The Crafty Author

Crafting & Quilting Made Fun and Easy!

The Crafty Author

SCRAPTASTIC SCRAP QUILT 8

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SCRAPTASTIC SCRAP QUILT 8

SCRAPTASTIC SCRAP QUILT 8

PUTTING THE BLOCKS TOGETHER AND ADDING A DESIGN TO THE CENTER

This week we begin sewing the blocks together to complete a row.

We also bordered our rows with our strips on both the top, bottom and sides of our row. Once you have completed sewing the borders around the block, you can then join the rows together. You will have your top row done and your bottom row done. The center is all that will be left to focus on.

For the center, I used a 1 yard piece of fabric. I used the length of 36 inches and cut the width at 12”, which is the measurement of the center of my quilt backing.

Cutting Instructions:

For the middle strip-

Cut one piece of fabric 12” W x 44” L or if your fabric is less than 44” Long, you can do what I did.

Cut one piece of fabric 12” W x 36” L

Pinwheels:

Cut – 3 – 4” pieces of contrasting fabric

Cut – 3 – 4” pieces from your scraps

Put one scrap square and one contrasting colored square, right sides facing each other. Sew all around the square using a 1/4” seam allowance.

Once finished, cut the square diagonally in both directions, making an X. Press the seams open, cut of the dog ears and then lay out your pinwheel pattern.

Sew the pieces together and square up your pinwheel to 4”. For detailed instructions on how to make the pinwheel from start to finish, watch the full tutorial listed below in this blog post.

VIEW FULL TUTORIAL HERE:

SCRAPTASTIC SCRAP QUILT 7

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SCRAPTASTIC SCRAP QUILT 7

CREATING AN ALTERNATIVE BACKING

SCRAPTASTIC SCRAP QUILT 7

 

SCRAPTASTIC SCRAP QUILT 7: CREATING AN ALTERNATIVE BACKING

In this tutorial of the Scraptastic Scrap Quilt 7 we learn how to piece an alternative backing for our quilt. You can use left over fabrics from each of your quilts to make a backing or just add different designs and pieces. You can also incorporate pieces from other quilts that you have made. The choice is truly yours. For this particular backing, I took my 2″ x 9″ left over white strips that I had used on the front of my quilt and used them to frame the blocks for my backing design. I also used a jelly roll that I had purchased at Joanns about 5 years ago that I had forgotten about and decided to use when I was searching through my stash. I realize that not everyone will have access to a jelly roll and that is okay. You don’t have to use a jelly roll. You can use squares that you have leftover from the project we just finished. You can create a 9 patch and border it with whatever fabrics you desire. The amount of scrappy depends on you. You are the artist designing your own masterpiece. I will be incorporating more scraps as we continue working on the backing fabric, but for this particular project, I went with strips from the jelly roll. This quilt is going to be reversible and each side will be a different work of art. Embrace the process and don’t get hung up on perfection. The perfect quilt is the one you finish!

BLOCK INFORMATION FOR SCRAPTASTIC SCRAP QUILT 7:

You will need to make 20- 8″ x 8″ blocks for this portion of the backing if you are following along with me.

CUTTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR SCRAPTASTIC SCRAP QUILT 7:

You will need to have Jelly Roll or Strips that you cut- 2.5″ x 42″- I folded mine in half which made it easier for me to work with, but you do not have to do it that way.

You can sew the full 42″ and the result will still be the same for the strips.

You will need to sew all 3 strips together. If you are using a square strips or sewing smaller squares to make your block, just make sure that you square it up to 6.5″ x 6.5″ once you have sewn all pieces together.

You will then take your 2″ x 9″ leftover strips or cut new strips (your choice) and sew them on to your 6.5″ block as a border.

Once you have sewn all 4 border pieces on, make sure that you use your seam line on your border and cut 1″.

Remove the excess fabric and you should have a perfect 8″ x 8″ Block.

 

FULL VIDEO TUTORIAL HERE: 👇🧵

SCRAPTASTIC SCRAP QUILT 6

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SCRAPTASTIC SCRAP QUILT 6

ADDING BORDERS

SCRAPTASTIC SCRAP QUILT 6

 

SCRAPTASTIC SCRAP QUILT 6- In this tutorial we put the last of our borders on our scraptastic scrap quilt. The quilt needed to be a bit larger so I added an extra border of black and then a thinner a border of white. The same color that we used to border our blocks. I used Moda Grunge in white. For the larger border on this quilt top, I used a 5.5″ black strip to go around the entire quilt. This added the much needed width and length to the quilt that was needed. To balance the quilt, I added another 2″ border strip around the quilt.

CUTTING INSTRUCTIONS:

For this weeks strips, you will need to cut: 8- 5.5″ Strips (Sew them together and in this tutorial I show you how to sew a diagonal seam to attach the strips to each other.)

 

FULL VIDEO TUTORIAL HERE: 👇

 

SCRAPTASTIC SCRAP QUILT 5

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SCRAPTASTIC SCRAP QUILT 5

Scraptastic Scrap Quilt 5

Scraptastic Scrap Quilt 5 In this tutorial we put the blocks together and then sew the rows together. You should start seeing a patten forming with your own blocks. This is an illusion quilt using scraps and it looks really cool!

 

VIEW THE FULL TUTORIAL HERE:

SCRAPTASTIC SCRAP QUILT 4

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SCRAPTASTIC SCRAP QUILT 4

SCRAPTASTIC SCRAP QUILT 4

This week, in the Scraptastic Scrap Quilt Series, we are squaring up each of our 48 blocks. We are cutting our blocks to 7” squared. Which means that you will need to trim each side to 3.5”. Please note that you will have left over fabric that we will be using later to complete this project. Please keep all of your scraps as I will showing you how to recycle and use them in this quilt as well.

VIEW THE FULL TUTORIAL HERE AND LEARN HOW TO SQUARE YOUR BLOCKS TO 7”.

http://SCRAPTASTIC SCRAP QUILT 4 https://youtu.be/sbCE9pMSd84

SCRAPTASTIC SCRAP QUILT 3

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SCRAPTASTIC SCRAP QUILT 3

SCRAPTASTIC SCRAP QUILT 3

This week, in Scraptastic Scrap Quilt Series, we are cutting our border strips and sewing them on each of our 48 blocks.  I have included the size for each strip and square as well as the amount of fabric that you will need for each strip and square.  Please note that you will have left over fabric that we will be using later to complete this project.  Please keep all of your scraps as I will showing you how to recycle and use them in this quilt as well.

 

Cutting Instructions and Yardage:

Scraptastic scrap quilt by the crafty author

 

FULL VIDEO TUTORIAL:

What is Scrap Quilting?

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What is Scrap Quilting

If you’re new to quilting or even if you’ve been quilting for a while, you might ask yourself at some point, “What is Scrap Quilting?”

The answer is, scrap quilting has been around from the beginning of time. Quilter’s and sewers of the past used whatever fabric they could get their hands on in order to make a nice warm quilt or blanket. Quilts weren’t used like they are today. They weren’t mostly hung on a wall or displayed and never physically used.

No. They were actually items that were made from used clothing, flour sacks and other fabric they could get their hands on. I remember as a young child my mother making quilts for her parents and siblings. I was always enamored at her ability to put something so beautiful together in such a short time and they were always exceptionally warm.

Her idea of quilting was cutting simple squares or purchasing a sheet that had print on it, an old blanket for the batting and then another sheet for backing. She always yarn tie her quilts and I loved helping her make them. You see, the quilting process is different for everyone.

I’m sure I’ll catch some flack for saying that, however, it’s the truth. Quilting can be working with simple squares or intricate cut designs. It can be working with new coordinating fabric or it can be old clothing that you’ve cut and saved for many years. Quilting is what you yourself, the artist do with the fabric.

Scrap quilting is the ability to take all of the scraps that you have been collecting, cutting and saving, either from clothing or from projects in the past. You can have large pieces, small pieces or even the tiniest of pieces to work with. Some people actually prefer to work tiny little pieces of fabric and I must say, those quilts turn out amazing! I wish I had the patience to do what they call, “crumb quilting.”

I have made scrap quilts in the past. I have to admit my favorite scrap quilt that I have ever made was the one that had absolutely no planning involved. I just sat sewed, cut and kept adding while I was at the machine. The quilt turned out so beautiful and it was actually my late Labrador Retriever, Sophie’s, favorite quilt. It was also really fun to make. I would also like to add that this quilt top is 100% made from scraps. Even the borders are scrap fabric that I had left over from other projects. I did purchase the backing because when I saw the suns with smiley faces fabric in the fabric store, I knew it would be perfect for this quilt.

Which brings me to my next point. Scraps don’t just have to be used on the front of your quilt. You can also get creative and add some to the back of your quilt. I have started doing this on most of my quilts just within the last 2 years. Some designs are really gorgeous and others, well…not so much! But it is the back and it’s hardly ever seen and I use my quilts for cold nights, laying around watching TV.

Here are a few examples of quilts that I have added scraps to the backing.

The front of my Jacobs Ladder Quilt – I used Tula Pink’s fabric line Monkey Wrench for this Wall Hanging
The back of my Jacobs Ladder Quilt – I used Tula Pink’s fabric line Monkey Wrench for this Wall Hanging – As you can see, I used left over squares to create the backing for this wall hanging.
This is a quilt that I yarn tied. I have a tutorial on how to do this. This is exactly how my mother used to make quilts. 😊
This is the back of the quilt. As you can see, I just took scraps and threw them together to ensure I had enough fabric to back this quilt. It may not be the prettiest design I’ve ever done, this quilt is functional, warm and I’m actually using it as I type this post. 😊

So in a nutshell, scrap quilting can be many things. It is what you are willing to do with your left over fabric or clothing items. I recommend using 100% cotton as it is easiest to sew with and if you are going to add knits, use a stabilizer. It will save you a lot of grief. Trust me, I know this from experience and I can’t stress it enough. Also, you want to keep in mind when piecing your designs, you want to use a smaller stitch length on your sewing machine. I personally use 2 mm but you could use 2.5 or less. Just be mindful that if you need to seam rip, you don’t want the stitches so tight that it makes it tough to remove them. The reason we use a tighter stitch length for piecing is so our blocks don’t fall apart when start cutting to make different designs with them. In case you are wondering what stitch length I like for quilting, I use 3 mm. You will need to play with your machines settings and get a feel for works best for you. There is no right or wrong way, there is only the way that will work for you. Be confident in your work. Even if you’re a beginner, you’ve got this and there are plenty of tutorials out there to guide you along the way. Ask questions and most of all, have fun!

I have started a new scrap quilting series on my YouTube Channel called The Crafty Author. I’d love to have you join me! My new series is called Scraptastic Scrap Quilt Series.

It’s free and I walk through how to make the entire quilt top. If you are wondering what a quilt top is, that is the front part of the quilt. It does not include the batting (center) or the backing or binding. It’s just the front with the design.

You can find that tutorial here: 👇🏻

Scraptastic Scrap Quilt Series

I’ll see you there! Happy Quilting! 🧵

Anisa

SCRAPTASTIC SCRAP QUILT 2

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SCRAPTASTIC SCRAP QUILT 2

Scraptastic Scrap Quilt 2

 

INSTRUCTION:

This is the second part of the Scraptastic Scrap Quilt.

In this video tutorial I teach you how to make a 4 patch out of scraps using 3″ squares and sewing them together.  We walk through how to nest the seams together so that everything lines up perfectly in the middle.  We then trim (square up) our 4 patch blocks to 5″ X 5″.

You will need to trim each 4 patch block to a 5″ square.  You do this by cutting each side 2.5″. You will place your ruler on the fabric and line up with your center seam, from that line you will want to measure 2.5″ and cut the excess off.  You will need to do this to all 4 sides.  I STRONGLY recommend watching the video below for instruction on how to do this.  It will make the process much easier, especially if you have never squared up a quilt block before.

You will need 48 completed and squared up 5″ X 5″ blocks.

WATCH FULL TUTORIAL HERE: