How to Make a Fruity Colored Quilt
It’s the season for spring cleaning and this goes for our stashes as well as our homes. A good rummage can reveal hidden gems we’d forgotten about and even fabrics we can’t remember buying... not just me, surely? Dig deep and use your brightest scraps to make my Fruity Colored Quilt. It’s easy to piece and would make a fabulous throw or a fun play mat for a baby.
LARGE-SCALE BLOCK
Finished size: 10in square
1) For one block you will need the following:
Fabric A: one 2½in square
Fabric B: two 1½ x 2½in rectangles and two 1½ x 4½in rectangles
Fabric C: two 2½ x 4½in rectangles and two 2½ x 8½in rectangles
Fabric D: two 1½ x 8½in rectangles and two 1½ x 10½in rectangles
2) Take the 2½in fabric A square and to two opposite sides join a 1½ x 2½in fabric B rectangle; to the two remaining sides join a 1½ x 4½in fabric B rectangle. Press the seams outwards each time. Join the fabric C and fabric D rectangles in the same way. The block should measure 10½in square (unfinished). See Fig 1.
1) For one block you will need the following:
Fabric A: one 2½in square
Fabric B: two 1½ x 2½in rectangles and two 1½ x 4½in rectangles
Fabric C: two 2½ x 4½in rectangles and two 2½ x 8½in rectangles
Fabric D: two 1½ x 8½in rectangles and two 1½ x 10½in rectangles
2) Take the 2½in fabric A square and to two opposite sides join a 1½ x 2½in fabric B rectangle; to the two remaining sides join a 1½ x 4½in fabric B rectangle. Press the seams outwards each time. Join the fabric C and fabric D rectangles in the same way. The block should measure 10½in square (unfinished). See Fig 1.
SMALL-SCALE BLOCK
Finished size: 5in square.
You need a total of ten different fabrics for this block.
You need a total of ten different fabrics for this block.
Units One and Four
1) For one unit you will need the following:
Fabric A: one 1½in square
Fabric B: two 1½ squares and two 1½ x 3½in rectangles
Fabric C: two 1½ x 3½in rectangles and two 1½ x 5½in rectangles
Note: Use different fabrics A–C in each unit.
Fabric A: one 1½in square
Fabric B: two 1½ squares and two 1½ x 3½in rectangles
Fabric C: two 1½ x 3½in rectangles and two 1½ x 5½in rectangles
Note: Use different fabrics A–C in each unit.
Unit Two
1) For one unit you will need the following:
Fabric A: one 3½in square
Fabric B: two 1½ x 3½in rectangles and two 1½ x 5½in rectangles
Fabric A: one 3½in square
Fabric B: two 1½ x 3½in rectangles and two 1½ x 5½in rectangles
Unit Three
1) For one unit you will need the following:
Fabric A: one 1½in square
Fabric B: two 2½ x 1½in rectangles and two 2½ x 5½in rectangles
Fabric A: one 1½in square
Fabric B: two 2½ x 1½in rectangles and two 2½ x 5½in rectangles
Piecing
1) Piece units one–four in the same way that you made the large-scale block. Each unit should measure 5½in square (unfinished).
2) Join units one–four in a two-by-two layout to complete the small-scale block: unit one is at the top left, unit two at the top right, unit three at the bottom left and unit four at the bottom right. The block should measure 10½in square (unfinished). See Fig 2.
2) Join units one–four in a two-by-two layout to complete the small-scale block: unit one is at the top left, unit two at the top right, unit three at the bottom left and unit four at the bottom right. The block should measure 10½in square (unfinished). See Fig 2.
SUGGESTED LAYOUT
1) My virtual quilt measures 42in square (finished and excluding binding). It comprises eight large-scale blocks and eight small-scale blocks arranged in an alternating four-by-four arrangement. I added a 1in wide (finished) border to create a ‘frame’ to ‘contain’ the scraps and then added a bright binding.
SPECIAL TIP:
When selecting which fabrics to combine in a quilt top, applying simple color ‘rules’ can really help. My favorite combinations are complementary colors (red with green, blue with orange, purple with yellow) and analogous colors (colors next to each other on the color wheel).
When making your next quilt, you might find it helpful to use a color wheel, which are available from most quilting and artist supplies stores.
Happy scrap quilting!
When making your next quilt, you might find it helpful to use a color wheel, which are available from most quilting and artist supplies stores.
Happy scrap quilting!