On Monday I told you that I am frantically working on finishing this UFO that was gifted by blog reader Roxanna. At first I felt a little guilty for keeping the UFO myself even though I will be gifting it on to a benefit to help a young baby born at 30 weeks.
The minute I saw this, I knew I would love it.
Roxanna said she was tired of having these project hanging in her sewing area and that a weight was lifted to have them out…well let me tell you, you are taking a weight off me to let me finish it.
I started out by accessing what I had. I wanted to make something twin sized. For a benefit, I think a person needs to make at least that size…and on the short notice I had, making a twin size is the best I can do. Can you see that I have clips and notes on the fabric piles?
I snapped the picture above that you see and checked my camera to make sure the photo was okay and the lighting was good. When I looked at the pile of pinks in the lower right corner something caught my eye…the blocks weren’t oriented the same way.
I started grabbing the piles I had sorted and look. More. I tried to twist them around but ugh. They weren’t that kind of block. Some blocks don’t change when twisted. Now I can see Roxanna’s frustration with this project. I’d have likely set it aside too.
Well I thought this would be the perfect project for me. I could rip them out while I sat with the childcare kids to get them to go to sleep.
So I set a few aside and the next day at naptime I grabbed a few. I flipped them over to rip and noticed this….
See the cut in the brown in the middle near the seam? These had been clipped so seams would orientate the right way. I ripped on out and decided that would be a bad idea. The seams were clipped close enough that I couldn’t guarantee the seam when I resewed….
So I sorted the blocks out that I couldn’t use and put them in a pile….these.
and went to my trusty scrap bin to cut more blocks.
The colored part is cut at 2 1/2″ x 4 1/2″. The white part is a 2 1/2″ square. The colored part matches the square can but don’t have to. Most of mine don’t.
Here’s what I had….This is easiest done by sewing the blocks into columns vs rows.
The original picture had a brown row and a couple more “white-ish” rows. I didn’t like them so pulled them out. I need to make a couple more rows than I have laying out. So far, I really love it.
I’m debating on putting a printed white based fabric around the outside… just 2 1/2″ to make it float but don’t know what I should do. Opinions?
Then I had a little helper come along…Gannon.
I guess he just wanted to help his Grandma.
…and so Grandma gave up and went on to cutting more pieces out to make more blocks for the extra rows.
I don’t know if this is someone’s pattern. Maybe Roxanna can chime in and send me a link to a pattern. I don’t know if it’s something she designed herself. If it’s not a formal pattern, maybe I could write up some instructions. It makes a wonderful looking donation quilt…and a great way to use up scraps. So far I love it and obviously I’ve had tons of fun with it.
Thanks again Roxanna….I can’t wait to show it all finished.
It’s really “easy on the eyes” the way you laid them out. Can’t wait to see it finished.
Oh my gosh! I love this style of quilt..i cannot wait to hear more about it..your helper is a adorable
Hi this quilt looks similar to Bonnie Hunter’s Bricks and Steppingstones quilt, with a plain square instead of a four-patch. It’s a free pattern.
Oh.My.Goodness!! Gannon grew up!! He is so darling. What a cutie!! I’m so happy for you that you get to spend time with your grandkids. They’re so lucky to have a grandma like you!
Jo, just more evidence that you’re a TRUE ARTIST!! Right away you saw the possibilities in the original quilt top. I’m pretty sure that I’d have passed it on just as Roxanna did. But now that I’ve seen what you’ve done with this, I definitely would like to make one!! I can’t wait to see how you finish this off.
When I saw that quilt, I knew that I wanted to make it. I make quilts for a near-by charity . They want the quilts to measure around 55 x 66. I figured that I could make the quilt with 14 blocks across and 11 blocks down, it would measure about 56 x 66. So this quilt will be on my to-do list. Thanks for sharing. And thanks to Roxanna for sending it to you.
Gannon is a cutie and growing up so fast!!! It seems like he was just born!!! What a great quilt! The colors are fun! Looking forward to seeing your finish!
I’ve been looking at this pattern, thinking I could make it for a scrap quilt. I have so many 2 1/2 strips.
I’ve seen it on Pinterest but I don’t know where it originated.
Gannon is such a cutie and such a helper! I remember my grandson used to “help me” like that too!
Love and prayers
I am ready to pull my scraps to make this one! Love it!!
This design is calling my name. I love doing scrap quilts.
So is there enough of the “other oriented” blocks to make a baby quilt? I am always thankful that I can sort out the pattern/block just by looking at the picture :)
Oh, and Gannon is a sweetie!
Love how you put the rows in color families!!
The “other” blocks can be cut into Mary’s block: 2 – square with a triangle on two sides. The middle section is larger than it needs to be, but the cut so you can iron the middle seam in different directions is used on that block. usually you put a rectangle on the whole block and sew the seam at a 45 degree.
Love it! Would be a great leader/ender quilt. Gannon is adorable!
Your example of the wrong way block looks like she made it correctly, then ripped it out and reversed it. I’ve never done that, chuckle
Its going to be a great quilt for the fundraiser. I look forward to seeing it done and hanging on the porch. Hope you write us pattern.
The quilt is so eye-catching without screaming look at me and such a lovely way to use up strips and scraps. Your grand son is so adorable. I’ll bet he and Georgia are a pair when they’er together.
Moda has a similar pattern; the colors aren’t paired together like this one, and the bricks are slightly bigger, but it’s otherwise the same.
https://modafabrics.wordpress.com/2011/05/13/easy-strawberry-fields-bricks-quilt/
I love that pattern! it would be a great way to use up scraps. Looking forward to seeing a pattern.
I can’t believe how fast Gannon has grown. He is a cutie for sure. I think the pattern was taken form here:
https://quiltdivajulie.blogspot.com/2019/05/mercyful-one-flimsy.html It sure does look like a fun quilt.
I think you’re right about adding the narrow border…and then any color binding is going to be a perfect finish. I often use my leftover binding strips to make a scrappy binding for scrappy quilts and they work out just fine! Your eye for color combos is fantastic, Jo! I always feel so inspired by your quilts!
I keep coming back to the pictures of your grandkids. In good way. No worries. They are so cute and happy. God Bless to you and the family.
HI JO – I have been coming up with all sorts of ideas for this pattern since you posted it. It is so fun to play with a simple pattern and see where you can take it. Gannon is quite the helper!
Pingback: Brick House Quilt Directions | Jo's Country Junction
Hi, Jo. I have come back to this picture several times and decided to use my scraps from mask making to make a quilt like this. I am enlarging my squares; the smaller piece is 3 1/2″ and the larger one is 3 1/2 ” x 6 1/2″. It will go together quickly, and I can’t wait to put it together once I finish making masks!
My 2019 quilt named Comfortable (linked in a previous comment by Laurie) uses this design. When I made mine, I did not use a pattern from anyone – I just made up the plan as I worked. Several others have made quilts with this approach – I really like yours.