Teeny Tiny Scraps
Quilting is easy. Blogging about it is not. I decided to create this blog mid way through this quilt project, so I don’t have a ton of photos. I thought to myself, “I’ll make diagrams to show directions, since I don’t have photos.” So I did. But technology and I are not good friends. So I’ve got these awesome diagrams, that aren’t usable. I probably should have just scrapped this post. But, there are 1 inch squares in that quilt! That’s itty bitty when it comes to working with fabric! I’m proud of my work, and I want it to be seen. So, please bear with me. This isn’t my best post. It probably won’t be my worst.
The scrap box has been overflowing. I intended to spend November and December cleaning it out. I got a good start (although there is more to do!), and this (finally finished) quilt is one of the results. The decision to start this blog took shape while I was working on the early steps of this quilt, I am sorry there aren’t more photos to make this a real tutorial.
Some of these pieces are tiny 1” squares.
Four of these tiny squares make a 2” square.
Four 2” squares make a 4” square. And so on, and so on, always doubling in size.
The inner square of this quilt block is made up of four 4” squares. Because it’s a scrappy quilt, there is a random combination tiny (1 inch), medium (2 inch) and large (4 inch) squares. Any combination will work, just make sure to nestle seams together and pin, pin, pin!
It’s now an 8” block, made up of a random assortment of smaller pieces!
The next step is to add a strip of grey to each side of the inner block. Cut the grey strips 1½ inches wide, by the width of fabric. Sub cut each strip into 2 8½” pieces and 2 10½” pieces.
Sew an 8½ inch piece to each side of the scrappy center block, iron towards the grey. Then sew a 10½ inch piece to the top and bottom, again, iron towards the grey.
The next step, the outer ring of the block, is made up of 24 2” squares. Again, some of my 2” blocks are actually made up of 1” squares. Sew 12 of these blocks into pairs, and the other 12 into 4 sets of 3.
Sew a pair to a triple, so it’s 10½” long. Repeat to make two.
Sew a pair to a pair, and then to a triple, so it’s 14½” long. Repeat to make two.
Taking care to match seams, making sure they line up, even across the grey strip,
sew the shorter units to the sides of the block and then the longer units to the top and bottom of the block .
You now have a 14 inch block!
My quilt is made of 12 blocks, set 3 by 4.
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15 Comments
Terry
WOW!!! I am amazed!
Darcy
Thanks! I really like the challenge of working with tiny scraps.
Raina
Beautiful quilt and tutorial! I can sew a little but quilting escapes me. I’ve tried and failed miserably! I have no doubt once my little is grown I will try again, but for now burp cloths are my thing 😁
Darcy
Thanks Raina! I’ve never made a burp cloth, but I should give it a try!
Evelyn, PathofPresence
You are an inspiration! Your quilt is a work of art & I’m thinking I need to spend more time doing this. I knit, and sew by hand as it is meditative for me, and your post is inspiring many projects to come. Thanks!! 💗
Darcy
Evelyn, thank you for the sweet words of encouragement! I also find sewing to be meditative and relaxing.
Brandi Michel
This is such careful and beautiful work. I can see these pieces being passed down through your generations. It takes so much skill, patience, and determination to make these creations.
Darcy
Thank you Brandi! It is a lot of work, but the best kind, because it’s relaxing and productive.
Anissa
This is very impressive. What an awesome skill to have. I wish I had the patience! My mom made blankets for my kids when they were born. We still have them over 20 years later.
Darcy
Thanks Anissa! It’s a slow process to work with pieces that little, but some patterns go together pretty quickly.
Stephanie
This is lovely. More like art than a quilt! I suppose it can be both! 😀
Stephanie
This is lovely. More like art than a quilt! I suppose it can be both!
Darcy
Thanks Stephi! I think of it as both. Art with a purpose/use.
Erica
What a very sweet post and gorgeous quilt!! 😍
Darcy
Thank you!