Scrappy Mystery Quilt-a-long Block Options
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When I first started planning this Scrappy Mystery Quilt-a-long, I had all sorts of ideas of how to make the blocks, variations in the blocks, and how to put them together.
Sometimes I get a little bit carried away.. and I had to remind myself that I was trying to keep it simple 🙂 Surprise corner pinwheels got scrapped (or saved for another quilt!)
I still found it hard to stick to the one option, and so I started the Christmas one with “co-ordinated” scraps…. I’m still only on step 2 with them:
Then, since I had hardly made a dent in my two boxes of 2 1/2″ scraps, I started another one.. this time with white squares in the center of the 9 patch:
And then I told myself to stop starting new versions.
So far I have listened to myself.
I have had a lot of emails asking if it can be made bigger, and of course the answer is yes 🙂 While we still have the borders to put on, the main section of the quilt can be made bigger by adding more blocks, or by adding sashing.
Initially sashing between the blocks was planned, but since I wanted the QAL done by the end of June, I decided to go the simpler way.
I am, however, planning on putting sashing with a scrappy square (cornerstone?) on my third version with the white square in the middle.
I had a bit of a play on the design wall. If you add sashing with a scrappy square it will look a bit like this:
I like how it gives a more “spacious” feel compared to the original without the sashing:
On the other hand, I also like the way the original layout is “chunkier” to match the 9 patch.
Hence the need to make another one… sigh..
So, a quick mock-up of the blocks with my “new” 9 patches:
And the “new” 9 patches with sashing….
If you are at this stage and want to put sashing, just cut seventeen 14 1/2″ strips from 2 1/2″ backing fabric. (I hope I got that right. Math whizzes feel free to correct me! My brain is a bit fuzzy at the moment) The scrappy square is just a 2 1/2″ square.
I had some other ideas too, but I must stop… I encourage you to be creative! Would love to see different versions of putting the squares together (I am sure Susan will do something different!!)
On Monday I will be sharing some different borders, because I couldn’t decide on one…. well, more to the point I couldn’t decide how many to do. So there will be options for that too.
I’ve been busy and haven’t had a chance to check blogs… but hopefully I will get there tomorrow… for now I need to head back to the sewing room 🙂 Hope you’re having a relaxing weekend…
Thank you so much for your hard work. I know how much work a quiltalong is. This one came along at a great time for me. I look forward to the borders.
I love that there’s options! Not that I’m doing the project myself, but I love having options. I think my favourite thing about this is that it’s scrappy – a nod to what I feel is the true definition of a quilt.
I love this scrappy quilt! Thanks for all of the options too.
Looks good. I’ve been torn between adding more blocks and adding more borders. Since I’m not even there on these twelve, I’ll wait and see what else comes up before deciding. It’s really a versatile pattern, when you look at all these possibilities! I have some of those same Christmas fabrics, but I’m not starting another one until this one is finished!
Ah!!!!! I’ve got 4 sitting on the floor in a setting I’d come up with too. Something similar to your second option, so you know me well. DH even said he liked it. Frosty here this morning. Thanks & take care.
I’m putting mine together edge to edge sans sashing; I gave it a thought but liked the size without better! What a great QAL-it will be all finished and a completed quilt next weekend!
Hi Joy, So many ideas! Too bad we couldn’t work faster than we come up with ideas! Finally finished sewing the binding on the great grandson baby quilt expected in July. Been keeping busy dehydrating lots of things. Nancy
Thank you for this quilt-a-long. It came at a time when I needed the thinking already done for me and all I needed to do was pull the scrappy squares in my bin and sew. Much appreciated.