This quilt was originally inspired by a brand new collection of plain organic cottons from the Craft Cotton Company. I wanted a pattern where I could incorporate a large number of colours but let them all shine individually. I came up with this chevron quilt pattern. The process was experimental so, when I reproduced it for this blog, I decided to use some of my scrap stash and create the Scrappy Chevron Quilt. It is amazing how many long pieces you end up with after 15 years of quilting and dressmaking. This would also be an excellent pattern to use up some of your jelly rolls. I made a few changes to the second attempt; I will explain what those differences as I go along.
My favourite thing about this quilt is that it looks complicated, some may think that it took hours of fiddly skilled sewing. The reality is that it is a pretty quick make once you have gathered your fabrics. The key is to make two main quilt tops with the full strips first, then cut these into columns.
Finished Size: 110cm x 140cm
Seam Allowance: ¼"
YOU NEED
A pile of scraps or 2.5" strips of fabrics
Quilting ruler, rotary cutter and mat
All your usual sewing supplies
METHOD
1. You need 48 full bolt width 2.5" strips of fabric to create a quilt that is around 110cm x 140cm. If you are making a scrappy quilt like mine, join smaller 2.5" strips to make them up to size. A bolt width is around 110cm.
2. Layout two quilt tops in a way that pleases you. I have tried to alternate dark and light fabrics. In the plain cottons I have used a medium grey in-between the colours. You could use scraps and a plain fabric like the grey. If you are using a solid in-between, make sure the top and bottom row on both sections start with the same colour (you will need an odd number of rows).
In my first plain fabric quilt I used a 60° angle. On the scrappy one I used a 45° angle. In hindsight, I prefer the 60° but you pick which ever option you prefer.
3. You need to sew the strips together along the long edges. As we will be cutting them at an angle, stagger the strips. Use your quilting ruler with the angle you want to use straight along the top row. You can then work out how much to stagger them by. You could use pins or cut a little notch to give yourself a guide.
NOTE: The big thing I learnt from the first quilt was that you need to stagger the two sections in opposite directions.
4. Press your fabric to the dark sections.
5. Use your ruler again to find the angle you want to use and cut the two tops you have just created into 6" columns. You should get 4 strips from each section. Each section will be running in the opposite direction.
NOTE: Even with the best planning a there is still a bit of wastage after this step (I have another plan for those bits though).
6. Layout your columns so they alternate and create the chevron effect.
7. Sew your columns together.
8. Trim the top and bottom.
9. Your chevron top is done! Now just finish in your usual way.
BACKING
For the rainbow solids, I used a backing with a quilting theme from Lewis and Irene. It had a bit of all the colours in and I liked that it reflected my love of quilting. For my scrappy quilt I used a fun parrot fabric that I have had for a while. I liked that it was a bit random, colourful but also had a planty element to it, I do love a good plant.
QUILTING
I have done two different styles of quilting for these two quilts. For the rainbow solids, I quiltied half an inch either side off the edge of the grey lines in grey cotton.
For the scrappy quilt I have gone with a random, quite large freemotion.
MAKE IT EXTRA SCRAPPY
I patched my wadding together using two smaller bits. I used some left over interfacing like a fabric tape to join them together.
For the binding I raided my sewing box. I make a lot of keepsake quilts as well as quilts for me. I end up with loads of little bits of binding left over. I thought this would be the perfect excuse to use some of them by joining them together.
With the off cuts I made myself a bucket hat! I love it and it will be perfect for when I am in the garden.
