Scrappy Patches Block Tutorial

Posted on March 2, 2017 by prairiemoonquilts in Tutorials

If you read the post about my Scrap Storage Method, then you know that I have several bins of pre-cut shapes and sizes.

If you take into account that I’ve been doing this for years, it stands to reason that some of the bins are getting full, and some of them, the lids will no longer fit at all!

I periodically use out of all of those bins, but evidently not fast enough!

With my goal this year of getting all my fabric contained and neatly stored, I decided that I need to also use up some of these pre-cut pieces so I can get the lids to fit once again. So I designed a block to use up a bunch of different sizes all at once!

I’ve done good using up my brighter scraps, and I don’t have as many of those to begin with, so my goal for this project was to use up all my darker scraps, so this quilt is going to have quite a dark, primitive look about it.

Here’s the block I came up with, and I’ll give a tutorial below for how I’m making them, so if you have pre-cuts or scraps you need to use up as well, here’s another idea for you! I’m simply calling it the Scrappy Patches block, because that’s what it is:

It uses the following sizes of pre-cut squares:

1 1/2″, 2″, 3 1/2″, and 4″

So . . . to make one block, you need the following pieces:

Nine 1 1/2″ squares
Four 2″ squares
One 3 1/2″ square
Two 4″ squares

Begin by using THIS tutorial to turn the 4″ squares into half-square triangle units that measure 3 1/2″ unfinished. You’ll end up with two units, but you’ll only need one for each block. You can use the other one in another block.

Next, we’ll turn the 2″ squares into a four-patch unit. Lay them out as shown:

Sew them together in pairs, pressing seams in opposite directions:

Then sew the pairs together to complete the unit, which should measure 3 1/2″ unfinished.

One more unit to make . . . we’re gonna turn the 1 1/2″ squares into a nine-patch unit. Lay the nine squares out as shown:

Sew them together into rows. Press the seams in the top and bottom rows to the outside. Press the seams in the middle row toward the center.

Sew the rows together to complete this unit, which should measure 3 1/2″ unfinished.

Now you have all the block units made, you can assemble the block. Lay all the units out with the plain 3 1/2″ square as shown here:

Sew the units together in sets of two, pressing seams in opposite directions:

Sew the pairs together to complete the block. The block will measure 6 1/2″ square unfinished.

I’m planning to set all my blocks together in rows, next to each other like this, but I’m also gonna play around with the arrangement and see if I like them better some other way. It might look even more scrappy if I don’t set them straight!

I’m hoping it will use up a LOT of my dark scraps. I’m gonna make it fairly large. Hopefully, I’ll have it finished soon, and it can become one of my 25 scrap quilts for 2017! I’ll keep you posted on that.

11 responses to “Scrappy Patches Block Tutorial”

  1. Cindy says:

    I haven’t been saving 2, 3 1/2, or 4 for very long. Think I’ll have to do some more cutting. I have tons of 1 1/2 and 2 1/2.

  2. Meloney says:

    Awesome use of scraps. I have some pre-cuts, but not that many.
    I used lots of 2″ squares in a project recently. Right now I’m doing a scrappy quilt from novelties and an orange background. That background is out of my comfort zone.
    I am also doing the Winter Solstice out of my floral scraps. I don’t think it making a dent at all.
    The rainbow scrap monthly color is being made into the sparkling sampler quilt and I’m only using scraps and a kona black background.
    I love using up the scraps. This is the first year I’ve been playing with them more.
    I need to find something to do with the strings.

  3. Wendy says:

    I was thinking about your scrap organization as I pulled out my scrap bins today. They were organized until today, when I dug through them for a small project. I have so many dark fabrics scraps, I may need to try this one!

  4. Judy says:

    Great use of scraps! I hope to try it soon.

  5. Crystal says:

    I love inspiration for ways to use up my scraps. I have tons of them but sometimes it is just a collection with no purpose in mind. Thanks for sharing your design.

    Crystal in Cedar City

  6. Ranch Wife says:

    Ack! Be still my scrappy heart! If this doesn’t make your bins close, then we’re all sunk. Doesn’t get much better than a good scrappy quilt!

  7. Kathy says:

    Great idea

  8. Lori East says:

    This is a fabulous way to use up lots of different sizes at once. Thanks, Shelly!

  9. Susan says:

    Interesting block! Thanks for sharing!

  10. Betty K says:

    I’ve been making a few if these. When you start you do a few because they are so addictive.

  11. Diana Nelson says:

    Love the block and I’ll certainly put all of my scraps to use with your block.

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