There are many block patterns that can be made entirely from scraps. Some of them are shown here. It is magic to build these blocks and see the many variations that can occur. Using a foundation of paper or fabric cut to the finished size helps to keep the block ‘square’.
Collect
An assortment of scrap fabrics.
Foundation paper (old telephone book paper or typing paper are great, it needs to be very lightweight).
Cut
Cut the foundation paper to the size of the finished block you require. The photos here show 6.5” blocks.
Cut the fabric scraps into rough strips. You can even piece strips by joining scraps of fabric.
Construct
For this scrappy block random uneven strips are added each side of a centre strip (left and right patches in the photo upper right). Allow a little extra overhang for trimming rather than skimping on fabric.
Start by placing the centre strip on the paper right side up. Here I have used a strip of solid navy blue. Then put the next strip on top of it wrong side up. Sew through both strips and paper using the normal ¼” seam. Use a short stitch length to make removal of the foundation paper easier.
Press open the top strip then lay the next strip on it wrong side up and repeat this process until half the paper is covered.
Repeat the process for the other half of the paper.
Tear the paper away from the fabric carefully to finish the block.
The finished block is then trimmed from the back using a cutting ruler as a guide. Take care to trim to a perfect square.
Four blocks can be joined to form a 12.5” block. You can even make a strip of blocks to use as a quilt border.
Variations
Crazy Patch
Border Strip
Quilt as you go uses the backing and batting (or just polar fleece) as the foundation).
Instead of using paper as the foundation you can use batting and backing, sewing right through all three layers. This is a quilt-as-you-go technique. Your finished item then only needs to be trimmed and a binding added. The two table runners in the photo use this technique.
Notes and Tips
The strips and patches can be added in any variation. They can be diagonal as in the instructions or you can make half the block in one direction and the other in another direction. They can be perfectly vertical as in the Christmas runner or completely crazy. The heart in the quilt picture on the top of this page, and the block above the heart could also use this technique. Colours can be arranged randomly or to create a special effect. Experiment and have fun.
The quilt border in the border strip photo used scrap fine fabric as the foundation and this was not removed before joining the blocks.
Helpful Resources
Other links to some online lessons and helpful resources can be found at www.rainbowconnectionquilters.blogspot.com .
To do your own searches some suggested search terms might be:
foundation piecing
typing paper quilt block
quilt as you go
crazy patch quilts
Susan provides more detailed, illustrated instructions for the typing paper quilt block at http://www.straw.com/equilters/library/quickquilts/typing/typing-quilt.html
There is a great outline of this technique at http://www.straw.com/equilters/library/quickquilts/typing/typing-quilt2b.html
Kaleidoscope and Mariners Compass blocks are also best made using foundation piecing techniques.
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