Tuesday, March 7, 2017

A Summer's End Postage Stamp Quilt

Work in Progress
Postage Stamp Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts - March 2017 | Tutorial available.
Click on any image for a larger view.
This week's work in progress is a celebration of the end of Summer. I am not a big fan of the long and hot days of Summer and every year look forward to the this change in seasons and the anticipation of cooler mornings and evenings. So, welcome March and Autumn! Melbourne does do the four seasons so very well.

Postage Stamp Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts - March 2017 | Tutorial available.
Postage Stamp Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts - March 2017 | Tutorial available.
Postage Stamp Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts - March 2017 | Tutorial available.

For this quilt I have used fabric from my scrap bin as well as from stash. For my initial fabric pull I selected a wide range of small scale floral prints and then added lots of stash basics (dots, checks, and small scale prints of interest). I was surprised to see just how many floral prints I could pull from my stash! Many of these floral fabrics are Japanese fabrics by Atsuko Matsuyama, some of which have been part of my stash for some time, others are more recent additions.

Summer's End Postage Stamp Quilt | © Red Pepper Quilts 2017
Postage Stamp Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts - March 2017 | Tutorial available.
Postage Stamp Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts - March 2017 | Tutorial available.

More than 200 fabrics were used to make this quilt! I spent 2 days cutting fabric strips and individual fabric squares, and even more time piecing it all together. While I did strip piece some of this quilt all of the fussy cut fabrics (fabrics that have been cut specifically for the centered placement of an item of interest) have been individually cut as squares. I also spent quite some time "randomizing" the quilt so that there are no obvious repeats of the same fabrics used together. This involves taking strip sets apart and adding individually cut squares at random.

Postage Stamp Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts - March 2017 | Tutorial available.

Of course there are always some fabrics that seek to find one another regardless of how many prints you use and how often you re-arrange the layout! That is just how it is meant to be. Once a quilt top is complete I very rarely rip seams to re-arrange a fabric square.

Postage Stamp Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts - March 2017 | Tutorial available.
Postage Stamp Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts - March 2017 | Tutorial available.

QUILT STATS
Summer's End Postage Stamp Quilt 
The quilt top measures 56 inches x 68 inches.
A selection of almost 200+ different printed fabrics make up this quilt.
I made fifty-six 16-patch blocks plus seven 8-patch blocks.
 952 patchwork squares.
Each finished square measures 2" x 2".

Postage Stamp Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts - March 2017 | Tutorial available.

This simple patchwork never gets old and I thoroughly enjoyed the fabric play, the repetitive cutting, sewing and pressing tasks, and watching the quilt top emerge from the stack of otherwise idle pieces of fabric that sit before me as I piece.

Postage Stamp Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts - March 2017 | Tutorial available.

Ready for basting and quilting!

Thank you for stopping by,
Rita

Postage Stamp Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts - March 2017 | Tutorial available.

RELEVANT LINKS:
Summer's End Postage Stamp Quilt - A Finished Quilt 
Checkerboard Quilt and Strip Piecing Tutorial
More RPQ Scrap Buster Quilts

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15 comments:

  1. You stash has an incredible selection of beautiful fabric!

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  2. Where are those cute fabrics in America ??? I can never seem to find them. Janita

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  3. Oh me too! We've had high temperatures with high humidity over the last few weeks. I am very ready for autumnal weather! I always love your postage stamp quilts. They are absolutely perfect.

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  4. I have admired your piecing for a long time. You sew the seams with precision. I need to strive to get my seam allowances more accurate and have the seams meet up better. I looke forward to seeing what everyday brings with your work. Chris

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  5. I just bought a GO Big fabric cutter and I've been cutting mini-charms from my scraps. Maybe someday I'll get ambitious enough to try this. I absolutely love it. So much fun to look at all the different fabrics and cute fussy cut prints.

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  6. Looking through those fabrics, I see some that I'm using right now in some blocks.

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  7. Your work is always so fresh and fun. This quilt made me smile. I can always tell your work because of the breath of life it has and happy colors.

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  8. I have a collection of mini charm packs. maybe I should think of a postage stamp quilt.

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  9. This is Marvelous!! I love it.

    I know that feeling at the end of summer, we have had an easy Winter on the east coast of US because the bitter cold days and the wet days did not come together, but we had plenty of each and very little snow. Winter was kind to me this year.... as if.
    So, I am welcoming Spring AH-CHOO and I know you will be enjoying Autumn, two very promising times of the year.
    I love this quilt very much.

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  10. Will this quilt be for sale? I LOVE it.

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  11. Such a fun quilt! Your fussy-cutting was worth every minute!

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  12. Sweet! I love the contrast between the darks and lights.

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  13. I love the repetitive steps too! I don't think it's boring at all.....cute quilt!

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  14. What a wonderful quilt. It reminds me of days gone by... it has a vintage appeal to it.

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