Scrappy Frames Quilt Tutorial

Scrappy Frames Quilt came about from the leftovers of the Comet Quilt that I made for Hummingbird Lane Fabrics last winter.  Comet Quilt was a quilt kit, full of beautiful Stellar Fabric from Rashida Coleman Hale that was full of half square triangles that made this beautiful quilt seen below.

As great as that quilt was (and it came together quickly given how large it was!), even better was lots of leftover fabrics and the prospect of getting to make something equally beautiful some day in the future.

That “some day in the future” unexpectedly came early in mid-September.  The entire western United States was on fire, and the winds brought lots and lots of smoke to the greater Seattle area.  All of Washington really, as well as all of Oregon and most of California.   With the pandemic still raging, all indoor activities were on hold, and suddenly we couldn’t do anything outside either due to hazardous air quality.  So I gave myself permission to set all responsibilities aside and do nothing but quilt for the weekend.

This Scrappy Frames Quilt tutorial is the result!

Scrappy Frames Quilt

Actually, I didn’t even need the whole weekend.  This quilt came together so quickly that I made the whole thing in just one day! 

So, if I made the quilt top back in September, why am I just now sharing it?  Well, two reasons.  One, it takes time to edit photos and write up a tutorial after making the quilt.  But also, even with windows shut tight, smoke gets in the house and indoor air quality takes a dive too.  I didn’t want to add spray baste to the mix, either for my lungs or for Scout’s, until the air quality improved and the windows could be open again.

Unfortunately (or maybe not, depending on how you look at it?), I have project ADD, and if I set aside a quilt top to baste later, chances are it’s going to sit longer than intended because I’m going to find some new inspiration and pull out a new bundle and start a new project, and it will be a while before I circle back to basting anything.

Scrappy Frames Quilt Blocks

This quilt uses 10” blocks and my version finishes at 40” by 50”.  Go ahead and make your version larger or smaller if you like.  My version has 18 blocks, and 4 half-blocks.  If you make a larger or smaller quilt, your even rows will need two half-blocks each. 

The first step is to cut the frames.  The frames are 1½” wide, each full block needs two pieces that are 8½” long and two pieces that are 10½” long.  The half-blocks need two pieces that are 4½” long and one piece that is 10½” long.

Making the Scrappy Blocks

Now, how you make the blocks that will fit inside the frames is up to you.  Whatever you do, they need to measure 8½”, but they can be made in a variety of ways.  That’s the great thing about working with scraps, anything goes!

Some of the scraps from the Comet quilt were already made, the 4½” half square triangles.  You can follow this HST tutorial if you want to use these types of blocks.

I cut down the rest of the scraps into 2½” strips and made lots of 4-patches that also measure 4½”, to mix and match with the half square triangles.    Here’s a great tutorial for working with 2½” strips.

Because I can’t let any fabric go to waste, even the itty bitty pieces, I also used some 1½” pieces to make 16-patches that also measure 4½”.

Whatever size of scraps you choose to use, or whatever shapes, have fun!  Mix and match colors and prints and go as scrappy as you like.

Not into itty bitty scraps?  You can even make 8½” squares using just one fabric cut from larger cuts of fabric.  The beauty of quilting is that you can do whatever you want, and adjust patterns/tutorials to make them work for you.

Make 18 blocks that measure 8½” and four half-blocks that measure 4½” by 8½”.  If making a larger quilt, half of your rows will need two half-blocks in place of one full block.

Adding Frames to Scrappy Blocks

Lay out the frames around the blocks and the half-blocks.  Each block needs two 8½” pieces and two 10½” pieces, each half-block needs two 4½” pieces and one 10½” piece.

Sew an 8½” piece or a 4½” frame piece to the bottoms of the blocks and half-blocks.  Press towards the frame, unless it’s a very light/thin fabric, then press towards the inner block.

Repeat with a second 8½” or 4½” frame piece along the top of the block. Now is a good time for chain piecing, rather than doing one block at a time you can feed through many of each step.

Repeat with the 10½” pieces on the sides, two for the blocks and just one for the half-blocks.

Repeat to make as many scrappy frame quilt blocks as needed for the size of quilt you want to make.  My 18 full blocks + 4 half blocks will make a quilt that finishes at 40” by 50”.

Scrappy Frames Quilt- Putting It All Together

I forgot to take a photo of laying all of the blocks out to make the rows, so I made a quick graphic for you instead. 

Row 1 is made of 4 full blocks.

Row 2 is made of 3 full blocks, and a half block on each end.

Continue for as many rows as needed to make your quilt top.

This graphic makes me realize that I want to make this quilt again, adding white sashing between the blocks, because how gorgeous would that be!?!?

Sew blocks into rows and rows together to make the quilt top.

I did a lot of extra quilting on this one, to make sure that all of those itty bitty pieces were held firm in the quilt.  It took a little longer that way, but it’s beautiful and it will last longer even with frequent use and washing.

What do you think?  Will you raid your scrap box to make your very own Scrappy Frames Quilt?  What color palette will you use?