Scrap Quilt with Valerie Nesbitt (workshop notes) (free)

Quilt will be set 5 squares across x 7 rows down.

Sewing:   ¼” seam allowance is assumed but not essential

Select 35 squares that you like

Cut the rest in half horizontally to give rectangles  5” x 2 ½” – you need 70 in total so as you haven’t enough from the squares you will need to cut from the strips. (You could just skip this step and cut all 70 rectangles from the strips)

Cut the rectangles from as many of the strips as possible to give variety (and save rest of strips for the longer rectangles you will need later)

Audition  these 5” rectangles above and below the squares in a pleasing manner –

could be identical fabrics;

could be similar;

could be completely different

TIP: the sample has different fabrics BUT same colourway

Sew these onto the squares:

Press and measure

You should be around 9”: make a note of this measurement

TIP: If your measurement is larger then your seam allowance is a little small and if the measurement is smaller then your seam allowance is a little large BUT IT DOESN’T MATTER – just be consistant.

From the strips you need to cut 70 rectangles at this measurement – again use as many of the fabrics as possible- so suggest you could cut 2 rectangles from each of your selected strips.

Again audition against the squares and sew into place to give a square.

Arrange the completed squares in a pleasing sequence 5 across x 7 down – if you turn the alternate squares you will avoid having seams in the middle of the block to match and avoid having a strong horizontal line in your quilt.

Add a border (if you want) – anything up to 6” will work.

Layer quilt and bind –all the leftover strips plus a bit of calico were used up in the binding.

How to make the smaller red/white/blue quilt that uses 20 squares  click here for pdf workshop notes.