Monday, May 30, 2016

A Story Quilt and A Tutorial

A Story Quilt and Tutorial | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

I am continuing on with a theme of rectangles this week. And squares. More specifically a rectangle inside a square. Not complicated and probably not an original combination, but definitely an eye catching result for such a simple concept.

A Story Quilt and Tutorial | Red Pepper Quilts 2016
A Story Quilt and Tutorial | Red Pepper Quilts 2016
A Story Quilt and Tutorial | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

I have been collecting novelty fabrics for a long time - or call them I-Spy fabrics - which are great when fussy cut as a feature fabric. These fabrics are also perfect for kids' quilts and make for a unique story quilt. Hence the name - A Story Quilt. (See also my Economy Block Quilt which another example of an I-Spy Quilt). For this quilt I have featured these novelty fabrics in blocks framed with solid fabric.

A Story Quilt and Tutorial | Red Pepper Quilts 2016
A Story Quilt and Tutorial | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

This one-block quilt is suitable for beginners and a great way to work through some stash so today I thought I would share with you a quick tutorial on how to make this easy block.

A STORY QUILT - TUTORIAL

FABRIC AND CUTTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR EACH BLOCK:

The above image shows the fabric requirements and cutting instructions for EACH block ~ a single rectangle which is framed with solid fabric (in pink) on all four sides. The center rectangle may be a fussy cut fabric featuring a novelty but this is not a requirement. You will notice that many of my block centers are dots, checks, and general floral prints that have not been fussy cut.

Step 1 Take a center rectangle and using a 1/4" seam allowance sew the two smaller solid fabric strips to the short sides of the rectangle as pictured below. Press seams together and away from the center rectangle as indicated by the arrows.

Unit measures 4 1/2 inches x 2 1/2 inches.
Step 2 Take the remaining two solid fabric strips and again using a 1/4" seam allowance sew to the remaining sides of the rectangle. Press seam together and away from the center rectangle as indicated by the arrows below.


Each Story Block measures 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" (includes seam allowances)

To sew the blocks together into a quilt top lay out all your blocks and rotate blocks so that the center rectangle alternates: vertical - horizontal - vertical etc as pictured:


Sew blocks together in rows and press seams towards the block with the vertical (upright) rectangle as indicated by the arrows. This will ensure that all seams "nest" or lock together when  piecing the quilt top.


For my quilt top I have made a total of 154 Story Blocks ~ 14 rows of 11 blocks. The quilt top measures 44 inches x 56 inches, which is a great size for a toddler and young child.

A Story Quilt and Tutorial | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

All solid fabrics used are Robert Kaufman Kona Cottons.
Kona colors include:
Grasshopper, Cactus, Sour Apple, Honey Dew, Mulberry, Crocus, 
Grellow, Buttercup, Orange, Tomato, Carnation, Wheat, Tan, 
Chestnut, Malibu, Robin Egg, Silver, Titanium, and Kona White.

A Story Quilt and Tutorial | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

I love this quilt! It is such a fun quilt for kids and offers endless opportunity for imaginative play and stories as well as playful learning about colors, letters, numbers and shapes. I can also see this design working with all printed fabrics - a low volume center fabric framed with a contrast printed fabric - or even the reverse of what I have done - a solid center framed with a contrast printed fabric.

A Story Quilt and Tutorial | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

Now ready for basting and quilting!

Thank you for stopping by,
Rita

Please leave any questions you may have regarding the tutorial in the comments section and I will reply there as others may also benefit from further clarification.

A Story Quilt and Tutorial | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

RELEVANT LINKS:
The Finished Story Quilt 
More Red Pepper Quilts Tutorials
More RPQ Quilts featuring Kona Cotton

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Sunday, May 29, 2016

Sunday Stash #335 Boo! A collaborative Cotton + Steel Collection

Boo! A collaborative collection by Cotton + Steel |  Red Pepper Quilts 2016
Boo!
A Collaborative Cotton + Steel Collection
Click on any image for a larger view.

From the Cotton + Steel team comes this collaborative Halloween collection. The Boo collection follows last year's popular Spellbound collection and again features Gothic designs in a color palette that we have come associate with this team of designers.

Boo! A collaborative collection by Cotton + Steel |  Red Pepper Quilts 2016
Boo! A collaborative collection by Cotton + Steel |  Red Pepper Quilts 2016
Click on any image for a larger view.
This spooky and quirky collection features dancing skeletons, pet skeletons, ghosts, graveyard scenes, mysterious keys, Halloween beads, and of course happy candy!  Boo is a holiday collection sure to inspire plenty of patchwork, apparel, accessories, and home decor projects that can be used all year round.

Boo! A collaborative collection by Cotton + Steel |  Red Pepper Quilts 2016
Boo! A collaborative collection by Cotton + Steel |  Red Pepper Quilts 2016

BOO! by Cotton + Steel is available from:
The Fat Quarter Shop
Pink Castle Fabrics
Miss Matatabi (Etsy)
Stash Fabrics
GJ's Discount Fabrics (Melbourne - in store)
Bobbie Lou's Fabric Factory

Boo! A collaborative collection by Cotton + Steel |  Red Pepper Quilts 2016

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Expired sales information and coupon codes have been removed.


Enjoy Sunday!
Rita

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Wednesday, May 25, 2016

A Giant Granny Square Quilt - The Finished Quilt

A Giant Granny Square Quilt | Trip Around the World Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016
A Giant Granny Square Quilt
Click on any image for a larger view.
I have finished my Giant Granny Square Quilt! It's not every day that a quilt photographs effortlessly so please bear with me as I have lots of photos to share with you today. 

A Giant Granny Square Quilt | Trip Around the World Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016
A Giant Granny Square Quilt | Trip Around the World Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016
A Giant Granny Square Quilt | Trip Around the World Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

I am so happy with how the quilt turned out. The quilt basted and quilted so beautifully that the photos of the finished quilt don't look all that different to the photos of the quilt top. I have quilted the quilt by ditch stitching all the seam lines, creating a cross-hatch / grid of lines 2 inches apart which gives the quilt texture without further adding detail to the design. It is functional quilting rather than decorative.

A Giant Granny Square Quilt | Trip Around the World Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016
A Giant Granny Square Quilt | Trip Around the World Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016
A Giant Granny Square Quilt | Trip Around the World Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

For the back of the quilt I have used my favorite backing fabric (Newspaper from the Story Collection by Carrie Bloomston) which I thought was a perfect accompaniment to this otherwise colorful quilt.

A Giant Granny Square Quilt - backing fabric | Trip Around the World Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

Of course this also means that I have finished the quilt with my signature black and white stripe binding.

A Giant Granny Square Quilt - binding  | Trip Around the World Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016
A Giant Granny Square Quilt | Trip Around the World Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016
A Giant Granny Square Quilt | Trip Around the World Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

QUILT STATS:
925 squares each measuring 2" x 2" (finished)
1 center square plus 22 of rounds of squares, plus setting triangles.
The finished quilt measures 63 inches x 63 inches.
All cotton fabrics.
Low loft cotton Warm and Natural batting by The Warm Company.

A Giant Granny Square Quilt | Trip Around the World Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016
A Giant Granny Square Quilt / Trip Around the World Quilt
63 inches x 63 inches
This quilt is for sale and is listed in my ETSY STORE.

See the listing details here:
Giant Granny Square Quilt - Etsy

A Giant Granny Square Quilt | Trip Around the World Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016
A Giant Granny Square Quilt | Trip Around the World Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

I have loved making this quilt and I have no doubt that I will make another! I pieced my quilt by cutting and laying out individual squares then sewing rows together. Since my work in progress blog post of this quilt two readers have contacted me to direct me to strip-piecing techniques for this quilt. How wonderful is that?! The first is a free download by RJR Fabrics with instructions by Mary Worrall and the second is a book: Trip Around the World Quilts: A New Approach by Blanche Young and Helen Young published in 1980. I have ordered a copy of the book and am eagerly awaiting it's arrival.

A Giant Granny Square Quilt | Trip Around the World Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

Thank you for stopping by!
Rita

A Giant Granny Square Quilt | Trip Around the World Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016
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Sunday, May 22, 2016

Sunday Stash #334 Flower Sugar Holiday 2016 by Lecien

Flower Sugar Holiday 2016 for Lecien | Red Pepper Quilts Sunday Stash #334
Flower Sugar Holiday 2016
by Lecien 

Holiday themed fabrics seem to have sparked my interest lately and this collection in particular was added to stash without hesitation. Lecien are well known for their series of Flower Sugar collections released twice a year, and I love that this time they have combined their signature collection with designs that sing of the holidays.

Flower Sugar Holiday 2016 for Lecien - Ornament Toss | Red Pepper Quilts Sunday Stash #334
Flower Sugar Holiday - Ornament Toss
Flower Sugar Holiday 2016 for Lecien - Candy Toss | Red Pepper Quilts Sunday Stash #334
Flower Sugar Holiday - Candy Toss
The collection consists of four different designs each printed in up to five different color ways - tomato red, vintage green, lime green, aqua and white. A total of 19 fabrics. The colors are stash friendly and perfect for holiday sewing. I love the small scale designs (the vintage ornaments, sweet candy toss, and stars) but I especially like the classic medium scale floral design which makes this collection unmistakably Flower Sugar.

Flower Sugar Holiday 2016 for Lecien | Red Pepper Quilts Sunday Stash #334
Flower Sugar Holiday 2016 for Lecien | Red Pepper Quilts Sunday Stash #334

FLOWER SUGAR HOLIDAY 2016 by Lecien is available from:
The Fat Quarter Shop
Fort Worth Fabric Studio

Flower Sugar Holiday 2016 for Lecien | Red Pepper Quilts Sunday Stash #334

SPONSOR NEWS

Expired coupon codes and sales information has been deleted.

Flower Sugar Holiday 2016 for Lecien | Red Pepper Quilts Sunday Stash #334
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