Positively Scrappy: A Finished Quilt and a Quick Tutorial

I'm calling this latest scrap quilt Positively Scrappy. 

It's a donation quilt going to an agency that assists victims of sexual violence, mostly teen girls (think trafficking, stepfather issues, etc.). We learned a couple years ago that their teen clients gravitate to quilts that have black in them. This quilt has a variety of black and charcoal prints, but also a lot of color in the low volume background fabrics. Whenever I can include Plus motifs I think it gives the quilt a subtle hopeful and positive vibe. 

For what is essentially a black and white quilt, Positively Scrappy is amazingly colorful. I love how this quilt turned out, so much so that I wish I could have kept it. But I intended from the start for it to be a donation quilt and I used club-supplied batting and backing. It's already on its way to offering comfort to someone. 

The block is super easy to make and is a great scrap buster. It would work as well with Pluses of any color, or a rainbow of colors in the whole quilt. 

Here are the instructions for one 8" block. 

From assorted low volume prints, the more variety the better:

     - Cut 4, 3-1/2" squares

     - Cut 4, 1-1/2" by 2-1/2" pieces

From a dark color:

     - Cut one 2-1/2" by 6-1/2" piece

     - Cut 2, 2-1/2" squares

Note: if you use a directional print, be mindful of how you want the pieces to go in the finished plus. 

Sew a small low volume rectangle to one side of each dark square and to each end of the long dark piece. Press toward the dark. 

Lay out the pieces and sew the top and bottom rows; press outward toward the light squares. 

Sew the rows together; press toward the center. 

By pressing this way, you can turn the blocks 90 degrees and the seams will nest when you sew the columns together. 

To make the blocks for the ends of the alternate columns, cut two pieces 3-1/2" by 4-1/2" and one piece 2-1/2" by 4-1/2" from low volume prints. Sew them together with the narrower piece in the center. Don't press until you sew them to the ends of the columns and you know which way you need the seams to go. 

I made my version 7 blocks wide by 9 blocks long for a 56" by 72" quilt, a good size for a teen. 60 Plus blocks and six end blocks. 

I will definitely make another version of Positively Scrappy. This ended up being a fun and cheerful quilt. 

Link up: Alycia Quilts 3/13, My Quilt Infatuation 3/19

Planning and Cutting for Diabolical Jane

Recently a quilt image popped up in my Pinterest feed that looked intriguing. It's called Diabolical Jane, and several clicks later I found the source, a tutorial by Jessie Aller. Her version is a copy of a 200 year old quilt she saw on a museum tour with the DC Modern Quilt Guild. Check out their images at the link.

I printed out Jessie's tutorial and studied the images, both of the antique original and her version. Her tutorial uses 4" wide pieces and makes a huge quilt, but I wanted something smaller using 2-1/2" strips so I refigured the cutting sizes. 

The quilt looks so complex, and the diabolical part of the name is a reference to the challenge of fabric selection. So I did what I advised the students in my color classes to do: view the pattern in greyscale and note the value placement. Also note the scale and character of the prints. 

Image from Jessie Aller tutorial, printed in greyscale

To help choose fabrics, I laid out the ones I'm considering in light, medium, and dark values. Apparently I saved the photo to greyscale and didn't save a color version. Most of the prints have purple and/or teal in them. 

I've started cutting some of the fabrics that I know I'll use, but I need more options. No problem, I'm going shopping with friends later this week. 

To keep track of what fabric is planned for where, I'm using the handy coloring page included in the tutorial, along with a lightened copy folded to see one quadrant, and a page for logging my fabrics.

I'm sure I'll end up collecting several more prints so I can audition them on the design wall. I want to give the palette my own spin, not just copy the inspiration image. 

Wish me luck - this could be a colossal fail or it could turn out to be something. I need to get it cut and ready to assemble at retreat in April. 

Link Up: Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

 

February Stash Report and Goals Update

Much of February was taken up with a visit from and a collaborative project with my friend Cherie that we're keeping under wraps for now. But I did accomplish some other things, or at least make progress. I started the Opal-Inspired project, which generated leftover scraps. Those scraps became 16-patch blocks. 

Opal-Inspired

The Positively Scrappy flimsy was ready for quilting (backing from PCQ's stash) and I had a successful quilting experience with it: no long arm issues at all! Such a relief after all the issues with the teal project. 

Positively Scrappy

Since the new projects are not pieced to the flimsy stage yet and the yardage for Positively Scrappy has already been counted out, I have only the backing for the X and Plus quilt to count out. It's pieced and ready for quilting at my next long arm time slot. 

February Stash Report: 

IN this month: None.
OUT this month: 4 yards (Backing for X and Plus quilt, 4 yards.)

IN YTD: 21 yards
OUT YTD: 24.25 yards

YTD Net Change: 3.25 yards out

Goals Update: 

February Recap: 

1. Make a Stacked Slabs top, small throw size, to show at PCQ meeting on 2/9. Take it and several of the other PCQ top samples to talk about charity sew day projects. Done and top has been donated. 

2. Assist a friend on the long arm on Feb. 4th. Done. 

3. Host Cherie the week of the 16th for our own at-home retreat. Yes, and we got our secret collaborative project done to the flimsy stage. WE HAD A GREAT TIME!

4. Piece backing for X and Plus quilt; quilt on PCQ's long arm on Feb. 24. Pieced the backing for X and Plus, but quilted Positively Scrappy instead. 

5. Piece backing for the leftover Postage Stamp Blocks top. Done and donated for someone else to quilt and finish. 

6. Work on new Mary's Triangles project at social sewing. Progress: project is cut and kitted up and first few blocks have been started. 

7. Work on new opal-inspired piecing project. Progress: blocks are complete and ready to join into rows. Bonus: pieced the leftover fabrics into small 16-patch blocks. 

Other: Donated 3 older UFO tops, prototypes from my Charity Quilt patterns, to the community service committee. 

One of my goals for the year is to do something about my unquilted UFO tops. Most of them are prototypes or teaching samples from Community Service patterns. You can see them all in the Free Charity Quilt Patterns tab above. I gave three of them to the new community service committee chair. They can hold them for sew day teaching samples, or quilt and donate them, as they wish. They are no longer my UFOs. 

March Goals: 

1. Participate in PCQ's quilt show on March 7. In addition to having two quilts in the show, I signed up to help with take-down after the show closes. I need to add labels to those two quilts.

2. Prep projects for April retreat. Includes fabric shopping, layout and cutting. This is the top priority for March.

3. Quilt the X and Plus top. 

4. Take the Bernina 770 in for repairs. Something is causing thread nests on the underside and thread shredding on the top (not the needle, I've tried several). Also the needle threader is out of alignment. 

5. Work on next steps of the confidential collaborative project.

6. Work on the Mary's Triangles project at social sewing.

7. Continue searching for sashing fabric for Crossroads Wheel blocks.

8. Assemble the Opal-Inspired blocks - OR - the 16 patch blocks made from the leftovers into a top. 

It may not sound like as much as a typical month, but for my April retreat I want to make a Diabolical Jane top, and fabric selection is said to be truly a diabolical challenge. That has to be my focus so I'll be ready to go. 

Positively Scrappy: Quilted and Ready for Binding

Last week my friend Cherie (SeeMoreQuilts.blogspot.com) was here for an at-home retreat at my house. We had a great time and got a lot accomplished, but we're keeping the project under wraps for a while. 

Since then, I had a time slot on PCQ's long arm, so I was able to get Positively Scrappy quilted. I had absolutely no problems whatsoever with the machine or the quilting using the club's light grey thread. 

Well, except that I ran out of bobbin about 90 percent of the way across the last pass and had to stop and wind another bobbin. Sheesh! But still, no quality problems. 

If I say so myself, I love how this quilt turned out. For an essentially black and white quilt, it has A LOT of color in it. It's actually a very cheerful quilt despite all that black.

I still need to bind and label it. The binding is a one of the black/grey prints used in the top. 

At 54" by 72" this will be a good throw size for a teen. It's perfect for one of the charities we support. 

Link Up: Alycia Quilts 

Because...Friends

Last year my buddy Kevin the Quilter send two beautifully pieced tops for me to quilt and donate to one of PCQ's charities. I was blown away by the tiny precision piecing. Kevin's piecing has inspired me to work smaller, which led to the creation of Cherry Jubilee and The Scrappy Pinterest Project. 

Still working with small pieces, I started the Opal Inspired project. I cut one 2" WOF strip of each fabric, and after making the Opal Inspired blocks, I had a lot of partial strips left over. Since the colors are perfect for a baby quilt, I made 16 patch blocks out of them. A few scraps of darker green and orange from my scrap drawer were added for a bit more variety. Here I have nine sets of four identical 6" blocks. 

Taking a page from Kevin's playbook, I spun the seams. When the blocks are sewn together the seams will all nest. 

These blocks could make a 36 by 36 inch baby quilt, or I could add sashing and make it a little bigger. I want to keep it narrow enough to use one width of fabric for the backing, so we'll see. 

So, because Kevin inspired me, this project came into being. Now another friend, Cherie, is coming to spend a few days sewing with me. We're working on a collaborative project that we prefer to keep confidential, so I won't be posting about the project. But I can show you that my sewing room is cleaned up and ready for Cherie. 

My table opens up large enough that we can create a workspace for her to sew at the end of it. I just need to bring in a chair for her and we'll be ready to go. 

She's arriving tomorrow and will be here the rest of the week. So fun to have our own at-home retreat! 

Link up: Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

Opal-Inspired

PCQ has a display window in our Creative Arts Center and we change out the display each month. This year they're using birthstones to determine the featured color each month. January was Garnet, and my red Cherry Jubilee quilt was featured. 

October is Opal. Not my birthstone, but the idea of an opal-inspired color palette got the wheels turning in my brain. I googled images of opals. 

Opal gemstone, screen capture from Google image search

To me, this suggests a palette of low volumes with occasional flecks of aqua, orange, and yellow. Which, by the way, would be good colors for a baby quilt. I pulled fabrics in these colors and selected the most suitable.

I made a few small blocks with scattered bits of my chosen colors. This could be interesting.

The blocks are small, only 6". Once cut, they go together quickly. I've been making them in batches of four matching blocks that can be widely spaced in the quilt top. A 6 by 7 layout will yield a 36" by 42" baby quilt. 

Here are the blocks on my design wall. The overall effect is light with flashes of color. I'll kit it up to sew the top together at social sewing. 

We'll see if the girls on the window committee view this as Opal-inspired in October. 

Link up: Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

Leftover "Almost Postage Stamp" Blocks

Back in 2024 when I started making my Almost Postage Stamp quilt, PCQ was pushing for twin bed size quilts for donation. Then in 2025 we made some changes to our roster of charities, and we no longer need bedspread-size quilts. Smaller throws are now preferred. 

I had planned for my Almost Postage Stamp quilt to be bedspread size, but by reducing the number of blocks I could make it smaller. However, the blocks were already made. What to do with them?  Use them with alternate blocks for another top. 

I couldn't find anything suitable in my stash for the focus fabric. After all, it had to coordinate with already-made blocks, not be the inspiration for the color palette. So a friend and I went shopping, and we found this batik with the right colors in it. But it looked busy next to the checkerboard blocks. She suggested adding a frame around it to give it some separation. Brilliant! 

Since the pieced blocks were already made, this top came together quickly at a couple of mornings of social sewing. It finished at 48 by 60". I found fabric suitable for the backing in PCQ's stash, prepped binding, put in a request for batting from the charity committee, and turned the whole package in for someone else to quilt. 

Win-win-win! No more orphan blocks or UFO here for me. The blocks got used, the long arm committee gets a throw size quilt to use for training, and someone in Hospice will get a nice throw when it's finished. 

Link up: Alycia Quilts