The Summer Scrap Elimination 2023: Week 3
Good morning Summer Scrappers! It's Week 3 already and we are cruising along breaking out those bins, drawers, piles, and stacks to make beautiful scrappy projects from our leftovers. I hope you enjoyed the first two weeks as much as I did.
This week we're going to be working on a great big modern 20" block. You can use this block to make throw pillows like I did (they make great gifts) or you can make multiples of these blocks and I'll show you what amazing quilt options they create at the end of the blog this week.
Let's start with a cut list for the week.
Cutting for 1 block (finishing at 20 1/2" x 20 1/2"):
Background 4 ½” x 12 ½” (2)
4 ½” x 3 ½” (2)
4 ½” x 7 ½” (1)
4 ½” x 6 ½” (1)
4 ½” x 5 ½” (1)
3 ½” x 3 ½” (2)
5 ½” x 7 ½” (1)
3 ½” x 1 ½” (3)
3 ½” x 2 ½” (1)
2 ½” x 4 ½” (1)
2 ½” x 6 ½” (2)
2 ½” x 8 ½” (1)
5” x 5” ( for 1 HST)
4” x 4” (for 2 HSTs)
3 ½” x 3 ½” (4 for Flying Geese)
Black 4 ½” x 4 ½” (3)
Colors
Light 4 ½” x 4 ½” (1) Medium 4 ½” x 4 ½” (1) Dark 4” x 4” (for 2 HSTs)
1 ½” x 3 ½” (1) 1 ½” x 3 ½” (1) 5” x 5” (for 1 HST)
1 ½” x 4 ½” (2) 1 ½” x 4 ½” (2) 3 ½” x 6 ½” (2 for flying geese)
6” finished Circle
Step 1:
Start with the Background and Dark pieces that are labeled for HSTs.
Layer the Dark squares and the Background squares. Draw a line from one corner to the diagonal corner. Stitch 1/4" on both sides of the drawn line and slice the unit apart on the drawn line to give you two Half Square Triangle units from each set of layered squares.
Trim one of the larger units to 4 1/2" x 4 1/2".
Trim the two smaller units to 3 1/2" x 3 1/2".
Step 2:
Use the Background and Dark pieces that are labeled for Flying Geese.
Layer one of the the background squares on one of the dark rectangles and draw a line from corner to corner as shown. Stitch on the line and trim away the excess. Press toward the background.
Add the second background square and repeat the process. Press toward the background again.
Make two Flying Geese units.
Step 3:
I laid out my pieces at this stage, but don't worry about laying the whole thing out right away.
Focus just on the bottom row of the pieces.
You'll need one of the 4 1/2" x 12 1/2" background pieces and the 4 1/2" x 6 1/2" background piece. 2 of the 4 1/2" Black squares will be positioned as you see on the ends of the background rectangles. Finally makes sure you have one of each of the 1 1/2" x 4 1/2" light and medium rectangles.
Step 4:
Assemble the bottom row, using the same technique as half of a flying goose to attach the the dark triangles to both corners and press toward the dark. Stitch the remaining pieces together and press as shown in the adjacent photo.
Step 5:
We're going to focus on the center section next.
Starting on the right hand side, stitch the second 1 1/2" x 4 1/2" medium rectangle to the top of the 4 1/2" x 7 1/2" background rectangle and press toward the medium rectangle.
This section will measure 4 1/2" x 20 1/2".
Step 6:
We're going to stitch several units together now and press as we see in the photo.
From the right side:
Stitch the 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" rectangle to one of the smaller HSTs from Step 1, making sure to position it as shown here.
Stitch a 3 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangle to the left side of one of the flying geese.
Stitch a 1 1/2" x 3 1/2" rectangle to both sides of the second flying goose.
Create the unit on the far left side using the 3 1/2" background squares and the 1 1/2" x 3 1/2" rectangles of light and medium.
Step 7:
Now that you have created the above units in Step 6, connect the units in the center and on the left pressing as shown here.
Step 8:
Complete the center section.
Stitch together the last two sections in the center of this section.
Finish by stitching the final two seams together on the left and right
Step 9:
Okay, let's hit that final section!
Start with the last 4 1/2" square of black and the second 4 1/2" x 12 1/2" rectangle of background. Repeat the process from the first section, making the dark triangle in the corner just like half of a Flying Goose. Press toward the Black.
Next stitch the 1 1/2" x 4 1/2" light rectangle to the last 3 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangle and press toward the light.
Finally stitch the 1 1/2" x 3 1/2" rectangle to the top of the HST and press toward the background rectangle.
This section will now measusre 8 1/2" x 20 1/2".
Step 10:
Stitch together the three lower right sections, including the 4 1/2" x 5 1/2" rectangle.
Stitch together the upper and lower right side sections. Press toward the lower sections.
This unit will measure 8 1/2" x 12 1/2".
Step 11:
Start by framing the final HST. Stitch the 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" background rectangle to the top. Press toward the background.
Stitch the first 2 1/2" x 6 1/2' rectangle to the left side and press toward the background.
Position the Light 4 1/2" square as shown, repeat the process we've been using to create the corner triangles, stitching on the drawn line, trimming, and pressing toward the added triangle.
Step 12:
Stitch the 2 1/2" x 6 1/2" rectangle to the top of the unit created in Step 11. Press toward the background.
Stitch the 2 1/2" x 8 1/2" rectangle to the left side of the unit and press toward the background.
Position the Medium 4 1/2" square as shown, repeat the process we've been using to create the corner triangles, stitching on the drawn line, trimming, and pressing toward the added triangle.
This unit will measure 8 1/2" x 8 1/2".
Step 13:
Stitch the top two sections together and press to the right.
This final section will measure 8 1/2" x 20 1/2".
Step 14:
Stitch the three sections together and press as shown.
Your block will now measure 20 1/2" x 20 1/2".
Step 15:
Prepare a 6" applique circle, using your favorite method of applique.
Position the circle in the center of the block. You can see how the seams of the block will allow you to find the right position for the circle.
Stitch into place by hand or on the machine depending on your
I made two of these that are going to be my new decorator pillows in the living room. they feel dynamic to me.
One of my chemist friends even referred to them as my new quasar pillows and those of you that know what a big nerd I am, will understand how happy that makes me.
I know some of you love big blocks and how fun they can be when paired into a quit together. Here is an example of what happens when you make 4 of these big blocks and put them together in one quilt.
I added a 4" border to this quilt design to create a 48" x 48" quilt. A perfect throw or baby project.
If you make 16 of them, you have a great new and modern framed queen size quilt!
This week I'm delighted to introduce you all to Karen Bolan from Karen Bolan Designs. This fabulous quilt designer isn't afraid of a challenge and loves a good sewing experiment, which not only makes her a great designer, but also a perfect personality for The Summer Scrap Elimination. So if you're ready to keep cutting down on your scrap piles, check out what Karen has to off you this week!
What could be better than a clever (but easy) traditional block? Forty-two of them in scrappy batiks, of course! Karen is sharing a tutorial for the the Road to Oklahoma block, and a wonderfully scrappy quilt top that makes it sparkle. I hope you'll also check out her gallery and find out more about her modern quilts and her exciting improv experiments. Looking at all of Karen's beautiful work is inspiring!
I hope all of this keeps you busy until next week when we'll be back with a flexible and fun design I think you'll enjoy. It makes for a fast quilt and bonus projects to boot! We'll also have another wonderful guest designer project from Nancy Meyers at Patchwork Breeze.
Don't forget we're having a little extra fun with the Summer Scrap Elimination this year.
1. Keep track of the Scrap Projects you create with both my blogs and those of the guest designers.
2. Post any project you complete (it doesn't have to be quilted, but it does have to be a completed top.
3. Tag me @SwanAmity on Instagram or Swan Amity Studios on Facebook. Be sure to also tag the guest designer if your project is from one of their blogs.
When I see your tagged post I will comment and add your name to the drawing for a prize pack of new batik fabrics, a brand new rotary cutter from Quilters Select, and a mystery package of patterns to play with! This prize pack will include beautiful fat quarters from my last two signature lines from Island Batik. We'll also be drawing two additional names and those winners will also receive fabric packs and fun products to keep you stitching happy all year long!
