Monday 6 January 2014

Scrappy Blocks Quilt...

Scrappy Blocks Quilt ~ Threading My Way


At the beginning of December, I showed you the progress on my 2nd ever quilt. Well, I made it!!! I finished this quilt with a few days to spare before Christmas and I'm thrilled with how it turned out.

Scrappy Blocks Quilt ~ Threading My Way

The scrappy blocks are made with a jelly roll of Moda's Road 15, by Sweetwater. There's just a tiny scrap of each colour left. The finished quilt measures 63" x 55" and is made up with:
  • 7" square blocks (Road 15 jelly roll) 
  • black sashing between the blocks, cut to 1.5"
  • black border, cut to 2.5"
  • cream border, cut to 2.5"
  • black print border (Road 15 Black City Park), cut to 6.5"
  • binding (Road 15 Black City Park)


I went with 108" wide fabric for the backing, so no seams; Widescreen by Carolyn Friedlander for Robert Kaufman. With the left over square (I sewed 31), I made a label, using fabric markers for the text and hand sewn to the quilt at the end. Next time I'll think about a label earlier on in the process.

I debated whether to do the quilting myself, or have it professionally done, especially since I was running out of time, but I am oh SO pleased I chose to do it myself. It's by no means perfect, but for a 2nd quilt, I think it's pretty darn good, if I do say so myself.

As with my first quilt, I used a woollen batting and basted the layers with pins. I still have a lot to learn about basting to get all layers smooth and even, but I'm getting there.

Most of the quilting is just straight lines on either side of the seams, with wavy lines for the outer border.


The blocks I designed myself. I liked the effect of the offset strips in my Scrappy Fabric Baskets, so used the same technique to make the blocks in this quilt. Although I've used a jelly roll, the same effect could be created using scraps of fabric. 

How to make scrappy blocks ~ Threading My Way
  • Cut 5 strips 9" x 2.5"
  • Take the bottom two strips (1 & 2 in the picture above)
  • Put the 2nd bottom strip (2) on top of the bottom strip (1), right sides together and at an angle, matching the top left hand corners.
  • Sew seam and trim
  • Open 
How to make scrappy blocks ~ Threading My Way
  • Put the middle strip (3) on top of the 2nd strip (2), right sides together and at an angle, matching the top right hand corners.
  • Sew seam and trim.
  • Continue sewing the strips, alternating the direction of the angles and varying the degree.
  • Press all seams open.
  • Trim to 7" square.
Scrappy Blocks Quilt... Road 15 ~ Threading My Way

When I purchased the jelly roll for the blocks, I had a clear picture of the scrappy blocks in my head, but nothing else. 

Once the blocks were made, I was fairly certain I wanted black sashing between them. Putting them on a black sheet confirmed this. Mr TMW helped with the actual arrangement of the blocks.

Although the scrappy squares and sashing are my own design, the rest of the quilt is not. Having purchased the jelly roll at a quilting shop, I returned to the same shop to purchase the fabric to finish the quilt. I really didn't know what I wanted, so I took along my phone with a photo of the blocks on the black sheet.

If you live in or near the Hawkesbury in NSW, I cannot speak highly enough of Fortunes and Fairies. Leanne spent at least one and a half hours helping me design the rest of the quilt and explaining the differences between different types of batting. She was so patient with me as I asked question after question, many times re-explaining points and writing notes for me to follow at home. She did all the Maths and worked out the exact yardages I would need. And she has a great eye for matching and co-ordinating fabrics. 

I buy much of my fabric online from overseas, because, even including high postage costs, I can buy fabric much cheaper than I can purchase in Australia. I usually buy 7 - 8 yards or more at a time. However, spending time in a good fabric shop gives me something I cannot buy online... knowledge and experience. Sure, I can google to find this info and I do. But to be able to fire questions and have someone answer them on the spot is invaluable. I learnt SO much in that hour and a half with Leanne. (No, I'm not being sponsored.)

As you can probably tell, I'm pretty chuffed with my 2nd quilt. It does look rather good in its new home, even if I do say so myself. I was warned I'd be hooked and I am.

... Pam



43 comments:

  1. Hi Pam! Congratulations - fantastic quilt - couldn't believe that it's your second quilt! Great design and colours! I'm so happy you have a good local farbric shop. It's so enjoyable to buy Fabrics from a Real shop and even better to discuss and learn from a Professionals in the shop.
    Happy NEW Year! x Teje

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  2. It turned out beautiful! Congrats on the finished quilt.

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  3. It's brilliant Pam, well done! Buying fabric online in your pyjamas is fine, but there is nothing to compare with the hands-on experience of buying in a fabric shop, is there?

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  4. Wonderful!! Love it, love it, love it! You did a great job and love the quilting.

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  5. Beautiful quilt! Well done x

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  6. Fantastic quilt - the quilting is fantastic - pretty awesome job for a(n almost) beginner!

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  7. This is an excellent result. You are truly talented at patchwork and quilting. I have resorted to spray glue instead of pinning my quilts together.

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words, Louise! I haven't tried spray for basting yet. Knowing me, I'd make a mess... I always seem to mess up any projects using glue.

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  8. Leanne sounds like she was a lot of help. It's so nice to be able to talk plans out with a real live person when you're tackling a challenging project. The quilt looks fabulous!

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  9. oh Pam it's beautiful! I pinned it as soon as I saw it (and I wasn't the first!), I love this pattern!

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  10. Found your blog through Show off Saturday! LOVE your quilt!! The quilting is perfect!! Cannot wait to see what you create next!!

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  11. Love the layout and the colour/fabric choice! Wonderful!

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  12. So fun! It looks great and I love the asymmetry of the pieces! I've tried a couple quilts and haven't fallen in love yet, but I didn't follow all the "rules" and that's probably why! I can't wait to see more!

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  13. Only your second quilt? Impressive! I love it. Aren't you glad you quilted it yourself? Love those blocks.

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  14. Nicely done! It looks terrific!

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  15. Visiting from Sew Fresh Quilts Let's Bee Social Linky. Can I just say Wow! I love your beautiful second quilt,thank you for sharing how you made it too.

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  16. Fantastic quilt and the quilting is wonderful. If this is only your second quilt I can't wait to see what will follow.

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  17. You're doing a great job Pam, aren't quilts just the best?!!! :D

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  18. I can't believe this is only the second quilt you ever made! It is incredible! Love the close up shots, Pam. You are sew right to be using QUILT as your word for 2014. Glad to hear you are hooked! Welcome to the club!

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  19. I'm working on my first ever quilt so I still have problems understanding everything. I love how your Black and White quilt came out. Congrats! {:-Deb

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  20. Wow i I am impressed! It looks beautiful. Great job!

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  21. Congratulations on finishing a beautiful quilt and quilting it yourself! Thanks for sharing.
    Freemotion by the River Linky Party Tuesday

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  22. This looks great! I love the wonky strips!

    Thanks for partying at Needle and Thread Thursday!

    :) Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation

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  23. What a clever way to put stripes together. I will have to try this technique. I like the fabric and the quilting too. Pretty work. Happy quilting! Stay busy. :)

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  24. This is only your second quilt?! O_O WOW! Great job!

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  25. Great job from pattern to piecing to quilting - and then photographing too! I look forward to what else you will do.

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    1. Thanks, Lynn. Next quilt top is finished, another the blocks are done and yet another planned in my head.

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  26. Wow that's a great quilt. I have some polka dot fat quarters that I bet would look great with this pattern. I love the colors of yours. And the setting for the pictures is so wonderful, great job.

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  27. What a great quilt! And yes, it's super addictive this quilting thing;) thanks for linking up!

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  28. Beautiful quilt! Come on over and link up @ my party.

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  29. Fantastic Pam and congrats on finishing it! great to see you on craft schooling Sunday!

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  30. This is sooooo gorgeous. I love the offset strips.... You inspired me today! Thank you!!!
    TGIF !! :)
    x Crystelle
    Crystelle Boutique

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  31. This is so beautiful!! I'm a fairly newbie quilter myself so it's fun to see your second quilt. Wow. Nice job. I may have to try these blocks...they look like a lot of fun!

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    1. Thanks, Bethany. I've made a couple of quilts since, but this one is still my favourite.

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    2. Pam,
      Could you please tell me the site you go to for buying material overseas online? I like buying material at my local fabric shop but I would also like to check out some places your talking about.
      Thank you,
      Teresa from, OH.

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    3. I don't buy fabric from overseas as much nowadays, Teresa, as the exchange rate is no longer in our favour here in Australia. If I see a good sale, I still do though. Hawthorne Threads is one I shopped at a lot in the past... http://www.hawthornethreads.com/

      In recent times I've purchased through Massdrop... https://www.massdrop.com/ They have some great bargains, but the exchange rate can vary from day to day, so it's hard to calculate the actual cost.

      My most recent purchase was an Instagram sale from Simple Simon and Co... https://www.instagram.com/simplesimonandco/

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  32. I'm very impress by this fantastic quilt. I love the design. Thank you for sharing how you did it! Lise (Québec Province, Canada)

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