Vintage Sheet Project 3: Rick Rack Patchwork Blocks

ETA 10/12/08:  This post talks about how to make the blocks.  For photos of the finished quilt, check out this post.

After the swap, I ended up with several really great fruit and berries fat quarters cut from sheets and tablecloths.  I wanted to make them into something that would highlight the great prints and maintain the retro look of a vintage fruit tablecloth.  I'd been wanting for a while to do a modified log cabin block with rick-rack pieced into the seams and this seemed a perfect project for that.

 

The following directions are for 12.5"  (12" finished) blocks.  To make a quilt top with 20 blocks (4 wide by 5 tall) you'll need:

• 20 - 4" squares fussy cut from vintage sheets and tablecloths.
• 5/8 Yard each of four coordinating polka dot fabrics with colored grounds, cut into 2" strips.  I used Moda's Friends and Flowers in red, yellow, green and blue. 
• Four 2 1/2 yard packages each of Medium Rick Rack in four colors to match your polka dot fabric.  I used Scarlet, Dark Banana, Leaf Green, and Delft.
• 2.5" strips cut from Vintage Linens.  For each block, you'll need two 8" strips and two 11" strips.  (If you're using fat quarters from the swap, I suggest using 10 fat quarters and cutting enough strips for two blocks from each.)

Note 1:  These measurements and fabric amounts are based on my quick-piecing method, which is detailed below.  To save time and guarantee accuracy, I cut all of my strips 1/4" wider and slightly longer than necessary and then trim them to the right size after each seam is sewn.  While I don't find that this wastes an extraordinary amount of fabric, it's probably not the best method for squeezing the absolute most out of your fabric. 

Note 2:  Vintage sheets can be pesky to patchwork piece with.  A lot of them are made with no-wrinkle 50/50 blends that make pressing a crisp fold difficult to impossible.  Because I was planning to free-motion quilt this top, I didn't worry about it on these blocks.  (Because the free-motion quilting will tack everything down.)  If you're doing less quilting, you might consider backing the pieces cut from sheets with muslin or a lightweight fusible interfacing.

If you're making a quilt that will be washed, I suggest pre-washing your rick-rack.  You'll need to first stitch back and forth across the end of each piece to keep it from unraveling.  Wash the rick-rack inside a lingerie bag and put it in the washer and dryer with your other fabrics. 

When your rick-rack comes out of the washer, it will be kind of bumpy looking.  You can press it flat using your iron with a little bit of steam.  

Start by choosing one of the 4" fussy cut squares.  Choose the rick-rack color you'd like to start with and cut four pieces slightly longer than the 4" block.  Adjust your stitch length up and your tension down a step or two and carefully stitch the rick-rack strips to the edges of the square.  Make sure to keep your stitches close to the edge -- not down the center of the rick-rack.  You may need to stop and start your stitching several times as you move the rick rack into the proper position.  Take your time and make sure your needle is in the down position each time you stop. 

Trim the excess rick-rack and thread from corners to form a perfect square. 

Here's where that quick-piecing method comes in . . .  Choose one of your polka dot strips (which have been cut into 2" strips along the width of the fabric).  Cut two strips slightly wider that your square.  Readjust your tension and stitch length (back to normal) and sew one to the top and one to the bottom, using a 1/4" seam allowance.  If your rick-rack is positioned perfectly -- right along the edge of the square -- your seam should run right through the middle.  Press fabric and seams away from the center and use your rotary cutting tools to trim the edges so they line up perfectly with the center square, as shown in the top left photo. 

Now, cut two more strips from your polka dot fabric, this time slightly taller than the block (including the polka dot piecing you just sewed on).  Sew these strips to the left and right sides of the block, again pressing all fabric and seam allowances toward the outside.

Use your rotary cutter and ruler to trim each side of the block so the polka dot strips measure 1 1/2" from the seam where they meet the center square.  You'll be cutting off about 1/4".  Note how, in the top right photo, the grid-lines on the ruler are lined up not only along the right side of the center square, but along the bottom.  This ensures that you not only have straight sides, but also perfect 90% corners.

Repeat the last few steps with your vintage linen strips but, this time, trim the strips to 2" from the seam where they meet the polka dot fabric. 

Once again, increase your stitch length and lower your tension.  Cut four strips of rick-rack slightly longer than the sides of your block and, using the same method your did with the center square, stitch the rick-rack to all four sides.  Trim corners and return machine settings back to "normal."

Using the same method you used before, add polka dot strips to the top and bottom, and then to the left and right sides of the block.  One again, press all seams to the outside and trim the polka dot fabric so that it measures 1 1/2" from the seam where it meets the vintage linen fabric.

Your block is done!

When I made my blocks, I chose the color arrangements so that all four colors (red, yellow, green and blue) would be represented in each block.  I also paired cool colors and warm colors,  The red and yellow polka dot fabrics are used on blocks with the green and blue rick-rack.  The green and blue polka dots are used on blocks with the red and yellow rick rack.

These are my Style A blocks.  Yellow polka dots in the middle and red on the outside.  I did some of the blocks with the green rick-rack on the inside and blue on the outside and some the opposite.  I like how that adds a little more variety.  I made five of these blocks.

 

These are the Style B blocks.  Red on the inside and yellow on the outside with green and blue rick-rack.  I made five of these blocks.

And the Style C Blocks, with blue dots on the inside and green on the outside with alternating red and yellow rick-rack.  I made five of these blocks too.

Finally, here are the Style D Blocks.  Green on the inside and blue on the outside with red and yellow rick-rack.  I made, you guessed it, five of these blocks.

(You can click on the above photos to see the full view.  Typepad's new formatting tools and I haven't been getting along and I can't get these to post without being either tiny or cut-off.)

 

I arranged my blocks four across and five down and sewed them together with 2 1/2" white linen sashing.

I'm currently working on free-motion quilting this project.  It's challenging to avoid the rick-rack, but I'm liking the way it looks!  I'll post photos of the finished product when it's done.  I have some awesome red and white seersucker for the binding that I can't wait to use.

Comments

[Rashida]

Elizabeth, this has to be my absolute most favorite blog post ever! I just want to jump through the computer and steal this quilt from you and run back to my house with it! I love it!

[Bloom]

Wow Elizabeth, this is so stunning! Thank you for the wonderful post detailing your construction. This quilt it going to have 'babies' all over the world I reckon! It is delightful. Congratulations. And the stippling is the perfect finish.

[sonia]

wow...this is great! I'm curiuos as to how long it took you to make.

[seashoreknits]

that is so stunningly beautiful - wonderful wonderful work!!!

[lindamade]

wow, this is so gorgeous and i can't believe you squeezed so much goodness into one post. the quilt is so beautiful, and you are so speedy! can't wait to see the finished quilt. :)

[Meredith]

This is SO BEAUTIFUL!!!

[Lera]

WOW! That's gorgeous.

[Jessica]

I adore the colors and the composition... just amazing- I love it!!

[cherrie]

I love this and your quilting is beautiful. Cherrie

[Melissa Quaal]

Holy Moley, this is the coolest thing ever. A million ideas are racing through my head. I adore ricrac but never quite know how to use it. I might just try to exactly copy this quilt, I love it so much. Great use of vintage! Thanks for posting.

[Tara]

This is freakin' adorable! I love it!

[Christie]

Your quilt looks fantastic, thanks for sharing your technique!

[jessica]

This is sooo fun! I love it!

[mary]

Your quilt is really beautiful. I love all the detail you added with rick rack and quilting. What a wonderful way to display those beautiful vintage sheets.

[heather hales DESIGNS]

ack! the cuteness!! this turned out WONDERFUL!

[Lara]

As always, exquisite work! The fabric and colour combination is fantastic. Elizabeth, have you thought about collecting all of your tutorials and projects and publishing them as a book? Your finished work, instructions and attention to detail make you a natural in craft publishing in my humble opinion! At the rate you quilt it wouldn't take belong before you had more than enough material. I know I'd buy it (much simpler than loads of blog printouts!)

[Tine]

I love the ric-rac!! And the framed fruit! It's a gorgeous quilt :-)

[Julia]

The quilt is stunning - simply LOVE the combination of colours used, ric rac and polka dots with the vintage sheets!
Thank you for sharing this really great tutorial!! I always look forward to a new post from you ;o)

[the pesky bombolino]

Very, very gorgeous! And so much good advice, thanks for sharing, you're a star!

[fiona]

what an amazing quilt, i love the ric-rac sewn into the seams, you are one clever cookie Elizabeth:)

[Stephanie]

Wow that was fast and so pretty!!! Great info on how to wash rick rack.

[lavon]

Wow! the first words out of my mouth with I clicked on to your blog.

This is beautiful! Thanks for sharing the how to of this quilt. I will put this on my list of to try to complete projects.

Thanks so much! this is wonderful

[jessica]

I love this quilt. Those colors plus the ric rac really make it stunning. Of course, free motion quilting doesn't do any harm either!!!! You are so talented!

[Marcia]

Wow! Really, Wow! Every time I think you have made something so creative, you top yourself with another great creation!

[Colleen]

Just lovely! Your work is amazing!