design wall or flat surface in pattern and in 12 rows of 12 blocks. Move blocks around until you are happy with the layout and color arrangement. Join blocks into rows. Press seams to one side, alternating the direction of pressed seams for each row. Then join rows into a quilt top.


To assist with successful completion of the blocks and to give you more piecing options I have drafted up templates for both blocks as well as a foundation paper piecing pattern for the triangle in a square unit, available to download (pdf file) from my Pattern Store here:

Please print ACTUAL SIZE.  Do not reduce or scale to fit.
Pattern also available from my Etsy Store (click here).
Included:
  • Drunkard's Path Templates 
  • Triangle in a Square Templates
  • Triangle in a Square Foundation Paper Piecing Pattern
  • Black and white outline of the Pickle Dish Variation Quilt so that you can experiment with colors and color placement.
Foundation paper piecing instructions are NOT included. Use the templates and foundation paper piecing pattern in conjunction with this  tutorial to make the Pickle Dish Variation Quilt.

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask by leaving a comment, and I will explain/clarify as required.

Photos of the finished Pickle Dish Variation Quilt:
http://www.redpepperquilts.com/2015/06/pickle-dish-variation-quilt-part-3-finished-quilt.html.

Rita

RELEVANT LINKS:
Red Pepper Quilts Pattern Store
Pattern also available from my Etsy Store
Sewing Drunkard's Path Blocks without Pins - A Tutorial
Pickle Dish Variation Quilt Part 1 - Work in Progress
Pickle Dish Variation Quilt Part 3 - The Finished Quilt
Bloc Loc Triangle in a Square Ruler purchased from Bloc Loc (USA or Australia)

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