As promised, this week's quilt is a scrap buster quilt. I don't manage my fabric scraps well. My scraps are all odd sized pieces, a mix of prints and solid fabrics, in every color of the rainbow and more, all squished into two over-sized plastic tubs. It's not a pretty sight ... until you tip them over and see the treasures that are in there.
Almost all of the printed fabrics used in this quilt top have been rescued from my scrap bin. Admittedly, some are new fabrics that recently arrived and were still sitting on my cutting table, and I just couldn't help cutting into them! More scraps were made. The solid fabrics - all of which are Robert Kaufman Kona Cottons - were taken from stash. I think that is a well balanced quilt top ~ some rescued, some just in, and some fabrics from stash.
The quilt design is a traditional Drunkard's Path block sewn together in four-patch units to form a complete circle. I set out to make 100 full circles. That's 400 Drunkard's Path units. The circles are small, measuring 4 inches in diameter, and I used a specialty ruler by Bloc-Loc (a 3" Finished Drunkard's Path ruler) to piece each of the Drunkard's Path units. Bloc-Loc templates and rulers are based on over-sizing and trimming blocks (squaring up) for accuracy, and that is exactly how I like to sew.
The Bloc-Loc trimming template has a groove that hugs the curved 1/4" seam which makes trimming quick, easy, and accurate - with the standard being that the curved seam is pressed away from the inner quarter circle. However as I wanted all of the seams to nest I pressed the seam allowance for half of the Drunkard's Path units towards the quarter circle. I was still able to use the Bloc-Loc trimming template to square up the units simply by lining up the line on the template with the seam. Initially I clipped the curved seam allowances prior to pressing but soon realized that the curve was just as smooth and neat without clipping. Furthermore, no pins were used to make this quilt top!
QUICK QUILT STATS
400 Drunkard's Path Units.
800 patchwork pieces.
100 four-patch Circle Blocks.
Each Drunkard's Path unit measured 3.5" x 3.5".
These units were then sewn into four-patch units to form a circle.
Each four-patch Circle Block then measured 6.5" x 6.5".
To create the balance of printed fabric vs solid background fabric I trimmed
the four-patch Circle Block to measure 5.5" x 5.5".
All solid fabrics are Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton.
Quilt top measures 50.5 inches x 50.5 inches.
Ready for basting and quilting.
More soon.
Rita
RELEVANT LINKS:
Tutorial - Sewing Curves without Pins
Confetti Drunkard's Path Quilt ~ Part 2 (The Finished Quilt)
Bloc-Loc (USA) and Bloc-Loc (AUST)
More RPQ Quilts made using Bloc-Loc Rulers and Templates
More Scrap Buster Quilts
More RPQ Drunkard's Path Quilts
- A Piece of the Pie Quilt
- Drunkard's Path Quilt 2014
- Pickle Dish Variation Quilt with Drunkard's Path units
- Drunkard's Path Variation Scrap Quilt 2015
- The Gobstopper Quilt 2010
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Simply gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteSo excited to see this one! I bought the template when I saw your Pickle Dish piece, so I am ready to do this one! Just wonderful, in your style of prints and colors. Love it.
ReplyDeleteLove this! I did a 52" X 72" drunkards path with 3 1/2' blocks using the Go Baby for cutting. I would love to try the Bloc Loc tools for my next one.
ReplyDeleteLove Blo Loc templates!
DeleteHoly Moly batman! that is so lovely!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, as always, Rita. I love the patterned circles on the solid backgrounds. Just that small sense of order keeps all those fabrics playing so nicely together.
ReplyDeleteI just love this! The colors, the movement, everything! I have the regular Bloc loc rulers, but did not know they had drunkard's path ones.
ReplyDeleteThis is a winner (again). I'm going to try one of those rulers.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Love that you added the stats, wish all quilt tops had them. I absolutely admire the time, patience, care and attention. It is stunning.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely gorgeous as always! I love how you always take fabrics that I would never think to put together and make them look AMAZING together!
ReplyDeleteToo much fun! I love it!
ReplyDeleteColor genius!!! ❤️❤️❤️
ReplyDeleteWow!! So great!
ReplyDeleteWhat a bright and cheery quilt! I am always looking for projects to use up my scraps!
ReplyDeleteI like this very much. Yes, it is a happy colorful quilt. you sew each small block first and then sew the quarters together?
ReplyDeleteThis looks really cool. You have a lot of kona colors! The Hobby Lobby up the street has three long rows of Kona colors. I love being able to look at them and bring my other fabrics
Happy Wednesday Rita
You are such a Wiz at scrappy quilts. I love each and every one of them. Thank you for sharing them. This one is another treasure!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a beauty.
ReplyDeleteJust wow -- I am forever amazed by your eye for color and print selection. Jaw hitting floor.
ReplyDeleteSuch a pretty and interesting use of colour and pattern in the fabrics and you make the shape ruler sound easy to use too, it will definitely be on my to buy list at the next quilt show.Thank you Rita for such great photos.
ReplyDeleteLove how bright this quilt is! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDelete