Sewing Scraps

Friday, March 15, 2019

Modern "True Blue" Half Rectangle Quilt (#105)

After months of looking for something "mid century modern" I found the perfect fabric called True Blue by Zen Chic. The color palette and the shape of the 'split rectangle' or 'half rectangle triangles' were ideal.
I really like the templates by Deb Tucker (web site here) - and her video instructions here
Her approach to quilt blocks is to make over sized units and trim to size. Deb Tucker's videos are my teaching tools and I am super happy with the final results.
Stats for this quilt are:
1)   Cut fabric 7" wide
2)   Choose which way you want the diagonal to go and cut fabric accordingly.  How you cut the fabric is the key to versatile half rectangle quilts.
My half rectangles for this quilt were cut with the fabric wrong side up.
3)  Sew 2 half rectangles together
4)   Trim the rectangle unit to 3.5" x 6.5" using the same Deb Tucker template. (This ruler makes 8 size options all the way from a tiny 1/2" x 1" ... to a large ... 4" x 8".)
I did pre-wash & starch the fat quarters.  Trimming on a rotating mat is so helpful and seeing those accurate split rec units was wonderful.  This quilt is 58" x 73" and has 19 split rec units across - with 12 rows down.
Quilting is straight stitching on either side of the seam lines - vertical, horizontal and diagonal.  Aurifil 50wt. #2600 thread (Dove) on top and this super grey/blue #1248 on the bottom.  Perfect thread every time to use for piecing and quilting with minky.  The backing is dimple dot minky also called "Dove" from Hawthorne Threads
My first quilt using this ruler is shown above.  The blog post about it is here. The ONLY difference between that diamond quilt and this modern blue quilt is how the fabric is cut. The diamond look is achieved by cutting fabric rectangles with right sides and wrong sides up.  This single direction diagonal quilt was cut with all fabric wrong side up. (If you would like all the diagonals to go the other way - you would cut all your fabric right sides up). 
 I found this True Blue fabric by Brigitte Heitland for Moda at a lovely on-line store called Stash Addict Quilts based outside of Seattle WA.  I have found many hard to find bundles (and yardage) there and they are truly worth adding as a fabric source. Their staff is nice too!
Lastly, I am not compensated for any of the tools or places I shop but think it's worth recommending rulers that work and shops that are hidden gems.

Materials:
True Blue from Zen Chic / Brigitte Heitland / Moda
Warm & White batting
Aurifil 50wt. thread #2600 and #1248
Binding: Cotton Couture Midnight / Michael Miller
Deb Tucker Split Rects ruler
Hawthorne Threads dimple dot minky / Dove
Size: 58" x 73"
March 2019

2 comments:

  1. Good morning Ruth! I have been wanting to make a half rectangle quilt for ages. Yours is a beauty and is very inspiring. I love how you quilted it as well - it really lets the fabric and design shine. Happy Tuesday to you. ~smile~ Roseanne

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    1. Happy Spring to you Roseanne - I am so glad you like the half rec quilt. I am going to try one with bigger pieces and see how that turns out - always fun to experiment. Enjoyed reading your blog and seeing all the beautiful quilts you have sewn - lovely work.

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