The QM Scrap Squad is a select group of seven QM readers. They take one pattern from each regular issue of Quiltmaker and make their own scrappy versions to inspire you.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
The featured quilt from the March/April issue is Chain Reaction, a design by Lee Heinrich of Freshly Pieced. Here’s the original quilt made in Pear Tree fabrics by Thomas Knauer for Andover.
Clik here to view.
Chain Reaction designed by Lee Heinrich. Fabric: Pear Tree by Thomas Knauer for Andover Fabrics. Appears in Quiltmaker March/April '12, No. 144.
Today’s featured Scrap Squad member is Jackie Hughes from Spirit Lake, Idaho.
Clik here to view.
Jackie Hughes
You’ll hear from Jackie in her own words below.
I was a little nervous about the first scrap squad quilt. What if I hated the pattern? I needn’t have worried. I loved the design the moment I saw it.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.The hardest part for me is deciding on a color scheme. I had several ideas and it was hard to narrow it down. I looked at my stash of 2 1/2″ strips. There was a definite majority of red and black and that’s how I made my final color choice. The two-color background was a fun accident. My original idea was a black background, but I considered white too. As I had both colors pulled out I tried them side by side and discovered I liked that effect.
I tried to make my fabrics varied. My reds were brighter and darker, some pinkish and some orangeish. My whites were small and large prints.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.I found it awkward to cut the block, measuring in 1/2″ and then aligning the 30-degree mark on my ruler with the edge of my block, without moving from that 1/2″ mark. I don’t often use all those lines on my cutting mat but I discovered a great use for them this time.
I lined my block up with the markings on my mat so the corner of the block was 1/2″ away from the 30-degree line on my cutting mat. Then I knew exactly where my 1/2″ was and I could easily make sure my ruler was at the right angle, too.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.I auditioned blue and yellow for an inner border but decided on a checked fabric. I fussy cut it to show exactly two squares in the border.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.I had scraps left from making the quilt and wondered if I could somehow incorporate them into the border. I pinned them around to get an idea of my design and the spacing between them.Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.I had 41 of these scraps and I didn’t really want to cut more. I figured nine on the top and bottom and 11 on the sides equals 40. Since these scraps were cut on an angle it was hard to figure out exactly where to measure and cut in order to piece them together.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.I determined how far apart they should be and laid two on my cutting board that distance apart. Where the strips overlapped, I aligned my ruler with the edge of the top one, moved it over 1/2″ to allow for a seam allowance, pulled the top strip away and cut the bottom one.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.I sewed these pieces together and added a 2″ strip of black on either side with a black square in each corner.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.I made the top border and was nervous—would it be the right size? It was just a little large so I went back and resewed an extra one-eighth inch on each seam, then spaced them a tad closer for the bottom border.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.Jackie's finished Chain Reaction
Quilting was a simple stipple in the background/border areas and outlining of the chains.
* * * * *
Another beautiful job by a new Scrap Squad member! Stay tuned for more reveals in the days to come.