Bright Hopes Quilt - Work in Progress and Tutorial

This week I have been working with the leftover strips of fabric from my Herringbone Quilt. It is unusual for me to have left over fabric pieces from a quilt; I am more likely to have cut too few than too many patchwork pieces for a quilt (especially this many). And I really didn't want to see stack of pretty fabric strips disappear into the overflowing scrap bin, so these were set aside for a quilt I have been looking forward to making for a while ....

The Bright Hopes Quilt Block is a traditional patchwork block and a perfect introduction to sewing a block/quilt with a partial-sewn seam. ONE part-sewn seam :: no tricky y-seams involved!

BRIGHT HOPES BLOCK TUTORIAL:

FABRIC REQUIREMENTS ~ block measures 5 inches x 5 inches (includes seam allowances.
For each Bright Hopes block you need one center square and four rectangles:

STEP 1 
Take a center square and align edge along the edge of the rectangle (right sides together). Using a 1/4" seam sew partial - seam as pictured (see yellow stitching in diagram below). Back stitch to secure the seam. Press seam allowance away from the center square.

STEP 2

Click on any image for a larger view.

Continue by adding more rectangles along the center square in an anti-clockwise direction:
1. YELLOW SEAM - partial seam.
2.  RED SEAM - full seam.
3.  PURPLE SEAM - full seam.
4.  BLACK SEAM - full seam.
5.  WHITE SEAM - partial seam (see step 3 below).

Press all seams away from the center square.

STEP 3
Line up the long edge of the first sewn rectangle (dark blue) along the block and complete the seam (seam pictured below in white). Press seam away from the center square.

Finished Bright Hopes Quilt block measures 4 ½" x 4 ½" (does NOT include seam allowances).

Cutting instructions for alternative FINISHED block sizes:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
3" FINISHED BLOCK: cut 1 ½ inch square - cut 1 ½" x 2 ½" rectangles.
6" FINISHED BLOCK: cut 2 ½ inch square - cut 2 ½" x 4 ½" rectangles.
7 ½" FINISHED BLOCK: cut 3 inch square - cut 3" x 5 ½" rectangles.
9" FINISHED BLOCK: cut 3 ½ inch square - cut 3 ½" x 6 ½" rectangles.
12" FINISHED BLOCK: cut 4 ½ inch square - cut 4 ½" x 8 ½" rectangles.

For this quilt I have used may of my "low volume" fabrics; printed fabrics on a light/white background. Where do I purchase these fabrics? I have been collecting low volume fabrics for several years and many fabric collection now have one or two low volume prints - a design printed on a white/light background (not necessarily tone on tone). Brenda at Pink Castle Fabrics regularly collates FQ bundles of Low Volume Fabrics (and Text Fabric Bundles), and check out the Low Volume fabric category at Stash Fabrics for more!

QUILT DETAILS: 

Bright Hopes Low Volume Quilt 
Quilt top measures 52.5 inches x 63 inches.
154 Bright Hopes Blocks.
14 horizontal rows of 11 Bright Hopes blocks.
Each FINISHED block measures 4 ½ inches x 4 ½ inches.
180+ different fabrics were used to make this quilt top.
Fabrics Include:
Quilting Cotton, Liberty of London, and lots of novelty fabrics.

For many of the Bright Hopes blocks I have used a colorful center square, which were an addition to my leftover fabric strips. I have been cutting and collecting 2" squares for most of the year, so these came in handy for this quilt. There's a lot to see! This quilt is scattered with I-Spy elements from flowers to fruits, fish, birds, cats, faces, mermaids, ballerinas, fish, text, and more.

Thank you for stopping by and for scrolling through the many photos! If you have any question regarding the tutorial please feel free to email me or ask a question in the comments and I will reply/clarify there.

Rita

RELEVANT LINKS:
Bright Hopes Quilt - The Finished Quilt
Low Volume Herringbone Quilt 
More Red Pepper Quilts Tutorials
More RPQ Low Volume Quilts

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