As you may have surmised from my last post, the Hedgerow pattern is going to be delayed yet again by the project I'm working on this summer. I know that a lot of you liked my Scrappy Starling quilt though, so I thought I would at least post a tutorial on how to make those.
The finished blocks are 12" square (12.5" before they're sewn). Each block is made of two components: 3.5" squares for the center and 1.5" and 1.75" strips for the rings/square-in-squares.
I think this pattern is most successful when the center squares are fussy cut from a "picture print" like the Alexander Henry Starlings print that I used. I used the same print for all of my center squares, but this quilt would be wonderful, and even scrappier, with center squares cut from a variety of different prints. (Maybe some great Japanese animal or fairy tale prints!?)
I chose the fabrics for my strips based on the colors in the Starling print. To make blocks like mine -- where each ring is monochromatic -- you'll need to have no fewer than four fabrics each in at least four different colors. For more variety, you may want as many as eight or ten different prints in each color.
To make an entire quilt top, you will need to cut several 1.5" wide strips and several 1.75" strips from each fabric. Strips should vary in length from 3.5" to 12.5".
I didn't organize my strips by color, but I did keep one bin for 1.5" strips and one bin for 1.75" strips, so I wouldn't confuse them as I worked. I like the slight variation caused by using 1.5" and 1.75" wide strips but, if this is too fussy for you, you can definitely use all 1.75" strips for 13" finished blocks!
Start your first block by choosing four same-colored 1.5" strips.
Sew one strip to the top of one center square and trim, squaring up the edges.
Now, sew another strip to the right side of the center square, again trimming to square everything up.
Continue around the block, in a clockwise fashion, sewing a third strip to the bottom and a fourth to the left side.
Now that the first "ring" is finished, gather four 1.75" wide strips in a different color to start the second.
Use the same clockwise method to sew a second ring.
Gather four 1.5" strips in a third color and sew yet another ring. Notice how we're alternating between the thinner and slightly wider rings. For even more variety, you can make the rings on half of your blocks in this order and the other half starting with the 1.75" strips.
Finish your block by sewing a fourth ring, using 1.75" strips. That's all there is to it!
A couple of notes about my quilt:
My quilt included nine 12" blocks with 2" sashing between the blocks and a 3" border around the outside. The finished quilt is about 46" square.
I used six different colors of strips and chose randomly which four would be in each block. I also included a solid of each color and, when placing them in blocks, I tried to be careful as I was sewing the rings to never put more than one solid on any side of the block. (See the above photo for an example.)
I ended up making one extra block and used my leftover strips to make a pieced stripe on the back of the quilt. If you look closely, you can see where I pieced together smaller leftover strips to make them long enough. That's something you can do within your blocks too!
If you end up making any of these blocks, I would love to see them in my Flickr Pool!
That fabric is one reason why I want to work for Alexander Henry, or marry him, if he's a single entity and not just a name.
I look forward to your posts for inspiration and motivation. Keep up the great work!
Posted by: allison | June 28, 2009 at 01:23 PM
That is so cool! You make it look so easy to! I will definitely give it a go. Thanks for taking the time to share that with us.
Posted by: Stacey | June 28, 2009 at 01:24 PM
That turned out absolutely adorable. It might be a good way to use up some of the strips that I have been saving.
Posted by: Michelle | June 28, 2009 at 01:38 PM
Beautiful blocks.
Beautiful quilt.
I'll let you know when I get a chance to make some of my own.
Andi :-)
Posted by: andi | June 28, 2009 at 02:04 PM
Thank you for the thorough tutorial. Its easy to follow. Now to choose which fabrics to use.
Posted by: Janet Lucas | June 28, 2009 at 02:25 PM
Thanks so much for this! Incredibly generous and I can't wait to start cutting!
Posted by: Kate | June 28, 2009 at 03:29 PM
Yay! Thanks so much. I'm going to get on to this one.
deb
Posted by: Deb | June 28, 2009 at 04:51 PM
Thanks so much for sharing! The tutorial and the tips are great! I have to find some of that Alexander Henry fabric! I just love his stuff!
Thanks again!
Posted by: Cheryl | June 28, 2009 at 05:49 PM
So cute I love the starling print and what a great way to highlight them! By the way the back of your quilt is gorgeous!
Posted by: Hillary | June 28, 2009 at 06:03 PM
Your quilt turned out so nice; I love all the nice variety of fabrics used.
You are so kind sharing so many tutorials with everyone!
Posted by: Patty | June 28, 2009 at 06:25 PM
So I totally just stare at so many of your quilts in awe of their beauty....but this is by far my absolute favorite. Just LOVELY!!!
Posted by: M | June 28, 2009 at 06:35 PM
thanks for the tutorial!! the blocks are adorable!
Posted by: jaybird | June 28, 2009 at 07:02 PM
I love what you did with the back of the quilt.
Posted by: Cindy Young Waldron | June 28, 2009 at 07:55 PM
I have died and gone to heaven. That is just too gorgeous for words ... I just received some AH Starlings in the mail last week and bought a Moda jelly roll on the weekend just because it looked pretty. I think I now know what I will be making for my second quilt! Thanks so much for sharing this :)
Posted by: from little things ... | June 28, 2009 at 08:11 PM
I really love the Starling print. For me it's perfect for a baby quilt. Too bad I am on a fabric ban. Your quilt is so spectacular. Thanks for sharing how to do it. Now there is no excuse for me not to start one!
Posted by: Kim | June 28, 2009 at 09:36 PM
i love love love it !!!
great fabric...
and i great artist who brings the fabric in form !!
Posted by: stella | June 29, 2009 at 01:36 AM
Gorgeous! I am just starting to get back into the "zone" of quilting after a bit of a holiday, I might add this to my list of things I want to try!
Thanks for posting.
Posted by: Margaret | June 29, 2009 at 02:01 AM
So awesome! thank you for posting this.
I've added it to my list of to-do...
Posted by: Kelly O. | June 29, 2009 at 06:43 AM
Thank you so much for this great tutorial, they look absolutely fabulous!!!
Posted by: Heather | June 29, 2009 at 06:47 AM
I've been looking for a pattern to make for my baby girl's 'future' twin bed...I've been collecting fabric...until I found the perfect one. And here it is! Thank you soo much!
Posted by: Nikki | June 29, 2009 at 10:49 AM
What a great tutorial! I've been collecting some cherry prints, and this may just be the design for it! Gorgeous quilt!
Posted by: Katy- Starbound Studios | June 29, 2009 at 11:03 AM
Oh my goodness! Your quilt is super fabulous!
Posted by: brooke | June 29, 2009 at 09:36 PM
I love this quilt. I even have the starling fabric in a different colorway. I may just have to follow your lead. Thanks for the great instructions!
Posted by: Sue | June 30, 2009 at 07:16 AM
Thank you for yet another wonderful tutorial. I absolutely LOVE this quilt.
You are so talented and will be missed as I check here every single day!
Posted by: Jane | June 30, 2009 at 06:30 PM
I just love how brave you are in your fabric choices!! I really enjoy all of the different fabrics in each ring of your quilt. Maybe one day I'll break out of my matchy-matchy box and become brave like you!!
Posted by: WendyLou | July 01, 2009 at 06:15 AM