Finally. My grocery store received the April issue of American Patchwork and Quilting. Everyone on the internet and Instagram has been buzzing about the 2015 Four Patch Sew Along. I spent yesterday studying the magazine diligently and learning all about the three versions they show in the issue. I liked all the settings, but decided to switch things up and make mine my very own.
This is the magazine issue. Hopefully your grocery store has it by now.
I want to do something with four patches in each block, but I want to add in some half square triangles as well. Oh my goodness. There are dozens of quilt blocks that have four patches and half square triangles. And, depending on how you lay out the block units, you get all kinds of different quilts.
I wanted to do Jacobs Ladder (see my little sketches in the first photo), and have some blocks that look like negative versions of the others. As I was doing my research (Pinterest is a treasure trove of inspiration), I found so many gorgeous layouts and blocks featuring four patches and half square triangles. Jacob's Ladder, Buckeye Beauty, Road to California, Arkansas Crossroads... If you want to participate in this fun sew along, but want to venture out and explore more block and setting options, do some reasearch.
My blocks are going to be 9 inches. I like that size for being big enough to show off pretty fabric, but also small enough to really demonstrate the design of the repeat the blocks make.
I pulled fabric from my stash--Civil War reproductions in pink, green and brown. These colors sound odd together, but trust me, it's going to be great. And perfectly coordinating for my bedroom decor when made into a spring/summer quilt. I love to make quilts in lots of different fabric styles, but honestly, those CW Repros are what match my decor.
So, here's what I did:
I used 36 fat eighths cuts of the darks and 18 full fat quarters of the lights. Obviously, you could use fewer fabrics in larger amounts (18 fat quarters of darks and 9 half yards of lights) and have more duplicate blocks, but I like the scrappy look: hence more fabric, smaller cuts. I layered my fabrics and cut six layers at a time. Each eighth yard light and dark yielded one 3 1/2 inch strip and two 2 inch strips. And each eighth yard pairing yields two 9 inch quilt blocks. If you cut your fabrics with each pairing right sides together you are all set to sew and sub cut. I am sewing my two inch strip pairings together and cutting them into 10 four patches (3 1/2 inches unfinished)--five four patches for each quilt block. I am using my Easy Angle ruler to make eight 3 1/2 inch half square triangles out of each pairing-- four hsts for each quilt block. I am going to end up with 72 blocks, in an 8 block by 9 block layout. The finished size should be around 72 x 81, larger if I add a border.
So, what do you think? Want to play along? A lot of great designers and quilters are supposed to be posting regularly about their progress, and it's going to be a blast.
Thelma Childers
Oooh, I just love those fabrics! I made my youngest granddaughter a quilt using brown, pink and green and loved how it turned out. So, are you going with the Jacob's Ladder after all?
Posted by: Kathy | February 06, 2015 at 05:35 AM
Your piles of fabric look delicious. I no longer have a subscription to the magazine so I don't know what the four patch designs look like that they show. I like that you have chosen to do your own.
Posted by: Karen | February 06, 2015 at 06:20 AM
Having done some Buckeye Beauties lately, loving 4-patches,Jacobs's Ladder, I love Bonnie Hunter's book Scraps & Shirttails II. I am finishing up my last two quilts and moving on to Tumalo Trail. Just got to have it! Your colors are lovely!
Posted by: Stephani in N. TX | February 06, 2015 at 06:35 AM
Love your fabrics and the block possibilities are delightful. Cheers for making this quilt your own in every way: fabrics, setting, borders or not, size, and quilting. How perfect is that?
Thanks for the eye candy in all of those yummy links, too. They will take some time for exploration.
Hugs!
Posted by: Barbara Anne | February 06, 2015 at 06:39 AM
This looks like fun! I am going to do it too I think but I will wait until I have a couple more UFO's finished. The quilts look awesome so far. have a lot of fun on this one!
Mary
Posted by: Mary Kastner | February 06, 2015 at 07:08 AM
Your fabric will make such a pretty quilt that's perfect for Spring (no matter what that groundhog said this week!)
Posted by: Laura @ Prairie Sewn Studios | February 06, 2015 at 07:59 AM
I saw a Road to California back in 2006, in pink, green and brown, and in different textures, and I have wanted to do one ever since!
Posted by: Marge | February 06, 2015 at 08:09 AM
Love the fabrics you have chosen and looking forward to watching your progress .
Posted by: Sue Babich | February 06, 2015 at 08:37 AM
I have always like seeing Arkansas Crossroad blocks. I am probably not participating this time around, but I will be really enjoying seeing the progress of everyone else. I really appreciate the tip I just picked up out of your post. "If you cut your fabrics with each pairing right sides together you are all set to sew and sub cut." I had never thought about doing RST when piling the fabric, but that makes so much sense now that I think about it. Definitely going to try that on my next strip set quilt project.
Posted by: Jennifer Gwyn | February 06, 2015 at 09:19 AM
Soft and pretty colors, Nicole! I like your idea. I fell for Edyta's quilt design but her pieces were too tiny for me. I'm going to use all those 1.5" strips and squares I've been saving for so long, and then cut up more scraps. It's a fun thing, this quiltalong idea.
Posted by: AnnieO | February 06, 2015 at 10:28 PM