A Dent in the Red Scraps?

I think I made a dent in the red scraps this month as I worked on Rainbow Scrap Challenge projects. On the other hand, I definitely made some new red scraps, as I cut into yardage I purchased for a red and white quilt.  

I finished the red and white Schoolhouse blocks I started last weekend.  I decided on mini Ohio Stars (3 inches finished) as cornerstones, and got those finished up today.  Now to cut the sashing and piece everything together.  

For what it's worth:  I couldn't have made those mini Ohio Stars without a couple of handy resources.  The All-In-One Quilter's Reference Guide has a wealth of information including cutting guides, piecing techniques, and other technical know-how for quilt making.  And thanks to Generations Quilt Patterns, I learned a speedy new technique for making Ohio Star blocks.

I wasn't sure I was going to participate in this year's Rainbow Scrap Sampler project, but I guess I am!  I've done each week's Tiny Tuesday blocks and added two extras that were experiments.  Before I started in on the 3-D Bow Tie tutorial, I pieced a practice block to make sure I remembered how to do it.  And I wasn't sure if I wanted to make 3 inch Ohio Star blocks, so I tried a 4.5 inch size first.  The cutting instructions for the 4.5" size are in the Ohio Star tutorial linked above.  You're welcome!

I think I'm done with the red scraps for now.  I'm looking forward to next month's RSC color and Tiny Tuesday blocks.  In the meantime, you'll find some more red scrappy inspiration here!

Tiny Tuesday: 3-D Bow Tie Block

Welcome to my Tiny Tuesday Tutorial!  I'm publishing this a little early, as Monday is a holiday and may afford some stitchers the chance to complete their weekly block ahead of schedule.

When SoScrappy Angela described her idea for a tiny block sampler for this year's Rainbow Scrap Challenge, I was intrigued.  I figured small blocks in rainbow colors would be a fun challenge, even if the finished block size was an untypical 4.5 inches.  Better still, Angela was inviting RSC participants to submit their own block tutorials for the challenge.

One idea that immediately occurred to me was the 3-D or Origami Bow Tie block.  I learned how to make this block many moons ago at a quilt guild demonstration.  Since then, I've made several quilts using this traditional block with a structural twist.  Once you figure out the slightly unusual block construction, the blocks are fun and addicting to make!

Note:  I recommend reading through the instructions before sewing up your block.  If you need more help visualizing the process, there are several Youtube videos available online.  Sometimes seeing the process demonstrated is easier than looking at static pictures.

For one 3-D Bow Tie block (finished size 4.5 inches), you will need:

• 3 bow tie fabric squares, 2.75 inches
• 2 background fabric squares, 2.75 inches

Take one of the bow tie fabric squares and fold it in half, wrong sides together.  Finger press the fold.  This will eventually become the knot of the bow tie.

Place the folded square on top of one of the background squares, right sides together.  Align the raw edges at the top.  I've used a pin to hold things together and mark the raw edges.

Place another bow tie fabric square on top of the background and folded square combo - right sides together.  Pin together on the left side.  Keep the background/folded square combo raw edges at the top - see next picture.

I've temporarily flipped back the bow tie fabric square so you can see the placement of the background fabric and folded bow tie fabric pieces.

Stitch a 1/4 inch seam along the pinned edge.

After stitching the seam, finger press the seam away from the folded bowtie square, as shown above.  The raw edges of the folded square should be at the top.

Keep the block aligned as shown in previous picture.  Place remaining bow tie fabric square under the folded square, right sides together.  Place remaining background fabric square on top of the folded fabric square, right sides together.  Align the edges of the two squares with the top and right side of the folded fabric square.  My pin is marking the top right edge of the folded fabric square.

Stitch a 1/4 inch seam along the right edge, as shown above.

After stitching the second seam, your bow tie block should look like this.  The folded square makes a "bridge" between the two sections of bow tie and background fabric squares.  

Looking at the block from the top, you can see the folded square piece can open.  This piece will now be pinched and pulled into the knot on the bow tie. 

Align the four bow tie and background squares as if you were aligning two sections of a 4-patch block.  While aligning the squares, open the folded square/knot so the raw edges line up with the raw edges of the other squares.

Pin the raw edges together (right sides together), catching the edges of the bow tie square/knot, but being careful not to catch any other part of the knot.  I've flipped the block open in the picture so you can see how the folded square/knot should look.

Pin everything securely in place and stitch a 1/4 inch seam, catching the folded square/knot in the seam.

Completed seam.

Open the block and make sure you didn't catch the center of the knot in your seam.

Press and enjoy your completed Tiny Tuesday 3-D Bow Tie block!

On a Roll with Red Scraps

I feel like I'm on a roll with Rainbow Scrap Challenge projects.  Who knows how long the progress will last, but I'm enjoying it while it happens!

I was able to make two Sugar Bowl blocks using some scrappy chunks of red.

I needed some leader-ender blocks, so I added some 4-patches cut from scraps in the 2 inch bin.

While I was digging through the drawers and boxes looking for red scraps, I found a stack of red batik fabrics I bought several years ago to make a red and white schoolhouse quilt.  I made a schoolhouse quilt years ago - in my early days as a quilter - and I wanted to make another.  

I wanted to make the same style block as my earlier quilt, and I found a great pattern on the APQ website.  It's a free pattern by Carrie Nelson:  Home for the Harvest.  It's a great scrappy pattern, but I knew I was only going to use red and white fabrics for my quilt.

The practice block went together so easily, I went ahead and made a second block.  And cut out parts for four more blocks.  If they keep going together so easily, I should have six blocks finished by the end of the month.  That meets my plan for a wall hanging-size quilt.

There's more scrappy red inspiration at the weekly Rainbow Scrap Challenge link-up.  I hope you are making great progress with your red scraps, too!

Rainbow Scrappin' into 2019

It's been a great, scrappy Saturday!  I stitched together some blocks, made some plans for the coming year, and did some machine quilting on mini quilts that have languished too long.

Another year of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge is underway.  Angela, of SoScrappy, provides the rainbow inspiration and a venue to share our projects with others.  It's a great way to use up scraps, and get to know other scrappy-minded quilters.

My RSC goals for this year involve finishing some projects that were inspired in earlier RSC years.  High on my list of things to complete are the remaining blocks for my Burgoyne Surrounded quilt.  After today, I only need ten more blocks!

Today's Burgoyne Surrounded block, brought to you by the color red - the RSC color for January.

Today's red block and last month's red, Christmas-y block will round out my red BS blocks for now.

Burgoynes playing together.  There will also be nine-patch cornerstone blocks and sashing.  Eventually.

(Burgoyne pattern here)

These Sugar Bowl blocks from 2015 were my planning project today.  I've struggled with how I want to use the blocks in a quilt, but I think I've found my solution.  My plan requires 16 more Sugar Bowl blocks and some type of pieced or appliquéd center.  More to follow.

Lastly, as I've been digging around and organizing piles of stuff in my sewing room, I've come across all number of small, unfinished quilt tops.  These babies are from 2013, and were inspired by an RSC color of the month.  The scraps are from my yummy Chocolate Quilt.  These tops were already layered with backing and batting, so all I had to do was quilt them.  I finished the pink one earlier in the week and quilted the red one today.  Now I just have to stitch the binding down and I'll have two more UFOs I can scratch off the list!

For more scrappy inspiration, check out the link-up at Angela's blog.  Enjoy your stitching - especially this coming week - I think we're all going to need some fabric therapy!