How to Make a Bunch of Different Scrappy 6” Quilt Blocks

Lots and lots of scraps from previous projects led to lots of different, scrappy 6” quilt blocks!

Most of these scraps are from the New Dawn fabric collection and then I added in pinks and greens from the scrap box and from my fabric stash.

Actually, wait.  That isn’t quite right.  I didn’t start with the New Dawn fabrics, I started pulling pinks and greens from my stash after looking at those colors in some tulips.

Then I realized how well the New Dawn fabrics worked with what I had already pulled.

I first used the New Dawn fabrics when making a Garden Beds Quilt, and I had enough foresight to keep those scraps together but separate from other scraps, because they are just too good to be treated like afterthoughts.

Here are lots of scraps, sorted more or less by size.  I sorted my scraps by larger than 1½”, larger than 2”, larger than 2½” and everything bigger than 3” plus the coordinating yardage that I hadn’t cut down yet.

Then, I set to making scrappy 6” quilt blocks.  I’m going to share a few of the blocks I made here with step by step directions, but most of these pieces can be mixed or matched to work with the scrap sizes you have available.

Larger Blocks – Not So Scrappy

The first of my scrappy 6” quilt blocks are actually not very scrappy.  I had a few larger pieces left of the floral fabrics, and while I would not consider fabric this size a scrap, I did want to include these flowers with the rest of the scrappy quilt.

I cut these down to 6½” and put the smaller pieces into the appropriate scrap piles.  As a reminder, to have a quilt block finish at 6” in the quilt, all of the blocks at this stage are 6½” to account for the seam allowance.

4-Patches – Getting a Little Scrappier

Another quick way to make some scrappy 6” quilt blocks is to use 3½” squares and sew four of them together. 

If you’re currently thinking, “Darcy, you promised us scrappy and this isn’t,” don’t worry, the itty bitty fabric scraps are coming.

Sew the squares into pairs and then sew the pairs together.  I highly recommend pinning at the seam for a nice, crisp point.

Half Square Triangles – A Little Scrappier Still

You can use this Half Square Triangle Tutorial to add a little extra flair to your 4-patches. 

Start with 4” squares to make Half Square Triangles that will finish at 3” in the quilt.

I played around with a couple of different layouts before settling on a design.

Like the 4-patches above, make pairs first and then sew the pairs into the block.

9-Patches – Here Come the Scraps

Using 2½” square scraps will make 9-patches that are just the right size to match with the other 6” blocks.

I did not make many 9-Patches this time around, so I didn’t take any photos of sewing scrap strips together, but you certainly could use strip piecing here to make a bunch in a hurry.  There are some strip piecing directions down in the next section, just from smaller scraps.

Some of the squares in the 9-Patch could be replaced with Half Square Triangles, each pair of HSTs for this size will start with two 3” squares and follow the same Half Square Triangle Tutorial directions.

Or, instead of replacing just a few of the 9-patch squares with HSTs, make a scrappy 6” block entirely of HSTs.

1½” scraps make 4-patches that are the same size as the pieces in these 9-Patches, so they can be substituted too.  (For more on 1½” scraps, scroll down to the bottom of this tutorial.)

Really, the options are endless!

That’s the great thing about scrappy quilts, you can adjust as needed to work with YOUR scraps!

16-Patches – All the Smaller Scraps!

The 16-patches are definitely my favorite blocks in this quilt.  Small enough pieces to feel really scrappy, but large enough to show off the floral prints in some of the fabrics.

These are the scraps that measure 2+” in width, by a variety of lengths.

I cut them all to 2” width and started sewing them together, in chain piecing fashion.

Please note, these chain piecing directions will work for all of the blocks mentioned in this Scrappy 6^” Quilt Blocks Tutorial, but this size of scraps is the only one in which I took step by step photos.

Here are the strip pairs, and as you can see, it doesn’t matter if you fabric strips are different lengths.  This is all about using up scraps and will all work out in the end.

Place two strip sets, right sides together, and nestle the central seams.  Don’t worry about those selvage ends, they’re going to get trimmed off in the next step.

I’m right handed, so I trim the selvages on the right, then flip everything around to work from the left.  You’ll do the opposite if you are a lefty. 

Sub cut as many units as possible from each pair of strip sets, cutting at 2” intervals.  There are five sub-cuts here, and then a long tail of one pink fabric and some smaller ends that don’t measure 2”.

These little pairs are ready to pinned at the seam and sewn along one long edge to make a little 4-patch that measures 3½” now and will finish at 3” in the quilt.

Combining four of these 4-patches will make a 16-patch quilt block that measures 6½” now and will finish at 6” in the quilt.

36-Patches – Even Smaller Scraps

Scraps this small are controversial. 

Lots of quilters do not like them.

I made one quilt entirely of scraps this small and have no intention of ever doing so again!

But, to use them throughout a scrappy quilt?  Bring it on!

These 4-patches were made from 1½” strips.

It’s the exact same 4-patch method as listed above with the 2” scraps, just smaller cuts of fabric.

No, I do not cut individual pieces of fabric down to 1½” squares.  I have to draw the line somewhere.  But, working with this size in strips, I’m happy to do so.

Once the 4-patches are made, combine them in groups of three, pinning at every seam, and then sew three sets of three together, to make a 36-patch quilt block.

What to Do With a Variety of Scrappy 6” Quilt Blocks?

I made a total of 28 scrappy 6” quilt blocks from these scraps.

I even managed to whittle my scraps down to a nice, tidy pile.

At this point, you could sew all of your 6” blocks together into a fun, scrappy quilt top.  It might look something like this:

I did not.  I was able to make 28 blocks with my scraps, but that is not quite enough for a full quilt.  So, I have a second, background block to make, and I will teach you that block and the final layout in my next tutorial. 

But, for now, start sorting your scraps and get to work making these fun blocks!