Memorial Day was just a few weeks away. I started going thru my red, white and blue fabrics, thinking I would make something pretty to hang on my front door, or perhaps a new table runner. I have plenty of other projects either in process, or needing started. But red, white and blue was on my mind that day.
I found some leftover fabric from a previous project; blue and tan Raspberry Kiss blocks I made in 2017 for a charity project. I had purchased a layer cake of patriotic fabrics (10″ squares) for those blocks, and had same sized blue and tan scraps leftover, plus the 10″ squares of red, uncut. Hmmm… I was pretty sure I had enough to make a small lap quilt.
Creating my own pattern can sometimes get me in trouble, sometimes not really liking the result. But I got lucky this time! It was so easy, I decided to share with you. The best part – there are NO SEAMS to match when making the blocks. Likewise, when joining the blocks together to make the rows – NO SEAMS to match. The only seams to be careful with are the final seams when joining the rows.
Having had a 40 year (yes, 40!) as a computer programmer, you might think I would have embraced quilt design software by now. But no, I am still jotting ideas down on paper. I might someday, but for now, I am okay with this.
My existing blue and tan scraps were 3.5″ wide. So I went about designing a block using them. I had enough leftover blue fabric scraps to make 4 blocks. Each blue block would have the following cuts –
- 3 – 3.5″ x 3″ rectangles of different blue fabrics
- 2 – 9.5″ x 2.5″ rectangles of different blue fabrics
I had enough leftover tan fabric scraps to make 8 blocks. Each using the same cuts as the blue.
- 3 – 3.5″ x 3″ rectangles of different tan fabrics
- 2 – 9.5″ x 2.5″ rectangles of different tan fabrics
My red layer cake (10″) squares had not yet been cut. I made 4 blocks, each using the same cuts as the blue.
- 3 – 3.5″ x 3″ rectangles of different red fabrics
- 2 – 9.5″ x 2.5″ rectangles of different red fabrics
Each of these blocks, unfinished, is 9.5″ x 7″. Sixteen of these blocks was not enough to make a quilt, so I decided to use some of the remaining scraps and some tan fabric to make a similar (but slightly different) block. This block would also be 9.5″ x 7″. To balance out the tan blocks, this time, I used only blue and red fabric. Note a slightly different block pattern, cutting the fabric as follows –
- 1 – 3.5″ x 3″ rectangle using either blue or red
- 2 – 3.5″ x 2.5″ rectangles using tan fabric
- 2 – 7″ x 3.5″ rectangles using tan fabric
Note the blue, tan, red blocks are “horizontal” and the tan with blue/red blocks are “vertical”. This is what allowed me to join the blocks into rows without matching any seams! I ended up with 16 blue, tan, red blocks (I only used 15), and 15 tan with blue/red blocks.
Using my “highly technical” scribbled layout, I placed the blue, tan and red blocks where I thought they looked best. Then I went about joining the blocks, making the six rows. To make joining the rows easier, I pressed the seams of each row in the opposite direction. This makes lining up the seams, with pins fairly easy.
This little quilt came together so quickly, I decided to try something new (for me) for the quilt back. Rather than follow my normal practice of using one fabric for the back, I pieced together some other patriotic fabric scraps, using up different reds, whites and blues.
My quilt is approximately 40″ x 46″. Small, but I have been wanting a nice lightweight little quilt. It will be nice for sitting outside on cool summer evenings. I normally use a cotton or cotton/poly batting, but I chose a low loft poly batting to keep the weight light.
I did simple free motion quilting, meandering across the entire quilt. I think this helps to blend together all the scrappy fabrics into one happy quilt!
I made the binding equally “scrappy”, using various leftover fabrics. I have made a habit of saving all my leftover pieces of binding. To be honest, I’ve never used them, until this quilt! I found plenty of blue, red and tan leftover binding. I added a few more fabrics and cut each to about 18″ long. I really like how the binding complements the scrappiness of the quilt!
This quilt pattern could be used to make any size quilt, from crib to king, and any size blocks. Simply decide on your block size. And using the idea of making the alternating blocks, “horizontal” and “vertical”, you’ll have fewer seams to line up – great for a beginner, and a quick project for a not-so-beginner!
If you would like a copy of this pattern, it’s free – click here.
I would not thought of using the tan, but I love it! I like the scrappy binding too.
Thanks. My layer cake included the tan; I like it too!