How to Make a Scrappy Four-Patch Quilt Top

This is absolutely the easiest quilt patch to make and the perfect first quilt. All you need is a colorful combination of leftover material scraps. A scrappy quilt is exactly what it sounds like—a wide choice of colors and patterns all combined into one quilt. You can make a rainbow quilt of every color fabric you have, or simply choose to make a two-colored quilt with a combination such as blues and whites.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Iron
• Ironing board
• Sewing machine
• Scissors
• Rotary cutter
• Rotary ruler
• Rotary cutting board
• Enough leftover fabrics to make 8-inch squares

1. Rotary cut a stack of scraps into 8-inch squares. Make sure they are absolutely square, not skewed. Cut 80 squares total.

2. Choose two contrasting fabric squares and sew together down one side of fabric, making sure they are lined up perfectly. Stitch using 1/4 inch seam. Press open. Repeat until you have 40 two-piece rectangles.

3. Pick up two finished two-piece rectangles. Lay one face up on the table, lay the other face down on top of it. Match the center seams and pin. Stitch the seam, joining the two pieces of fabric. Press open. You will have a four-patch that resembles the beginning of a checkerboard. Repeat until you have 20 finished four-patches.

4. Avoid sewing like color to like color when making your four-patch. If you have two like-colored patches next to each other, turn one piece over before pinning together. You want contrasting fabrics next to each other.

Tips & Warnings

• If you choose to work with cottons, stick with cottons throughout the quilt. If you choose flannel, stick with flannel. Do not try to mix a cotton with a corduroy or flannel. They wash and shrink differently.
• NEVER cut with a ruler that is not made to work with a rotary cutter.
• ALWAYS close your rotary cutter before you lay it down. If it was knocked off the table and landed blade down on top of your foot, you could end up in the hospital having a toe sewn back on!
• Make absolutely sure your fabric and cuts are accurate. If each square was 1/8 inch off and you joined them together with 8 squares, your quilt top would end up being an entire inch short on one end!

[moonglow]

on 8/9/2008 This sounds like a fun project! Thank you for sharing!!!!