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

[Jodi]

Oh my heck! O.K. does your family do that "my name is on this" thing, and don't forget to state it in the will? I've asked Nanette to put my name on her bird quilt, and now I'm thinkin this quilt should be in your will to me! LOL I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this quilt! Goin in my top 5 fav's! I think I'll print it and hang it on my wall. Absolutely Ah-door-ah-bull!!!
ooxx~jod

[Joan C]

Your quilt is adorable. I have some vintage fabric that my grandmother used to make aprons for her daughters back in the 40's and 50's. I have been saving the small amount that I inherited and now I know what to do with it. Instead of one quilt, I am going to make mini quilts (probably single blocks)and give them to her great grand children and remaining grand daughters. Thank you so much for the inspiration.
Joan C

[Hope]

This is beautiful! I love all the combinations of prints with all the brightly colored polka dots and ric rac. My favorite sheet project of yours so far. Thanks for sharing.

[Tracey]

Oh My Goodness, I am drooling over here! That is such a cute quilt. I never thought about using ric-rac like that. You are so good at the free motion quilting too. I tried it once and now I just hand my quilts over to my sister to do on her long-arm machine.

[carrie]

wow! that looks so amazing!

[Anita]

What a great quilt! It is so refreshing and colorful. I'm going to have add it to my ever-growing list of quilts I want to make!!

[Alex]

I'm totally impressed, what a great idea. I love using vintage fabrics for quilts and it's great to see them repurposed in such a modern way.

[Teresa]

Oh I love this. I never would have thought of adding ric rac to a quilt, but it just looks perfect! Adorable!

[Lisa Clarke]

Holy COW! How long did that take you to make?? So many wonderful details. That is just amazing. I could never have the patience for a project like that.

[Natasha]

Wow - absolutely stunning. Extremely effective. I just have to try rick rack in a quilt.

[Amy]

I am amazed by all of your beautiful projects. It was also fun to see that you used one of the fat quarters that I sent from the swap!

[Gail]

Okay my heart seriously skipped a beat when I saw this. It is sooooo beautiful, and I am in LOVE! I have just started the FQ swap on my blog and hope I can make one of these too. (I doubt it will be as lovely as yours, but one can dream)

[Janice]

Get out! So worth the short wait :) Who in their right mind could not love vintage+polkadots+rikrak all in one happy little squish bundle. Seriously.

I read this post:

http://kellymccaleb.typepad.com/my_happy_little_life/2008/08/be-true.html

This part in particular I thought was so true:

"a long time ago i made some rules for myself to be sure i was being real, and not letting the blogging world make me feel inadequate or like i needed to compete or copy. i know so many people who struggle with reading blogs and feeling envious and bad about themselves. quit it! what's the point of that? follow my rules: 1. only read blogs that truly inspire you to be your best self. if you are reading a blog that makes you feel bad, unsubscribe."

and have to say, that is what your blog is to me.... It's real and sincere without making it feel unattainable. Which in turn inspires me when I read it/see your crafting. Great job on this quilt :)

[Denise]

I love rick rack and polka dots, great combo! Beautiful quilt.

[Chris S.]

I almost never post on blogs -- 2 kiddos keep me from typing comments. But I just had to today. This is absolutely one of my favorite things I've ever seen. Really. It is simply perfect. Thank you for making my day.

[Kymberly]

WOW! What a great quilt! My first thought was that it would be a great quilt for picnics and that I had to make one myself. Thank you so much for sharing your process. I never would have thought to use rick rack in a quilt but it looks stunning. And I must agree with Lara on the book idea...I'd be first in line to purchase it.

[Billie]

Hello, my first comment here and I just wanted to say thanks for the info about rick-rack, because I would have never thought to wash it. I have the lingerie bag and rick-rack to wash, so I'm ready to go. I've made quilt blocks before but not with rick-rack. I'm looking forward to trying this out. Thanks, again.

[Billie]

Oh, btw, your blocks are beautiful. There is no way I'll attempt free-motion quilting, I'm a clutz! But I am going to try the rick-rack.

[Shelly G.]

The quilt is so beautiful... I love the ric-rac. I have been sewing for years and have never prewashed my ric-rac... Have you had it bleed on your fabrics?

[Jenifer]

This is by far the most beautiful, fun, quirky, quilt I have ever seen! Wow!

[Theresa]

Beautiful quilting! Thank you for sharing the instructions w/us!

[elizabeth of course]

That red polka-dot edged one, with the lemon in the center, And the yellow print vintage sheet? I have that sheet on my bed right now!

[Mary@Turkeyfarmtreasures]

Absolutely Brilliant. I'm inspired by this beautiful project.

[randi]

Oh WOW! This quilt is amazing!

[Katie]

Okay, now THIS one is my new favorite of your quilts. I'm still in the process of copying your giraffe quilt (almost done), but this one's going to be next. I think I'll form an Oh Fransson Tribute Website, where I just post photos of my ripoffs of your quilts about six months after you post about them!