The Summer Scrap Elimination 2023: Week 2
Good morning Summer Scrappers and welcome to Week 2! I love how easy this simple block design is and how many things you can make with it. I used the block to make a new table topper for my kitchen table and I'm looking forward to quilting it in a tutorial later this summer. Stay tuned for a new video with that next month.
This project is a great opportunity to make use of those strips or small pieces that you have left over. Many of these pieces are 1 1/2" wide, which makes this perfect for skinny scraps.
Cutting for 1 Block:
Block unfinished size 5 1/2” x 15 1/2”
Background 1 ½” x 5 ½” (5)
1 ½” x 2 ½” (4)
1” x 2 ½” (4)
1” x 2” (4)
Medium/Light 2 ½” x 2 ½” (5)
Medium 1” x 2 ½” (4)
Dark 1 ½” x 2 ½” (4)
1 ½” x 2” (2)
Step 1:
Layout your block pieces as shown here.
I decided to pull out light blues, navy fabrics for the Dark, and some of my small scraps of deep wine reds.
If you choose to make this as a table runner like I did, it doesn't require too much of any one set of scraps, so it's wonderful for small scrap subsets if you have small amounts of left overs from a project in which you really love the colors.
I know I would love to make this block again as a quilt as a value project with just black white and grey and produce enough of them to make a larger quilt.
Step 2:
We're going to start with the 4 small sections.
Stitch the 1" x 2 1/2" background to the medium 1" x 2 1/2" piece and press toward the medium.
Complete the unit by stitching the dark 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" piece to the medium piece and press toward the dark.
This unit will now measure 2 1/2" x 2 1/2".
Step 3:
Stitch a 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" background piece to the right side of the unit from Step 2. Press toward the added background.
Stitch a 2 1/2" square of Light to the right side and press toward the Light.
Make two units this way and make two units starting on the left side of the unit to create the reverse unit. These units will measure 2 1/2" x 5 1/2". Replace them in your layout so you can keep track of your arrangement.
Step 4:
Pull the pieces from the center of the block and stitch the center side units as shown, pressing towards the Dark on both sides.
Complete the unit assembly by stitching the 2 1/2" square in the center and press toward the center square on both sides. This unit will now measure 2 1/2" x 5 1/2". Replace the center in your layout.
Step 5:
Stitch the 1 1/2" x 5 1/2" pieces of background to the sections you've created as you see in the photo.
Press toward the background in each instance.
Step 6:
Stitch the remaining seams to complete the block.
Continue pressing toward the background pieces in each new connection.
The completed block will measure 5 1/2" x 15 1/2".
I made 6 of these blocks for the table topper.
If you wanted to make the larger quilt option, consider making 48 of these blocks.
Step 7:
To make the fun staggering of the pieces, flip every other block upside down. Once the blocks are stitched together, I pressed the seams all in one direction.
The center will now measure 15 1/2" x 30 1/2"
Step 8:
To frame out the piece I added a 2 1/2" x 15 1/2" piece to both sides. Press towards the side borders. Complete the borders with 2 1/2" x 34 1/2" pieces added to the top and bottom. Press towards the borders.
If you have lots of small scraps that you would like to use up with this easy to piece pattern, consider making 48 of these blocks and creating this larger project. This is 12 Blocks wide by 4 Blocks tall.
To me this begins to create an optical illusion of shrinking and growing pieces. I really enjoy it even if at first glance it feels a little scattered.
I decided to call this project Scattered as a result.
Not enough scrappy work for you yet this week?! Never fear! We have another guest designer this week and Becky Jorgensen of Patchwork Posse is here with another great project to keep you cutting through your scrappy fabrics.
Like me, Becky has been sewing since she was a little girl and has a fabulously quirky sense of design that makes her projects so engaging. She has prepared a versatile project for you, in which all scrap sizes are welcome. Hop on over to her blog and find out more about her Scrappy Lumberjack project! Just in case you need a little nudge, this is a project Becky says you can produce in a weekend! Sounds about perfect to me.
Next week we'll be back with a new Scrap Project from me that works as a great table topper with a few blocks or a bigger quilt with even more scraps! We'll also have another guest designer project from Karen Bolan from Karen Bolan Designs.
Don't forget we're having a little extra fun with the Summer Scrap Elimination this year.
1. Keep track of the Scrap Projects you create with both my blogs and those of the guest designers.
2. Post any project you complete (it doesn't have to be quilted, but it does have to be a completed top.
3. Tag me @SwanAmity on Instagram or Swan Amity Studios on Facebook. Be sure to also tag the guest designer if your project is from one of their blogs.
When I see your tagged post I will comment and add your name to the drawing for a prize pack of new batik fabrics, a brand new rotary cutter from Quilters Select, and a mystery package of patterns to play with! This prize pack will include beautiful fat quarters from my last two signature lines from Island Batik. We'll also be drawing two additional names and those winners will also receive fabric packs and fun products to keep you stitching happy all year long!
