This FREE pattern from me is named "Cider Row" because Fall means apple cider to me. I think these look a bit like jugs stacked high at the apple farm waiting to be taken home and enjoyed!
I've been on an insane and crazy ... controlled mission to take my scrap bags and cut them into usable sizes and store them like Joan Ford and I talked about on my radio show for her Scrap Therapy books. I have been telling my Internet group ALL about the crazy process!
CLICK the link below to see her book which has her theory in it.. VERY simple. which I need. I can't do any fancy process.
ScrapTherapy® Cut the Scraps!: 7 Steps to Quilting Your Way through Your Stash
I'm using up my scraps for charity quilts ... I hope you will do the same!
So let's get to the directions!
I added 2.5" squares to Joan's method because I find a lot of my fabric can be cut to this size. Not to mention the leftover strips and jelly rolls I end up.
This is my working basket of 2.5" squares ... isn't it BEAUTIFUL?
And I started making 5 x 5 blocks. not an 9 patch, not a 16 patch.. but a 25 patch.
love right? Big right?
I have some odd ball units.. leftover 2.5" HST scrappy pieced units.. which is another reason the 2.5" square is perfect for me to save
I've sewed bits together.. do you do this? it's GREAT mindless sewing to just make up fabric units
But I digress.
I have a pattern for you!
- Step 1 is to make 12 (or more) 25 patch blocks with 2.5" squares
This quilt expands easily!
Slice the square TWICE on the diagonal
Put all the new triangles in a pile.. mixed up is best
Now sew 2 back together. You may want to starch them so the bias isn't worrisome. I didn't starch them but.. that's just me..
It's time to figure out YOUR block size.
The finished block should be between 6 3/4" and 7" square.. depending on your cutting and sewing. Find your smallest block and square them all up to THAT size.
Make up at least 24 blocks for the quilt shown ..
These are the sections that go between the squares
Cut enough 4 1/2" wide strips to go between the rows. I think 5 should be enough for this many blocks.
Cut 3 strips 2 1/2" wide for the 2 outer sides.
I originally had 3 rows, but it was a bit too skinny for me.
I was actually done, ready to roll with this and had to stop and made more squares.
I like four rows much better!
Here is a close up
It was super windy the day I was taking the outside photos!
I love seeing a quilt in the wind.. do you?
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Karen Made this one with the solid lime green setting... awesome right? I have another started so I can use a color sashing!
I support Victoria's charity Bumble Beans Bascis by sending quilts and pillocases.
. Signup for announcements HERE
Victoria tells you about it HERE
Katie Blakesley of SwimBikeQuilt has been running a 100 quilts for Kids' event for a few years. I'm proud to support her project. CLICK HERE to learn the details deadline is Sept 30th for her gathering. Although since you send to your own charity you can do this anytime! PLUS Katie has a fantastic free star quilt you might like to try.
Join me in this Sew Along. I'll be talking about it all Sept to encourage you to make and donate a pillowcase and hopefully a quilt to your favorite charity... or to one of MY favorite groups collecting quilts right now!
Be sure you go to American Patchwork & Quilting's 1 million pillowcase page for FREE pillowcase patterns and to LOG YOUR Pillowcases! CLICK HERE
I thank you with all my heart for being so enormously generous and giving. BIG SMOOCH!
I love that you included left over HST's and flying geese in your blocks - wonderful use of scraps! I like it with 4 rows, too, but 3 rows would work for a crib/lap size, which is what I make most of for charity quilts.
Posted by: Thea | Monday, October 14, 2013 at 07:04 AM
Love it! Love it Very Much! Thank you for sharing....when I first read the 25 patch block....I thought you were crazy, BUT after making one and then cutting into four...and resewing into 2 blocks....YOU...PAT SLOAN are a GENIUS!!! Lol. Goes really fast too! Thanks again for sharing!
Deb
Posted by: deb Poole | Friday, October 11, 2013 at 02:47 PM
Ellen I'm so happy you like it, send me a photo when you make one!
Posted by: PatSloan | Thursday, October 10, 2013 at 07:50 PM
Oh this is great!! Thanks for the pattern!
Ellen S.
Posted by: Ellen | Thursday, October 10, 2013 at 06:28 PM
Send me photos when you make one.. just the top!
Posted by: PatSloan | Thursday, October 10, 2013 at 09:37 AM
Sweet pattern! thank you!
Posted by: Lee | Thursday, October 10, 2013 at 07:07 AM