Large Economy Block (or square in a square) Quilt in Le Vintage Chic

While technically not a quilt - this fun "coverlet" is perfect for hot summers and lightweight warmth. 

The top is made like any other quilt, the backing is white flannel and everything is quilted with a walking foot. The twist here is that there is no batting or middle layer. Voila ... a coverlet.

The pattern: A large 'square in a square'  or economy block.

Cut (25) 9.25" x 9.25" pieces for the center squares. 

Cut (50) squares 7.25" x 7.25".   Make one cut on the diagonal from corner to corner to yield two triangles. Total triangles needed is 100.  Pair up four of these triangles with one large square. Sew two triangles on opposite sides.  Click HERE for more details and pictures of a previous square in a square quilt.

I like to trim off the dog ears - it's up to you. I press my seams open and then attach the other two triangles on the opposite sides.

I love my rulers from Deb Tucker and her instructional videos. I use her measurements listed on the rulers so all my blocks are over sized and then trimmed down.  For a really good alternative method on how to make an economy block without these rulers is this post from Catbird Quilt Studio. Also, Rita from Red Pepper Quilts has good pictures and instructions for a smaller more complex economy block here.

The biggest block you can make using the Large Square Squared ruler is a finished 12" x 12".

Lining up the 12 marking on the inner square allows me to trim to a consistent size and quarter inch away from the edge. 

There are now 25 big economy block squares ready for layout.  After finishing the layout but not yet sewing anything - cut 20 squares 6.5" x 6.5".  

Join two at a time and trim those two squares to 12.5" wide.  
Why measure these border blocks now and maybe trim?  If you are sewing with a scant 1/4" these two block may be  a little larger than 12.5" wide.  It looks nice to match up the seams in the border with the seams in the economy block - this is a simple way to ensure this.

Now you can sew all the smaller border squares together - 10 blocks for the top and 10 blocks for the bottom. 

However you like to sew your quilt together is up to you.  I do three top rows in one 'chunk' and then do the four bottom rows in their 'chunk'.  Attaching two 'halves' is not as bulky as dragging an ever growing quilt top and attaching one row at a time. I like working on smaller bits which is why I don't make medallion quilts.  (Those are quilts that start with a center square and continue to add around it.  I like blocks and rows).

If you are into decorative quilting then this type of thin quilt won't show your skills.  But this scrunchy wrinkled lightweight  'coverlet' is so versatile.  It's easy to layer on your bed with other blankets, washes and dries quickly ... and is a great cover up wrap to prevent sunburn during the day and mosquitoes at night when used outside.

Quilting is still done with a walking foot.   A broken wavy line follows the seams and through the points of all the squares.  A very pretty pink 50wt. Aurifil thread on top and bright white on the bottom.  

Lastly, this 'quilt' comes together very quickly - fast to sew and fast to enjoy!

Materials:
Le Vintage Chic / Art Gallery Fabrics
White Flannel
Aurifil 50 wt. #2024 (white) #2415 (pink)
Large Square Squared ruler / Deb Tucker / Studio 180
Size: 60.75" x 72.5"
July 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

Modern Half Rectangle Quilt (#104)

This modern half square rectangle quilt is a combination of fabrics, pattern and techniques.

The fabric: whites, grays & blues from many different Zen Chic collections by Brigitte Heitland and Kona white. Kona Ash is the binding and a grey dimple dot minky for the backing called Silver from Hawthorne Threads. 

The pattern:   Harlequin by Robin Pickens was my inspiration.  I bought the pattern to help me figure out color placement and guide me towards a modern vibe.  

The Technique: Deb Tucker's Split Rects template and video for assembly. I made a few blocks following the Harlequin pattern - but found I liked the consistent way Deb Tucker allows you to make over sized blocks and then trim down. This quilt block can be called "half rectangle", "split rectangle" or "split rects".

The way you cut your fabric makes a big difference. If you cut the fabric with all pieces right side up - the diagonal goes left to right. If you cut the fabric with the wrong side up - the diagonal goes right to left.

To  achieve the mirror image or diamond look of this quilt - I cut the fabric both ways, right sides up AND wrong sides up.  

It wasn't possible to follow exactly the Harlequin pattern for fabric placement - but it did give me a starting point.  My objective was to balance the darks and lights and scatter the blues so they looked even. 

I laid out the bulk of the pattern row by row using the unfinished, un-sewn half rectangles.  I took a picture as I did each row in case anything fell off the design board.  I put numbered pins on the left side of every 'unit' when I was ready to sew them together. 

After sewing and still keeping the numbered pins on the left side - I trimmed them to their final size of 3.5" x 6.5" using the Split Rects ruler. Then I sewed a row together and put it back on the board.  (above left is an unfinished unit - the right one is unfinished but trimmed)

You can see how much smaller the finished units all sewn together look next to the original cut pieces - but the accuracy and perfect matching up made it all worth while.

Last to do was layout the top, bottom and sides with a variety of whites. It was easier to sew together the 'inside' of this quilt and do the whites last because I ran out of room on my design board.  

Quilting was done with a walking foot, straight lines 1/4" on either side of the seams. Lots of vertical, horizontal & diagonal lines in Aurifil Thread 50wt. #2311 (muslin) on the top and #2600 Dove for the bottom.  Not the fanciest of quilting but I think it makes a nice 'modern' design for those of us who don't know how to free motion.

Final tips:  
I did wash and starch all the fabric.  
Trimming on a rotating mat was very helpful.  
I am not a math wiz but:  1 yard of fabric yields around 90 separate half square rectangle  pieces.  There are 38 separate pieces per row across and there are 12 rows down.  Total separate pieces: 456 for a quilt 58"x 73".  That means over 5 yards total for this quilt. 

Why did I over cut and have lots of extra fabric?  I needed units that went 'right' and 'left' to create the diamond effect - and figuring out how many of each and in what colors was beyond me.  This is someone's wedding quilt and needed to be pretty perfect.  Good news is that I have enough left overs to make a more relaxed pattern where the diagonals can go any which way - whew!

Materials:

Zen Chic variety / Brigitte Heitland
Kona White and Ash
Warm & White batting
Silver (gray) minky / Hawthorne Threads
Aurifil Thread 50wt. #2600 & #2311
Deb Tucker's Split Rects Ruler
Pattern inspired: Harlequin by Robin Pickens
Size: 58" x 73"
February 2019