99 Squircles ~ A Quilt in Progress

It was time for some serious scrap busting and this quilt block has been on my mind for some time. The block is inspired by a vintage quilt ~ The Elizabeth Chapman Coverlet dating back to 1829 ~ which features a rectangular panel in the center of the quilt surrounded by a variation of the Drunkard's Path Block. 

The block is neither a circle nor a square, hence the reason I am calling it a Squircle block, and while the original blocks (in the Chapman Coverlet) were English Paper pieced, I have also come across reproductions of this block using applique. However, I was keen to machine piece my blocks, using templates to cut out my fabric pieces.

To draw up my paper templates I turned to EQ7 (quilt design software). I am no EQ7 expert and admittedly spent much more time thinking about how I would go about drafting the block in EQ7, then the 3 minutes it took to actually draw up and print out the templates!

Once the templates were ready the fabric cutting could begin. I pieced a few test blocks to see if I could manage the short but rather tight curve by machine. Not all went well at first as every third block or so would have a small tuck in the curved seam. I tried clipping the seam after piecing and some persuasive pressing with a warm steam iron without success, and then I had a light bulb moment. What if I clipped the (concave) curved edge of the fabric before piecing? That worked! The clipped edge allowed me to easily manipulate the fabric and work it around the curve as I slowly stitched. No tucks, no pleats.

I made 100 Squircle Blocks, that's 400 Drunkard's Path variation blocks each measuring 3 1/2 inches x 3 1/2 inches. They are small units! At the last minute I decided to sew the the quilt together as a rectangle - 11 rows of 9 blocks - rather than a square quilt - 10 blocks x 10 blocks. The quilt top measures 54 inches x 66 inches.

QUILT STATS

99 Squircles Quilt

Quilt top measures 54 inches x 66 inches.
Each finished 4-patch Squircle Block measures 6 inches x 6 inches.

396 Drunkard's Path Variation Blocks.

Each finished Drunkard's Path Block measures 3 inches x 3 inches.

792 patchwork pieces.

250+ different quilting fabrics.

Squircle Block Templates available here.

I have used lots of different designer quilting cottons, many which I am sure you will recognise. And of course, if you've stopped by here before, you may already know that I am not a pinner, and not a single pin was used to piece this quilt top. (See here for a tutorial on how I piece curved seams without pins). I am also surprised I still have all my fingers. Using a tiny rotary cutter to trace around paper templates, especially templates with tight curves, is precarious and probably less than ideal. But I made it through unscathed! Happy, scrappy, days.

No surprises for my choice of backing fabric and binding fabric. Now ready for basting and quilting.

Thank you for stopping by,
Rita

RELEVANT LINKS:
Squircle Block Templates available from my Etsy Store.
99 Squircles Quilt - A Finished Quilt
Tutorial: Piecing curves without Pins

More RPQ Drunkard's Path Quilts:

• Drunkard's Patch Quilt - June 2014
• A Piece of the Pie Quilt - July 2014
• Umbrella Prints Flowers Collection Quilt - March 2016
• Confetti Drunkard's Patch Quilt - April 2016

Follow RPQ on:

Follow

COPYRIGHT: Do not copy or use any content - this specifically includes all photos - from my blog without my written permission. This is original content from www.redpepperquilts.com.

Confetti Drunkard's Path Scrap Quilt ~ Part 2

A finished quilt and a picture post. Enjoy!

Click on any image for a larger view.

A picture post of my finished Confetti Drunkard's Path Quilt. I have lots of photos to share with you today, I hope you don't mind? What I like most about this quilt (other than that it was a great opportunity to work on my curved piecing as well is an awesome scrap buster project) is the use of solid fabric contrasted with printed fabric to enhance the design of the Drunkard's Path block - a traditional patchwork block that on it's own already is such a graphic block.

I was also reminded that I love working with solid fabrics! I have a considerable stash of Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton on hand, much of it in fat quarters, but also yardage, in a array of colors too many to mention. This project was a timely reminder to bring out the solid fabrics more often, especially if I can find more ways to combine solid fabrics with my love for all printed fabrics and simple patchwork piecing!

For the back of the quilt I have again used Newspaper in White from the Story Collection by Carrie Bloomston; still a favorite backing fabric. And I have used a classic black/white stripe fabric by Timeless Treasures for binding - another fabric that I use often for binding, for it is indeed timeless and provides just the right amount of contrast for this colorful quilt. You can't go wrong with a striped fabric for binding!

QUICK QUILT STATS

The finished quilt measures 50 inches x 50 inches.
400 Drunkard's Path blocks - 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".
The diameter of each finished circle is 4 inches.

Quilted by ditch-stitching all straight seams thereby creating an
all over grid of 2.5 inch squares.

Low loft cotton batting ~ Warm & White batting
from The Warm Company

This quilt is for sale and is listed in my Etsy Store.

All the listing details here:

Modern Confetti Drunkard's Path Quilt

Thank you for stopping by!
Rita

RELEVANT LINKS:
Red Pepper Quilts Etsy Store
Confetti Drunkard's Path Quilt ~ Part 1 (Work in Progress)
Tutorial - Sewing Curves without Pins
RPQ Finished Quilts 2016

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

COPYRIGHT: Do not copy or use any content or photos from my blog without my written permission.

Confetti Drunkard's Path Scrap Quilt ~ Part 1

Work in Progress.

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.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the process of piecing this quilt top and I LOVE how it has turned out. It's bright and colorful, and although you would not know it by looking at my scrap bins, I have rescued at least 200+ small pieces of scrap fabric!

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

COPYRIGHT: Do not copy or use any content or photos from my blog without my written permission.

Pickle Dish Variation Quilt Part 1

Work in Progress

Pickle Dish Variation Quilt

72 inches x 72 inches

A new week and a new quilt project. This quilt is my take on a traditional Pickle Dish Quilt. There are many variations of Pickle Dish Quilts, some of which require advanced sewing techniques, however my design is a simplified version with none of the traditional Pickle Dish block components whilst still having some semblance of this popular design.

This quilt is made up of just two patchwork blocks - a Drunkard's Path Block and a Quarter Star Block made with two Triangle in a Square units. For both blocks I have worked with light (and low volume) and dark fabrics, thereby creating contrast to allow the pattern to emerge. For example, for the Quarter Star blocks I have used a low volume fabric for the background, and for the Drunkard's Path blocks I have used two color fabrics, with the smaller circle part of this block being the darker of the two fabrics.

Quarter Star Blocks with two Triangle in a Square Units

And the great thing is all fabrics are either from my scrap bin or from stash. Admittedly it took quite some time to pull from stash the fabrics required for this scrappy quilt, as well as the cutting of the fabrics. I tried not to over-think the light/dark aspect of each block, making snap decisions about fabric and color contrast based on a "first glance". 

I absolutely love how this quilt top has turned out! I have really enjoyed working on the blocks and playing with the layout of the blocks. The quilt top turned out to be quite big - 72 inches by 72 inches - certainly bigger than what I usually aim for, but the layout required an even number of rows for a better overall effect and I went with the flow. Big quilt tops are no trouble to make, but it is the basting and the quilting of these bigger quilts that usually makes me re-think the quilt size! 

Tuturial now available:  Pickle Dish Variation Tutorial

Thank you for stopping by,
Rita

RELEVANT LINKS:
More RPQ Scrap Quilts
Pickle Dish Variation Quilt - Tutorial. 


Follow
COPYRIGHT: Do not copy or use any content or photos from my blog without my written permission.