Happy Monday! Welcome to the “Scraps Monday” quilt along edition! As I mentioned last week, I headed out for a few days to teach at a retreat in beautiful Bryce Canyon, Utah. My “me” sewing for the evenings was my American Patchwork & Quilting “Go Four It” project. Since this is a scrap project, I thought today would be a good time to share a little of my progress and process.
I initially started by cutting all of my light strips. It took a little while since my quilt is going to be king-size, but I’m really glad I did that. Having all of the light strips cut from the beginning has allowed me to make sure there is plenty of contrast in each strip set. I want my four-patches to stand out.
Next I started cutting the colored strips, but I stopped before cutting them all. I want to wait until I get several blocks assembled to make sure I have the color combinations I’m going to love and want in this quilt.
I am definitely in love with this quilt already…
I had forgotten my good iron, and so pressing the four-patches with the hotel room iron wasn’t the easiest task, but I had to get some finished up! I just couldn’t wait to see how they were going to turn out.
A lot of women do handwork during the trunk show/lecture portions of the retreat I was attending, so one night I took a string of over 100 of my four patch units that I had chain-pieced that afternoon. I was able to sit during the meeting and use my seam ripper to remove the end stitches from both sides of the center seams so I could “twirl” that center seam flat in order to eliminate bulk. I’ve never done this with my pieces still “attached” from the chain-piecing, but it went much, much faster this way! I will always use this method from now on.
For now I’m keeping finished four-patch blocks in one plastic container…
and strip sets ready to made into four-patch units in another. It’s helpful to keep things organized this way. Now that I’ve made a few four-patches in each color combination I’ll probably work on them one color at a time. Unless of course I get bored and need to switch things up!
I couldn’t finish up this post without a few snapshots from Bryce. The beauty of this national park is incredible: the contrast between the red rocks, the pines, and the patches of snow was awe-inspiring.
What scrappy projects are you working on this week? I’d love to have you link up below. Thanks so much for stopping by!
Mary Roberts says
Hoping not to appear too dim could you better explain or show an example of your stitch ripping twirl? I've read it several times and still can't get my head around what you are doing. Thanks
Sigi G says
I have 'sort of' attempted this cutting method to reduce bulk at the center seam, but am so afraid I will cut the wrong seam and have a hole develop in the center. How do you determine which seam to cut?
I'm hoping to start a few new scrappy quilts soon using my mini charm packs.
Needled Mom says
Bryce is one of the most gorgeous places. Love those little 4 patches.
Hildy says
No sewing this weekend here because I've got a new window in my bed-/sewing room and need to do some serious clean up. The upside on this I've found some already cut charm pacs, can't remember what I had in mind with these (of course no patterns attached) but I'm sure gonna do something with them.
Love your little 4-patches they're so cute and pure Fig Tree heaven!
Rene' says
Thanks for sharing your process Sherri! I love how your four patches are coming together. As previous commenters said, I'm a little hesitant to rip the stitches in the seam. Any additional tips would be greatly appreciated.
em's scrapbag says
Love all the four patches. I just saw a bunch of quilts using them. Made me want to make a bunch. Your method would make them go much faster.
Val's Quilting Studio says
I just found your linky party while visiting Em's Scrapbag. Thanks for the Monday opportunity to share!
Laura Chaney says
Love how these are coming together. I can only imagine the adventure you had with the hotel iron!
Barbara says
Love your blocks. Thanks for the tips. How long do you make your strips.
Barbara