Crazy about quilting
Finally! After years of thinking about trying my hand at making a quilt, I have completed all of the blocks for my very first one! I took a class last week with my Bernina sewing posse, and learned how to make a "crazy nine patch." It is incredibly easy to make these blocks! I snapped pics along the way so you can try it, too.
First, here is one of the finished blocks:
This quilt uses 36 fat quarters. I chose 12 each of red yellow and blue 1930's inspired fabric.
Once you've chosen your fabrics, wash or rinse, dry them, then give a liberal spraying of starch and iron them so they're nice and stiff.
Using a rotary cutter, cut them into 36 squares. Mine are 12" but you can go bigger if you like. Divide into four stacks of 9 squares with the colors arranged red yellow blue red yellow blue, etc. But vary the order and which color is first in each stack, to assure a random scattering of color across your quilt.
Put one stack on your mat with the edges aligned, and make an angled cut like so:
Make sure the bottom edge of your strip is at least 1.5" from the corner.
Now take the TOP piece from the narrow stack and put it at the bottom of the stack like so:
Now take the top piece from each stack, put the right sides together and sew a quarter inch seam along the edge you just cut. Working your way down the stack, sew each pair together in the same way, making sure to keep them in a chain, until you finish the last one in the stack. Then open them out one by one, clipping the thread between them as you re-stack them in the same order. Align the edges again and make another angled cut like so:
This time take the top TWO pieces from the narrow stack and move them to the bottom:
Same as before, put the right sides together of the top pieces and sew along that edge, then open out and put back in the same order.
Now press your seams to the middle, making sure you don't change the order or orientation of any of the blocks. Align your blocks and make a cut like this:
Take the top THREE pieces from the narrow stack and move them to the bottom of the stack, and sew pieces together as before. (I won't show photos of every step) Then open up and re-stack in the same order, align the edges and make one final angled cut like so.
****This time you're going to move the top SIX pieces from the narrow stack to the bottom.***
Same as before, put right sides together and sew along the edge, then open out and re-stack. Press seams to the middle.
Make sure to keep each stack together. When you arrange the blocks on the quilt you will need to have them still in their original groupings.
Now do the other three stacks the same way, then trim all of the blocks down to a uniform square size. In my case, 10".
I'll have to save the info on how to do the sashing and so forth until a later post, since I haven't learned how to do that yet! But here are the pattern combos for my other three sets of blocks:
Its probably a good thing that I'm doing this particular quilt for my first try. And these colors are really making me very happy! I am still waffling on what color to choose for the sashing and border, but I'll settle on something eventually.
Have a great weekend folks! We're off to get Mexican food!
Cheers,
Jenny
Wow! I am amazed and inspired. I can't wait to see them all together.
Posted by: laurie | October 27, 2006 at 07:26 PM
Thanks for the tutorial and I absolutely LOVE your fabric choices!
Posted by: Jane | October 27, 2006 at 08:32 PM
What a GREAT tutorial. I've always wanted to learn the art of quilt making. Thanks Jenny!
Posted by: Alvina | October 27, 2006 at 09:46 PM
We just got back home from eating Mexican, and what a fabulous treat to see this quilt you're making and the tutorial tor it. Those colors make me happy too! I can't wait to see how it all turns out!
Posted by: ~Vicki | October 27, 2006 at 10:40 PM
I just love the fabrics! My mother is passing all her quilting supplies on to me - fabric, books, tapes, magazines and even the oak quilting frame my father made for her years ago. Right now I'm picking away at a vintage reproduction "honeycomb" quilt and it's been a lot of fun.
Posted by: Amy | October 27, 2006 at 11:37 PM
I love your blocks! I like this version of the 9 patch much better than the traditional one. What great fabric you've found too! I can't wait to see the finished project.
Posted by: Jenny V | October 28, 2006 at 01:06 AM
The quilt's going to be beautiful - I can't wait to see it!
Posted by: manda | October 28, 2006 at 05:18 AM
good for you.
be warned...there is no turning back. Soon you will find yourself with piles of fabrics set aside for quilts you want to make. And you will be starting another before the next one is complete.
the colours are great together. can't wait to see the results.
Posted by: Tiel S-K | October 28, 2006 at 07:16 AM
Quilting is one thing that I have never tried. I have to admit, since I love to sew, that I have been tempted. I am afraid of getting addicted, unfortunately. And I have so many projects on my plate right now that I just CAN'T get another crafty addiction...
Posted by: violetismycolor | October 28, 2006 at 07:38 AM
These look so great! And fun. Thanks for the tutorial. I'm definitely going to save this for a quilt one day.
Posted by: Aubrey Tell | October 28, 2006 at 10:08 AM
They`re lovely! Someday I want to try and make a quilt to, but right now I`ve got enough things to do to keep me busy :-)
Mexican food sounds delicious! I love it :-)
Posted by: Vintage Wine | October 28, 2006 at 11:22 AM
oh! i love this quilt. i wanna make one for me. thanks for sharing.
Posted by: lauradodson | October 28, 2006 at 02:11 PM
this is so pretty! I love the fabrics you chose and while the technique sounds tricky, I guess it's one of those "just follow the instructions and it will work" things!
Can't wait to see your finished quilt!
Posted by: Melissa | October 28, 2006 at 03:04 PM
I love the quilt blocks!! I quilt also!! Like they say, once you start you'll never stop!! Might i suggest using a red for a small border around the blocks themselves.(Just a plain red) And then for a larger boarder go wild!! You could take one of the fabrics that you used for the backing!! I can see your quilt with red binding!! Maybe a yellow backing!! Sorry getting carried away!! I look forward to see how your quilt turns out!!
Posted by: Dawn Castro | October 28, 2006 at 08:50 PM
Wow - I love it! The tutorial is just want I needed to see. I want to learn to quilt but there are no classes in my area and after searching the internet I haven't really found anything as good as yours. i am crossing my fingers that you will tut the next stages too!
Posted by: lazylol | October 29, 2006 at 02:22 AM
thank you THANK YOU for this post - I am going to print it out so I can have the instructions to hand because I really want to try this out - this is my first visit to your site - HI! the red background is l-o-v-e-l-y and I look forward to the Next Quilt Lesson - from a complete beginner!
take care
Posted by: katiek | October 30, 2006 at 01:52 AM
Thank you so much for sharing this tutorial! My grandma was a quilter, but unfortunately, she passed away before I was old enough for her to teach me how. I've always wanted to try it...and after I get a sewing machine, I will definitely give this a go.
Also, I love how the colors of your quilt and even the cutting mat match your blog colors. :) Even if it was just a happy accident, it's still all beautiful together.
Take care,
KJ
Posted by: KJ | October 30, 2006 at 05:02 AM
How inspiring! I LOVE the fabric colors...they seem to be so you!
Posted by: Jenny | October 30, 2006 at 02:55 PM
Oh my goodness! This is really fabulous. I saw a lot of "off kilter" type blocks at a quilt show a few weeks ago and I loved them. This is really helpful. I love the 30's fabrics too, very nice!
Posted by: Jes | October 30, 2006 at 03:38 PM
How exciting. I love the fabric's and colors you chose. I'm still thinking about starting that first quilt of mine. Thanks for sharing the step by steps. I can't wait to see the finished quilt unfold, It will sure bring sunshine on those cold wintery days to come.
Posted by: Gina | October 30, 2006 at 03:47 PM
I love the way the colors work together in this. You make it look incredibly easy Jenny, and I know its not.
Posted by: blair | October 31, 2006 at 08:45 AM
just lovely!!!
Posted by: anyberg | November 01, 2006 at 07:32 AM
These quilt blocks are amazing! My mother has been a quilter for some time now, and we finally put my artistic talents and her crafty talents together and she is finishing up a quilt I helped her design. I know nothing about quilting, but can not wait to see our finished result and I also can not wait to see what your quilt looks like all assembled!!
Posted by: Suzy Lorenzen | November 04, 2006 at 12:05 PM
I love your tutorial! I have been quiltling for 15 years and still find that there is always more to learn. I had been wanting to do this "stack and whack" method for a while. I think when I get my Heather Bailey inventory for my shop I will try this technique! I'm looking forward to seeing what you'll do for your quilting. Your color/fabric choices are great! I also love 30's inspired fabrics and am obsessed with collecting them. The past few weeks I have been doing nothing but quilting... it's addicting! Take care and happy quilting!
Posted by: Alison | November 05, 2006 at 11:07 AM
Just love them to bits!!! Hmmm, sounds like my next tote bag.
Posted by: yoonie | November 06, 2006 at 12:07 PM