Hello Friends, Happy Thursday to you. I am glad you stopped by today! Here is a fun tip for you before we go further! I am guessing you probably have folded fabric stacks somewhere in your sewing space. I find these fabric stacks a great way to keep track of units I construct for my quilt blocks. Just stick a pin and the units to a fabric stack — and chances are, you won’t lose them like I would if I place my units somewhere on my sewing desk. I have tried using trays, but I think because I work on more than one or two or three quilts at one time, it’s harder to keep track of various block units using the trays.
Now, onto my newly release pattern Elliptical Quilt. Pattern is available HERE. Elliptical Quilt is a fat-quarter-friendly design. So, get busy raiding your stash. You will need a total of 18 FQs + backgroudn fabric! You can also use jelly roll strips to cut the print pieces as well.
DESIGN SUMMARY: This is actually a quilt made with log cabin blocks with a twist! The conventional log cabin blocks end up being square blocks, but these log cabin blocks have to end up being rectangular in order to achieve an overall elliptical look!
THINGS I LEARNED FROM MAKING THE BLOCKS MYSELF:
Because of the elliptical nature of the quilt design, here are a few things to watch for —
1. Follow the block cutting diagram CAREFULLY when cutting the pieces because the pieces are not cut at the more regular or familiar dimensions. For example, one of the pieces is cut 2 1/2″ x 6 3/4″ — be sure to cut at those dimensions and not 2 1/2″ x 6 1/2″. Or there is a narrow piece that is cut at 1″ x 6″ — be sure to not cut 1″ x 6 1/2″.
All those dimensions are necessary in order for us to achieve the elliptical look.
2. Therefore, I find it easier to cut the pieces piecemeal as I make the blocks instead of mass-cutting. The following pictures show how I organize my pieces. I find that index cards are great for keeping my pieces organized because I can write down the dimensions of my cut pieces.
3. The other thing to watch for when constructing the blocks is the block orientation. The left and right blocks are mirror-imaged, and will need to be constructed as such.
4. One more thing, the mirror imaged concept applies to inside blocks as well. If you look closely, you will notice that the inside blocks has an extra rectangle at the tip so that the center makes a secondary 9-patch design.
[Note: If you don’t want to be bothered with making the inside blocks, you can always just make the outside blocks, noting the block orientations of course, and you will be fine!]
5. It’s also helpful if you sew with an accurate scant 1/4″ seam allowance, especially for the pieces cut 1″ width. You could cut the 1″ wide pieces at 1 1/4″, and then trim to size after you sew. For example, when the pattern calls for a 1″ x 6″ piece, cut the piece at 1 1/4″ x 6″. Sew, and then trim to 3/4″ width measuring from the seam line.
6. There are raw edge to raw edge measurements listed after you complete certain steps in the construction process. Be sure to use those measurements to double-check your cutting!
I am making mine in the upcoming Apricot & Ash by Moda Fabrics. I think they are shipping to stores sometime in August this year.
I hope with these tips that I learned from making the blocks myself, you will find that it’s really fun making these hipster Log Cabin blocks! Once you get the details figured out, it should take about 15-25 minutes max to sew up a block. For me, the effect from the overall layout is the best part about this design.
By the way, did you know that the log cabins are a Scottish invention?
Thank you for stopping by! Happy Sewing, Everyone!
Thank you for stopping by, and I wish you a lovely rest of the week!
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Such pretty fabrics!! for a “traditional” but now stylized “modern” quilt. Using white adds to the modernization too, I think. It will be a “Wendy” pretty amazing quilt!! I’m gonna love it!!! thanks for all your quilting tips; they really help to streamline the process. I just may “need” that pattern 😂😁!
This is such an interesting pattern. I love all the secondary designs that pop out!
some great tips, Wendy, to help it turn out the correct size! Thank you! :) Margaret
You said, “Therefore, I find it easier to cut the pieces piecemeal as I make the blocks instead of mass-cutting.” YAY! I do that sort of thing all the time! So much so that I often get frustrated reading patterns that want “42,000 2 1/2 inch squares”—or some such thing! I confess to working from my stash and not from “purpose-bought” fabric, so cutting as I go makes a lot of sense to me!
Wonderful tip, I have hard time not trying to complete the quilt in one day😂 I would have to slow down and enjoy making a quilt.