from blank pages...: Candy Land Quilt: Straight Block Tutorial

~~Yikes, I should really figure out a new name to call this quilt.~~ :) It was called, do.Good Stitches - Feb. Block, but have sensed changed it... thanks to Cori! ;)

This tutorial is for one block of a quilt we are making for our February do.Good Stitches quilt. You can find the rest of the tutorials for this quilt by going to the main post.

Ok, so here is the tutorial for making the Straight Line blocks for our February do.Good Stitches quilt. I have two sets of instructions - one is for just one block, and then one is for 2 blocks and includes a shortcut for sewing lots of scraps together. All instructions include a 1/4" seam allowance.

So first, super quick and easy:

Instructions for 1 Block

Cut:

From your background fabric (BGF):

can you read that? 3 strips - 2.5" x 12.5"
and 2 strips - 1.5" x 12.5"

From your scraps:

48 random squares - 1.5" x 1.5"

Randomly piece the scrappy squares together so you have 4 strips with 12 squares each. (The strips should measure 12.5" by 1.5") (Scrappy Strips = SS)

Next piece the strips together in this order:

2.5" BGF + SS + 1.5" BGF + SS + 2.5" BGF + SS + 1.5" BGF + SS + 2.5" BGF

And you are finished! Quick and painless, and super cute! :)

Now if you are making multiple blocks, to help keep your sanity, and not have to deal with 96 tiny squares (or more if you are making more than 2 blocks), here is another way to put these together. :) (Of course if you are working purely from scraps, just follow the instructions for 1 block. But if you are planning on cutting from fabric, or using the same fabric for multiple squares, this will make things much easier. Adjust for how many different prints you are using, as well as how many blocks you are making. If you have questions on how to do that, just ask in the comments or shoot me an email!) :)

Instructions for 2 Blocks

(or easily adjust for more)

Cut:

From your background fabric (BGF):

6 strips - 2.5" x 12.5"

4 strips - 1.5" x 12.5"

From your scraps:

This is where it will vary depending on how many colors you are using, and how many prints. The goal is to end up with 96 - 1.5" x 1.5" squares for every 2 blocks. For the sake of example I will calculate it as follows:

for the do.Good stitches quilt we are using 6 colors = 16 squares per color
if everyone uses 4 prints in each color = 24 prints = 4 squares/fabric

From each of 24 prints cut 1 strip that is 1.5" x 6" (sorry no pictures.)

Once your fabric is cut, sew 12 of those scrap strips together along the 6" side. Repeat with the remaing 12 strips. You should now have two strips that are 12.5" x 6". (TIP: when sewing these together, alternate the sides you start from - this will keep them straight. If, looking at the picture below, you always start your seams from the left side of the block, your strips will for some reason start curving to the left (or right, I can't remember), alternating sides will eliminate this, making the next step easier and more precise.)

Don't laugh at my sad attempt to portray different fabrics. lol.

Ok, you can laugh. ;)

Now iron and them nicely so they are flat and straight! (I don't like to iron, and don't if I don't have to, but this is pretty important so that you cut the strips straight!)

And then cut each of these strips into 4 - 1.5" strips (scrappy strips = SS)

Now, so you don't have 4 SS that are exactly the same, take 2 from each of the two groups and put them aside. (One you will leave as is, the other you can simply flip upside down and it will be different enough.)

can you see how every other strip is simply rotated 180 degrees? A super quick and easy trick to add variety. :)

With the other 4 SS (2 from each set), use your seam ripper and randomly take some of the blocks apart. (You can actually skip this part and just use the four above for one block and repeat with the other 4 strips for the next block. BUT if you want to add a little more variety, you can continue with this step.)