A Story Quilt and A Tutorial

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

RELEVANT LINKS:
More Red Pepper Quilts Tutorials
More RPQ Quilts featuring Kona Cotton

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Irish Chain Scrap Buster Quilt - Part 2

The Irish Chain Quilt is coming along nicely, and is now a complete quilt top. This quilt top has been so fun to piece, it's up there with my top 5 favorite projects. The design is traditional but the fabrics are modern and feature many "i-spy" elements from animals, birds, and bees, to accessories, tools of the sewing trade, flowers, faces, and more. 

QUILT STATS

Quilt top measures 74 inches x 74 inches.

37 rows of 37 squares.

1369 squares each measuring 2.5" x 2.5" (incl seam allowances).

Pieced in Blocks - Block A and Block B (see below).

13 Block A units and 12 Block B units.

200+ different printed fabrics have been used to make this quilt top.

Fabrics used:

1. Flower Drops in Pink from the Milk, Flower, Sugar Collection by Elea Lutz (1 yard*)
2. Pinhead in Black by Michael Miller (7/8 yard)
3. Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton in Iron (3/4 yard)
4. Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton in White (1/2 yard)
5. Lots of 2.5" square scraps!

*Fabric requirements are for the quilt as pictured made from 2.5" squares, and based on 44" wide fabric. Estimates are generous for rotary cutting but if using a fabric cutter you may need extra yardage.

Quilt Layout ~ alternating Block A and Block B
5 rows of 5 blocks
13 Block A Units
12 Block B Units

The quilt is made from two alternating blocks ~ Block A and Block B. I prefer to press seams together (to one side) and to ensure that all seams "nest" when sewing the blocks together I have pressed seams for my blocks as follows:

Block A

Arrange fabric pieces as pictured - seven rows of seven squares - and sew squares together in horizontal rows, pressing seams for each row as indicated by the arrows (starting with top row: out and away from the center square, then for the next row press seams in towards the center square etc).

Block B

Arrange fabric pieces as pictured taking note of placement of the feature fabric, and sew squares together in horizontal rows, pressing seams for each row as indicated by the arrows (opposite to how seams are pressed for block A).

Pressing seams - Block A (Left) and Block B (right)

Once you have sewn all seven rows for your block, sew rows into blocks and press the final seams as indicated - for Block A press seams out and AWAY from the center row of squares, and for Block B press in and TOWARDS the center row of squares. Pressing your seams this way will ensure that regardless of which way you turn your blocks all seams will "nest" when sewing block A and Block B together. 

My quilt top is made from 25 blocks in total ~ 13 Block A units and 12 Block B units. After sewing my blocks together in five rows of five blocks the quilt top was as pictured above.

I have since added a single row of squares right around the edge of the quilt top so as to complete to repeat pattern. Cutting these additional 140+ scrappy squares has taken just about as long as it took to cut all of the other squares ... well, it certainly felt that way.

More soon,
Rita

RELEVANT LINKS:
Irish Chain Scrap Buster Quilt - Work in Progress - Part 1
Irish Chain Scrap Buster quilt - The Finished Quilt - Part 3
More RPQ scrap busting projects



COPYRIGHT: Do not copy or use any content or photos from my blog without my written permission.

Pickle Dish Variation Quilt Part 2 - A Tutorial

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:

Pickle Dish Variation Quilt - Templates and 

Foundation Paper Piecing Pattern ~ $4.00

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)



COPYRIGHT: Do not copy or use any content or photos from my blog without my written permission.

Color Wheel Block Quilt II - A Variation

The week in stitches.

I have had a big week behind the sewing machine with some last minute stitching before I take a break from my sewing machine, and my sewing machine takes a break from me. I am heading to the USA for a holiday and to teach at Sewtopia, and my sewing machine is spending some quality time with a technician. I am sure we will both come back refreshed, inspired, and eager to sew.

In the meantime, and in preparation for this break, I have a number of new projects, including several quilts that I have worked on behind the scenes, giveaways, as well as Sunday Stashes to show you over the next fortnight or so.

This week I have been working on another version of my Color Wheel Block pattern. My first Color Wheel Quilt featured all solid fabrics (see Kona Color Wheel Quilt) so this time I thought it might be interesting to use only printed fabrics.

The arcs of the block are foundation paper pieced and I have alternated two contrasting colors, generally a "dark" fabric and a "light" fabric for each arc, although I didn't strictly apply this rule; provided there was contrast in color/pattern I was happy with my fabric selection. I have used many different quilting cottons (most are small scale prints), from lots of different collections for this quilt, all from my fabric stash. You'll probably recognize many of my fabric favorites!

For the background of the blocks I have used low volume fabrics. What is low volume fabric? I am not big on definitions, and I think it is perfectly acceptable to have your own liberal interpretation of "low volume fabric" rather than work within the constraints of a formal definition. For me, a low volume fabric is a printed fabric that reads as a light or white fabric. It doesn't necessarily have a white or off-white background although that is generally what I gravitate towards when choosing a low volume fabric.

QUICK QUILT STATS:

12 Color Wheel Blocks.

48 Foundation paper pieced arcs.

384 patchwork pieces.

Each finished Color Wheel Block measures 17" x 17".

Quilt top measures 51 inches x  68 inches.

Color Wheel Block Pattern available here:
Red Pepper Quilts Pattern Store

(You will be sent an email with a secure link to download

 this pattern (pdf file) immediately.)
Pattern is also available from my Etsy Store.

Color Wheel Block Tutorial available HERE.

This quilt top is ready for basting and quilting ... and will be waiting for me upon my return.

Thank you for stopping by,
Rita

Click on any image for a larger view.

RELEVANT LINKS:
Red Pepper Quilts Pattern Store
Color Wheel Block Tutorial
Kona Color Wheel Quilt



COPYRIGHT: Do not copy or use any content or photos from my blog without my written permission.