This quilt has been completed for at least six months, but I was saving it for something which never materialized, so I decided I may as well show it to you! It’s made completely from my scraps, and I feel like the colors and prints are just right. Not too much color, but enough to keep it interesting.
I realized I have almost no photos of it, but here’s one in progress which shows you more of the whole top. I just love a design like this, because it’s so simple, yet it looks good. I think I’d dare to say that this technique would be the ultimate for a beginning quilter. Other than the fact that it has more seams to sew, I’d venture to say that it’s even simpler than basic patchwork!
Why? Because of the way I constructed it, there’s no long rows to sew together, which can look deceptively easy but can actually cause a lot of grief when they ripple and wave and stretch. I’ve put this together in block form, which makes it very manageable, and there’s absolutely NO worrying about matching seams anywhere! You do sew the blocks together, but once it’s together, you have to really study to see where you’ve joined the blocks, so matching the corners on your blocks is no worry!
So here’s a most basic of basic tutorials for putting a quilt like this together.
1. Find some strips that are about 13″ in length. Lay them out in a way that pleases you, making sure that you have enough height to equal 13″, rememembering that you will have 1/4″ seam allowances with every strip.
sidenote: if you want to use up some smaller pieces, or add interest, you can first sew together some smaller bits of fabric and make a strip out of them.
2. Sew them together into one block, using 1/4″ seams.
4. Now take your wonderful 12 1/2″ square ruler (if you don’t have one, you should get one!) and trim up your block to 12 1/2″ all around. You can also use your mat and regular ruler to trim your block.
5. Keep making blocks till you have enough for the quilt size you desire.
If you make a quilt using this tutorial, be sure to send me a link to it, I’d love to see it!
it's so perfect jolene! beautiful as always
such lovely quilt, Jolene. Thanks for sharing the way you made yours. I'm really hoping to make one soon.
I think I'll have to do that sometime. 🙂 The quilt looks very pretty!
Love it!! So simple and yet gorgeous!!!!
cool – I like the simplicity of the design – now to get brave enough to go scrappy..haha
It is beautiful!!
note to self… get a 12 1/2" square ruler. how can i not have one already!?!? love the quilt jolene, very pretty.
love this!! Scrappy gets my vote every time.
I didn't know a 12 1/2 ruler existed, but I think I need one. This sounds like a great way to clear out the two bulging bags of scraps I have stored.
Its perfect! Love the little peek inside your lampshade too! x
Lovely! The quilt is gorgeous and I love the pictures of how you did it! This will be perfect for my scraps!
These are my absolute fabric kind of quilts! Love this!!
Ah, that should say "favorite kind of quilt"…I need sleep! 🙂
I love this tutorial. My mom wants to try her hand at quilting. I'm going to send this tutorial to her – it would be a great first project.
So easy yet looks so good! This would be a great way to not only use up that scrap pile, but to make a charity quilt too. Perfect! Thanks-
I LOVE, LOVE your quilt! Actually, I love all of them…you do such a great job and make it look so easy. 🙂 I almost could get enthused about finishing the one I have in my stash!
Keep up the great work!
I really like this "pattern"! Scrappy & random without being too difficult!
Thank you for sharing this Jolene. So simple and so pretty. Of course it helps to have such great scraps!! On a side note, did you make that lampshade? I love the print on the inside!
It is really beautiful.
Love it! Thank you for sharing. Your combination of colors and fabric is just beautiful!
; )
Thank you for showing us how!!
This is a fabulous quilt. :0)
A 12.5" ruler is now on my wish list.
I love the way you broke down the process for this quilt. Thank you for giving me a reason to pull out my 12.5" ruler.
What a beautiful quilt! I love scrappy quilts and this one looks so snuggable. Thanks for the info on how to make one for ourselves!
This is such a good idea! I would love to do a quilt like this out of all my background fabrics. I love the look of your block with neutrals. Thanks for the tut!
I love your quilt ! and that awesome table lampshade too!
Love your fabrics. Thank you for the tips. I will surely give it a try.
Greetings from Greece.
Very sweet colors, Jolene. You do have such a soft, beautiful palette style. I enjoy it!
scrappy quilts ARE the best, aren't they???
how large is your quilt? i'm just curious… 🙂
I love your lamp. Thank-you for putting that in the photo! And I love your way of putting the blocks together. Never thought of that before.
I'm going in right now and sew strips together to make one as a sample then use this idea for the next quilt my friend Rose Marie and I make for the Baptist Children's Home
Hi Jolene, I loved this quilt so much I had to make one myself. Here's my flickr link if you're interested in seeing what you inspired. http://www.flickr.com/photos/29630389@N04/8040795886/in/photostream
I hope the link works?
I need me one of those rulers…the quilt is lovely thanks for sharingxx
Thank you so much for this tutorial! I love your quilt, and it's the type of look I'm going for in my next quilt. I've always wondered how to go about making one of these more free-form block quilts, and this is really helpful. I can't wait to get started!
Bunny
I thought I'd left you a comment on this one. Guess I didn't and I'm kinda glad about that. Because … This makes two of your quilts I'm gonna copy. Just thought about this do you know I don't think they use the word glad here in the UK. Hmmm you sure are a great quilter and very pretty. Just had to get that one in. Thanks for everything.
Ah, your tutorial makes me think even I can attempt something like this. I've wanted to make quilts for so long but have been afraid.(Funny since I've made bags and aprons and such for years!) I started my first really quilt back in January…and then the fear set in again so its sitting unfinished in my sewing room.