Rhonda's Scrap Club Quilt Along
 

Members in the Scrap Club asked if we could do a Quilt Along. So everyone can find the info easier and follow along without wading through all the Scrap Club entries here is a thread dedicated to the Quilt Along.

I will post a new quilt block each week and show you how the quilt block is made. Some will be my designs and some will be traditional quilt blocks or may be something I find online and I will give credit where it is due.

so come along and follow as we explore some ways to use scraps to make great looking quilt blocks!

this week's quilt block is one I use alot.
It uses my Boston Block shortcut. [ATTACH=CONFIG]387789[/ATTACH]
http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...s-t193649.html
You will need a 3 1/2" template to make this into a 12 1/2" quilt block.
a 4" template will make a 14 1/2" quilt block
and a 5" template would make an 18 1/2" quilt block
If you like the minis a 1 1/2" would make a 6 1/2" quilt block.
You can see below there are 8 Boston Blocks and 8 HSTs (half square triangles)

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You will need to make sure you make what I call mirror blocks
http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...s-t114884.html

Use up a lot of scraps making as many of these quilt blocks as you like! It is one of my favorites and I use it for alot of different projects. - quilts / table runners/ hotpads/ coin purses(in smaller form) etc

I'm going to work on this as much as I can- had hand surgery this week and am trying to cut with my left hand. It's like trying to learn to write all over again!

hope you heal quickly! will you have to do therapy?

Anyone is welcome to come and play with us here in the quilt along or in the Scrap Club! Lots of inspiration and good ideas for scrapping and for organizing those scraps!

http://www.quiltingboard.com/member-...b-t207686.html

This is a beautiful block to start your quilt along. Thanks, Rhonda.

This is great! Thanks for posting this quilt along. I'm always ready to find new ways to use scraps. I never throw any bit of fabric away. lol

I'll be following along, but have to do quilting on 6 lap sized quilts, which takes me a while, but that is my goal for the year, get those all done, so I can start again.

As usual Katie there is no hurry. These will be there whenever you have time and want to work on them.

great start Rhonda. thanks! I think I'll grab some piles and use the Leaders & Enders method to get these sewn up.

count me in!!! I have to finish my scrappy quilt along first but this is right behind it. only the border to whip into place on that one :) (btw I hate it too scrappy killed me.. controlled this time phew). Your image makes it look so easy. reality for me is a whole different issue. I know I can do this. no problemo (as I will get the blocks wrong a hundred times but if no one knows then it doesnt count right?). thanks Rhonda get the word out at the regular club whooo whooo comeon over :)

I'm Lost
 

I understand how to make the blocks, but what about the template. What is it and where do I get one? I have a 6" and 12" square-up ruler. Sorry, I'm just lost on what a template is and where do I get one and how do I know what size I need? Thank for all your help. I have learned so much from the ladies (and gentlemen) on this board!

Dianna, Rhonda sends them....very generous of her. So you ned to PM her if you want one.

Rhonda's Acrylic Templates
 

I developed several shortcuts. this method is where you sew fabrics together and then cut out a square from the center. The Boston Block is the first one I developed. You can use any size of template and make any size quilt block you like with these shortcut unit blocks.

I have them cut for me out of acrylic. I add a plastic template grid to the acrylic for a template that is about 1/8" thick and works great with a rotary cutter.

For this quilt along I am sending out the 3 1/2" template for free.
so if you have a 3 1/2" square template then that will work. but if you use a reg ruler it will not be as accurate.
If you need this template send me a pm with your postal address.
I am going to keep this quilt along to simple quilt blocks so this size of template will be fine.

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That is wonderful. I am template challenged also.

What is it with scraps? I like used almost all the littlest ones for the scrappy mystery. I started saving them dont cringe I toss them constantly. if its not going to be 5 inches its history. Well in one week I grew a monsterously stuffed plastic grocery bag. So if you guys are saving your scraps do you seriousy keep them at that rate? I think they would implode in your home. I quilt daily so this is probably not going to work for me saving all those pieces. I would be lost under all that little fabric. .. bet its warm. make good stuffing .. oh no not going there. for some reason everyone gifts me that stuff too. pillow stuffing/doll stuffing etc.. bags of that. nice quote foxflower :)

rwquilts, I love your doll quilt. So how did you do the border for your quilt? Did you just sew random pieces together & then cut them to the size you wanted? Also, is your bird house paper pieced? Love the colors.

Ronda I too like the mindlessness of scrappy blocks. Here's what I've done with little bits of fabric for AAQI. Bars are 3/4" finished. Scrappy borders in the basket are 1 and 1 1/2". In the last pair the squares are 2 and 1 1/2 inches.[ATTACH=CONFIG]388264[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]388265[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]388267[/ATTACH]

I always tell people PLEASE don't throw the scraps away. they will make some quilter very very happy!! I use down to 3/4" so I usually say let me see it first before you throw it away. if it isn't usable for some reason I can throw it then.

so if you don't mind saving them and passing them on it would be a kindness especially to someone who can't afford to buy a lot of fabric.

when I started quilting 30 yrs ago I didn't have a dime to buy fabric. I used yard sale clothes or hand me downs I had in the closet. I love to get scraps to this day. It saves money but it also gives me variety to work with.

Ronda and Gladie you know I love your work! I love the minis and love to see how others use them.

When I was selling to Yoder's she had me make 2 1/2" quilt squares some of which were confusion ( my version of crumbs) and some were quilt blocks like shoofly or bear's paw etc. She sold Amish dolls and she would place these on the doll's lap to look like the doll made the quilt.

I used to make billfolds and the front was a quilt. the blocks started out at 3/4" and ended up finished at 1/8". so I don't throw anything away unless it is 1/2" wide or less. I love to have scraps as resource to go through when I want a particular color.

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The bookmarks are 2 1/2" x 7" and the Squares are 2 1/2" finished

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I dont' have pics to demonstrate but I have taken strip sets and sewn them to a plain fabric and then cut out HSTs so they have a plain black side and then a strip side. You can kind of see that in the bookmark pic on the rt above the second one down is half black and half strips.

I also like to use my strips to cut out the blocks and whatever strips scraps are left I sew together in a crumbs fashion. so in this you will see strips but they are jumbled up as in crumbs.

Wow you ladies have been busy! Love all of your mini quilt blocks.

I made a lot of skirts for Christmas so I have a lot of left-over bright pink scrap fabric. Thought I'd try your 1st block with my scraps. Quite an experiment. The color doesn't really come through on the picture. It looks kind of abstract.
Let me know what you think.[ATTACH=CONFIG]388366[/ATTACH]

Bb I love your colors and your points are really great!

Elisabrat, thank you. I see your name isn't Elisa, but mine is ;) What made you choose that screenname, if I may ask.

bbemerald, your experiment went great looks like. I definitely see the star there.

Neat block. The solid pink and black help define the block pattern.

goldendog, think about a paper cutter in scrap book section at Walmart. It's about 12 inches and has a little cutting point and you slip the fabric under a plastic thingy and push the knob to cut. It is ideal for small work. I got mine 1/2 price regular $20.00. It might be useful while you are mending. I'm told replacement cutting points are available. I use mine at the sewing machine for small trimming.

That sounds like a great idea! I am disabled anyway, so that would be really nice. A "Go" cutter is too expensive for me and lots of other quilters. I sure like the idea of sharing tips here!

Here we are again with a new Quilt Block for this week!

This quilt block probably has many names attached to it but I am not up on that,. so if anyone wants to share the name they know it by please feel free to do so.

I want to keep this easy to follow and keep it to simple techniques. So I won't be using anything too hard to follow along with.

Most of what I like to use is the 6 blocks by 6 rows grid. But the 4 x 4 grid is an easier to use size. So I decided to give you both and you can decide which you'd like to use. or both if you wish.
The 6 x 6 grid(6 rows of 6 blocks) uses a 2 1/2" template to make a 12 1/2" quilt block. so if you need one just let me know.
The 4 x 4 grid will use the 3 1/2" template I mentioned last week for making a 12 1/12" size quilt block.
Of course you are welcome to make your HSTs in your favorite method. The templates are only if you use my method for making the HSTs
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This week I am using HSTs- Half Square Triangles
Of course I don't make mine the way most people do. I use strips and sew 2 strips together and then cut out a square from the center with a template. When using scraps we make piles of scraps and then grab one from the left pile and one from the right pile and sew them together,. then iron the seam open and cut out a square.
If you are doing a controlled scrappy as we are here you can use piles sorted by color and repeat the same process. It makes it quick and easy to do.

So now here are the Layout pictures of each quilt block so you can see where the colors go and where they needed to be set so the design comes out right. Please pay attention to contrast as in dark and light. If you use fabrics that blend you won't see the design pop out. also pay attention to where your colors go. If you like you can just put dark and light scrappies together but you wont' get the look that I did by seperating yellow and green and blue and putting them in a design pattern. Your look is entirely up to you however.

If you look you will also see i used the same fabric in each row of the lights. the row on the left at the top is all the same in that row. the row on t he right is all the same in that row. All 4 corners are the same fabs. the center is all 4 the same fabs. Just a thought if you have enough to do that and if you like the look. they can all be diff scrappies if you prefer.

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To keep your points good you can use a tack across every time seams meet and at every edge of the seams. I think it helps to keep the fabric from shifting as you sew. I think pins can allow too much movement. tacking won't let the fabric move at all.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...ts-t23252.html

Here is a link to a tutorial I did on how I piece a quilt block together. It includes my HST steps but it shows the strips method. just think piles of scraps instead of strips.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...rs-t46365.html

so I think I've covered everything but if not please feel free to ask me or point out something I should add.

Here is the album where I will post all the quilt along Quilt Blocks with the layout pictures so you will be able to find the pics easily in one place.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/members...bums17944.html

I like the pink and black one. This new block looks nice. I have not had time to try them yet.

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This is my attempt at week one. I haven't had time for week 2 yet. I'm using the same fabric for all of the white, and the others are each a different fabric-I have tons of charm squares, and they are beautiful, but they are sitting in a box. This is my attempt to get them out and moving. I think this will be better when it has friend blocks to go along with it.

`
This turned out great! You did a great job on getting good contrast.

Rhonda, I am late commenting on your help with the triangles but thank you so much. I avoid them at all cost because I always have trouble with them. I am confused on one thing; you say to leave a 1and 1/2 inch seam and I am not sure what you mean. Could you elaborate a little? thanks so much. Diane

It was a mistake. I need ot have Patrice fix that. Sorry about that. It was pointed out to me before and I should have had it fixed then. I can't edit so I have to ask P to do it for me.

Well here is my block #2. I really liked making this block & thought it turned out ok. I hope others are going to join in on the quilt along. Still working on my points. It's hard to try & make perfect blocks. Oh well. I can say that I'm like Mary Poppins, practically perfect in every way.[ATTACH=CONFIG]390886[/ATTACH]

Another great block Bbemerald!

I have some boston blocks made to try the first block and now I can make some hsts for both of them. I've been working on a UFO trying to finish before the end of the month....almost done!