I have been sewing 2.5" squares together at the start and end of much of my patchwork sewing. While I do this I'm actually creating a bonus quilt!
If you have never thought about doing this, I'll walk you through it. It just takes a tiny bit of preplanning!
First I cut my scraps into 2.5" squares. And I keep them together by color.
Here is a bin of Green squares and Cream squares. The lights might have other colors in it but they read as a light fabric
The reason I do these as 2 color is I like the final effect it makes. You can also make it totally scrappy or control it with a light and the alternate is totally scrappy! SO FUN! Let me walk you through it
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BIG TIP - I find it more effective to sort out about 10 of each color and sit them on top of the machine
Because it saves time.
When i cut them, i might have 5 of the same fabric in the stack, but i don't want to SEW the same fabrics to each other, this way I get random placement and don't have to hunt each time I go to pick up a square!
First let me tell you how you figure out how many squares you need
in this video
When I start patchwork it's great to have something that has already been sewn. Many people will use 2 squares over and over again, but why not make something while sewing something else!
The bonus is... You save thread! No long tails as you just clip between!
Here I am sewing up a backing. I have my set of 2" squares and roll right into my backing..
I will clip the threads between them.
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Then when I come to the end of this backing, I sew another 2.5" square onto the unit I'm building!
Pretty soon I have....
Sets of 2.5" squares sewn together!
I sew 6 at a time alternating color.
When I have 6 strips...
I lay them out, then I'll press the seams alternating directions
At this point i can either sew this block.
Or I use these units to start and stop other patchwork!
Here is the 6 x 6 block.
It's 12.5" square before setting it.
I keep making them... and pretty soon I have enough to set into long vertical strips.
And when I do that ...
I have a FREE Lap quilt in progress!
Here is a video I did where I talk about this process
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A green and light
Red and light
And one that is finished! It's name is 'Confetti Candi' thanks to Deana O that won the name the quilt contest!
It can be a baby quilt, a lap quilt.. or a bed size, just depends on the use you want.
What do you think? Have you tried this before?
