The QM Scrap Squad is a select group of seven QM readers. They take one pattern from each regular issue of Quiltmaker and create their own scrappy versions to inspire you.
This quilt is found on the cover of the Jan/Feb ’13 issue of Quiltmaker.
Caribbean Vacation from Jan/Feb ’13 Quiltmaker, designed and sewn by Denise Starck.Quilted by Hatty Brown. Fabrics: Dear Stella.
It’s Caribbean Vacation, designed and sewn by Denise Starck, QM’s Graphic Designer. It was quilted by Hatty Brown. The fabrics are Dear Stella.
Today’s featured quilt is by Jackie Hughes from Spirit Lake, Idaho. You’ll hear from Jackie in her own words below.
Jackie Hughes from Spirit Lake, Idaho
This Scrap Squad quilt was soon due—but I also needed a king-sized quilt in time for Christmas. Knowing it would be difficult to make two complete quilts with the holidays coming up, I decided to make the Scrap Squad quilt a king.
Limited by the color preference of the recipient (brown and green) I began looking through my stash.
This RJR Thimbleberries fabric was one of my candidates for the focal fabric. I saw the date in the selvage and realized it was almost 10 years old. I decided right then that this fabric had waited long enough. This was the one.
I needed 90 squares from it and can you believe there was just enough fabric? I only had one square left at the end. This fabric was definitely meant to be!
This quilt seemed quite simple to make, all strips and squares. I cut a few strips of each color and cut units for one block. My reds were a little dark, but other than that it seemed like it would work.
I put nine blocks on the wall (minus a few Four Patches), placing them all straight instead of rotating every other block 1/4 turn like the original layout. It seemed a little dreary. I generally use brighter colors in my quilts. How could I brighten up green and brown? The red just wasn’t doing it. Hmm…what about that gold in the focal print?
This should brighten it up!
Yes, much brighter!
As I looked at these blocks on the wall, I noticed the green pieces almost made a diagonal zig-zag across the quilt. Too bad the red squares interrupted the lines.
Hey, I think I can fix that!
I took these Four Patches and rotated them 180 degrees.
The zig-zag line is complete!
Now, one small problem, this was supposed to be green AND brown!
What if I substituted half of the green with the brown units?
I really liked this!
So this was my final block. Now I need 81 more. Some speedy piecing techniques sounded good! Here are some things that helped this project go a little faster.
Since my strips were from scraps they were all different lengths. As I came to the end of one I just added the next one on and kept sewing until I had a mound of strips piling up behind my machine.
Then I cut them apart at every join.
Finally I staggered about 10 strips on my cutting mat, lining them up with each line on my mat to help keep them fairly straight.
I trimmed the edge and then I could quickly cut many units at once.
Teenagers can press open stacks of Four Patches—which helps thing move along. I also discovered they are quick at math. I was informed that 90 blocks with 31 pieces each equals 2794 pieces in my quilt top. I think I may have been more appreciative of learning that fact after all my blocks were made!
With a little perseverance I soon had my blocks completed. I laid them out in the original configuration before I sewed them all together.
This would have made a great quilt too, but I really liked my zig-zags!
Blocks and rows were sewn together and I added a plain brown border.
I quilted an overall leaf design.
The final result: The biggest quilt I have ever made—and completely from my stash.
My “mostly” green and brown version of Caribbean Vacation.
It’s always good to ask yourself “what if?” during a project. By doing so, Jackie discovered a wonderful surprise in this quilt and made it uniquely her own. Jackie has consistently delivered amazing quilts to us this year. Please join me in thanking her for a job well done on the 2012 Scrap Squad.