“Scrappy Stars” Baby Quilt

Many times my blog’s block of the month inspires me for a secondary project, and the “Scrappy Stars” for February was no exception. The instructions for the block called for four colorful 2 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ rectangles and four background 2 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ rectangles, but I wondered “what if” I strip-pieced the units from 2 1/2″ x WOF (width of fabric) strips. And “what if” I used two different background fabrics and alternated the blocks for a baby quilt.

I am so pleased with my “what if” experiment!

If you would like to make a similar quilt that measures 36″ x 36,” you will need the following fabrics:

• Eight colorful 2 1/2″ x WOF strips, cut from stash or part of a Jelly Roll
• Four light background 2 1/2″ x WOF strips for star backgrounds
• Two light background 2 1/2″ x WOF strips cut into 2 1/2″ squares to make stitch-and-flip star points
• Four dark background 2 1/2″ x WOF strips for star backgrounds
• Two dark background 2 1/2″ x WOF strips cut into 2 1/2″ squares to make stitch-and-flip star points
• Four 2 1/2″ x WOF strips for the border
• Four colorful 2 1/2″ x WOF strips for the binding; cut each in half width-wise and join with diagonal seams

Strip-piece the colorful strips with background strips, length-wise. Cut into 4 1/2″ increments. Following the instructions for the Primary Design for BOM #1 (a link is on the “Options BOM QAL” page of this blog), sew the units together. Spin the final joining seam. Use the 2 1/2″ squares to make the star points as per the instructions. Sew the block together in rows, alternating the background colors. Add border strips and press seams toward the borders.

Using white thread, I quilted simple loops from edge to edge. For the binding, I selected four strips from the Jelly Roll and cut them in half width-wise to add more interest. I joined the eight half-strips with diagonal seams and applied them as usual.

If you try my “Scrappy Stars” quilt idea or design your own “what if” project, I would love to share a picture with blog readers: aby.quilts@gmail.com.

“Movers and Shakers” Baby Quilt

One of the easiest baby quilts EV-ER! And it’s fat quarter friendly, too!

Here’s a basic tutorial:  Choose a multi-colored theme print. I only had 25″ of the construction equipment fabric, but I recommend purchasing 1 yard. Cut 2 strips 8 1/2″ by width of fabric. Sub-cut into eight 8 1/2″ squares.

Choose 4 tone-on-tone fat quarters that coordinate with the theme print; I chose red tone-on-tone, yellow swirl, blue tone-on-tone, and green polka dot. From each color cut three 2 1/2″ x 21″ strips. Sub-cut into four 2 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ rectangles and four 2 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ rectangles.

Cut eight 4 1/2″ squares from a black and white print.

Sew the colored tone-on-tones to the black and white print 4 1/2″ squares. Press seam allowances toward the colored fabric. Make eight framed squares, two of each color. These blocks should measure 8 1/2″ square.

On worktable, lay out the blocks, alternating the framed squares with the 8 1/2″ theme print squares. Sew together in rows, pressing seam allowances toward the theme print squares. Pin and sew the rows together.

For an inner border, cut four 2″ x 40″ strips of black and white polka dot fabric. Measure, pin and sew to quilt, pressing seams toward border.

My theme print was directional and I only had 25″ initially to work with. As you can see from the photo below, I had enough print for 3 3/4″ wide top and bottom borders, but I had to piece the side borders with leftover tone-on-tone strips.

From a design standpoint, the pieced side borders with plain top an bottom borders looked like an accident. To make the composition more cohesive, I cut the top and bottom borders and inserted strips of tone-on-tone fabrics.

“Movers and Shakers,” at 42″ square, is perfect for tummy time!

“Summer Safari” Published

Have you picked up the June/July issue of McCall’s Quick Quilts? If you have, turn to page 18 for my “Summer Safari” baby quilt design.

If you need a fast and fun project, this is it!

Click here to link to the McCall’s blog to read about the origin of this design; I am the guest blogger today! Click here to find free instructions for making the block, called “Rail Fence” by McCall’s editors.

“Rail Fence” or “Simple Pinwheel” looks great in many colorways. Click here to see Krystin’s quilt in pink and purple. Click here to see Stacy’s patriotic quilt. Click here to see Marjorie’s scrappy version. Click here to see Rachel’s “Peachy” quilt on her blog stitchedincolor.com.

And now for the give-aways:  McCall’s graciously sent me several complimentary magazines. If you would like one, leave a comment below stating what colors you would use when making this quilt. The drawing will be May 6, 2016.