Thursday, July 6, 2017

99 Squircles ~ A Quilt in Progress

99 Squircles Quilt | Work in Progress | © Red Pepper Quilts July 2017

It was time for some serious scrap busting and this quilt block has been on my mind for some time. The block is inspired by a vintage quilt ~ The Elizabeth Chapman Coverlet dating back to 1829 ~ which features a rectangular panel in the center of the quilt surrounded by a variation of the Drunkard's Path Block. 

99 Squircles Quilt | Work in Progress | © Red Pepper Quilts July 2017
99 Squircles Quilt | Work in Progress | © Red Pepper Quilts July 2017

The block is neither a circle nor a square, hence the reason I am calling it a Squircle block, and while the original blocks (in the Chapman Coverlet) were English Paper pieced, I have also come across reproductions of this block using applique. However, I was keen to machine piece my blocks, using templates to cut out my fabric pieces.

99 Squircles Quilt | Work in Progress | © Red Pepper Quilts July 2017
99 Squircles Quilt | Work in Progress | © Red Pepper Quilts July 2017
99 Squircles Quilt | Work in Progress | © Red Pepper Quilts July 2017

To draw up my paper templates I turned to EQ7 (quilt design software). I am no EQ7 expert and admittedly spent much more time thinking about how I would go about drafting the block in EQ7, then the 3 minutes it took to actually draw up and print out the templates!

99 Squircles Quilt | Work in Progress | © Red Pepper Quilts July 2017

Once the templates were ready the fabric cutting could begin. I pieced a few test blocks to see if I could manage the short but rather tight curve by machine. Not all went well at first as every third block or so would have a small tuck in the curved seam. I tried clipping the seam after piecing and some persuasive pressing with a warm steam iron without success, and then I had a light bulb moment. What if I clipped the (concave) curved edge of the fabric before piecing? That worked! The clipped edge allowed me to easily manipulate the fabric and work it around the curve as I slowly stitched. No tucks, no pleats.

99 Squircles Quilt | Work in Progress | © Red Pepper Quilts July 2017

I made 100 Squircle Blocks, that's 400 Drunkard's Path variation blocks each measuring 3 1/2 inches x 3 1/2 inches. They are small units! At the last minute I decided to sew the the quilt together as a rectangle - 11 rows of 9 blocks - rather than a square quilt - 10 blocks x 10 blocks. The quilt top measures 54 inches x 66 inches.

99 Squircles Quilt | Work in Progress | © Red Pepper Quilts July 2017

QUILT STATS
99 Squircles Quilt
Quilt top measures 54 inches x 66 inches.
Each finished 4-patch Squircle Block measures 6 inches x 6 inches.
396 Drunkard's Path Variation Blocks.
Each finished Drunkard's Path Block measures 3 inches x 3 inches.
792 patchwork pieces.
250+ different quilting fabrics.

99 Squircles Quilt | Work in Progress | © Red Pepper Quilts July 2017
99 Squircles Quilt | Work in Progress | © Red Pepper Quilts July 2017
99 Squircles Quilt | Work in Progress | © Red Pepper Quilts July 2017

I have used lots of different designer quilting cottons, many which I am sure you will recognise. And of course, if you've stopped by here before, you may already know that I am not a pinner, and not a single pin was used to piece this quilt top. (See here for a tutorial on how I piece curved seams without pins). I am also surprised I still have all my fingers. Using a tiny rotary cutter to trace around paper templates, especially templates with tight curves, is precarious and probably less than ideal. But I made it through unscathed! Happy, scrappy, days.
99 Squircles Quilt | Work in Progress | © Red Pepper Quilts July 2017

99 Squircles Quilt | Work in Progress | © Red Pepper Quilts July 2017

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15 comments:

  1. Oh so lovely! I can imagine a nice nap under this quilt.

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  2. Your quilts are impressive! I think your squircles are sensational.

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  3. this is a gorgeous piece...love that scrappy, light look...hugs, Julierose

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  4. Very nice quilt, it has a good definition to it. Lovely fabrics of course, your signature all over it.

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  5. Wow, 3" is impressive and small! Sounds like you've mastered EQ7 if it only took 3 minutes to design the block. Beautiful, Rita

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  6. I love this quilt, I love the squircle, Rita.
    I see many of my favorite fabrics in here. I just love this look. It makes me happy and I love making quilts this way too. It makes me laugh because when my frumpy oldest daughter comes over to my house and has a look at my many many design walls, she would say to an arrangement like this, "mom, this is weird, what are you doing here with this?" HAHA
    I tell her "thank you so much"
    I hope you have a wonderful day today. Here we have pouring rain in Northern Virginia, 35 miles west of "the swamp" On Saturday, it will be nice weather, perfect for a baby shower for my younger daughter's first baby coming end of August. yay!
    This quilt makes me happy!!

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  7. I just love that quilt and am deffinitely adding it to my bucket list!!

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  8. Your quilt is beautiful and amazing!! You are so talented at putting scrappy fabrics together in a beautiful way! I so enjoy seeing this quilt and your process of designing it!
    Susie

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  9. What eye candy! My eye is drawn all over and enjoys every curve! Great work!

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  10. Nice work there, thanks for sharing your process, you are a trooper!
    I just love all the different fabrics!

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  11. This is such a wonderful design. I love how it looks both modern and vintage at the same time!

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  12. Another fantastic quilt! Your posts are always so informative, thank you. I must admit I smiled at your spending more time thinking about how to use EQ7 than you actually spent doing it! I find that with just about every step in quilt making. It's encouraging to hear it happens to you occasionally as well!

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  13. Love it, there is no end to your wonderful talents. x

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