Hey quilters...hope y'all are having a great Sunday. Well as promised we're kicking off another fun mystery scrap-a-long. I fell in love with the collection Boo Bash designed by Jerry Khiev for Lumin Fabrics/Island Batik. The prints and color hues inspired my design "BOO-ville!" The fabric is so fun that I had a hard time cutting it up. In this phase I'll be walking you through the first fun step due to it being a "mystery." :-) I will be giving hints and tips a long the way plus sharing how versatile the design can be for any stage of your sewing skills. The beginner stage would make a fun scrappy design just by piecing the squares together. But you know me...I added some fun that I'll be sharing using Accuquilt GO! 2" Letters and Numbers die sets. I love using the Accuquilt dies and cutting letters by hand is time consuming. The basic layout for beginners is 10 rows across and 10 rows down consisting of the 5" squares. The squares once sewing together using a 1/4" seam allowance will give you a finished 4 1/2" square. The advanced stage is sub cutting the 5" squares into 2...2 1/2 x 5" strips for a staggered design. Yes...this is more time consuming and I will admit it challenged me but loving how it's coming a long. I'll share a quick "tip" with you...once you lay out your cut squares and decide to do the advanced stage you still can. In fact, I'll be sharing hints soon that might inspire you to challenge yourself. Also, if you don't have a design wall then your batting is a great way to lay your squares on then pin once you achieve your design. I have a design wall but still use that method then I just fold it up...hang and pull out as needed. This also works for laying the batting on the floor too. I'm a visual person so this gives you the opportunity to change any blocks around once you see "Clue #1" :-) You have plenty of time due to not sewing blocks together until the final layout. Remember previous post listed the supplies to get you started. So, grab your precuts...let the fabric collection inspire your creativity and get ready for a spook-tacular mystery scrap-a-long. Talk soon!
Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,
Cat
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BOO-ville! Phase 1...
First...you'll be separating the 10" squares from your precut collection and setting one square aside of each print. Then you will cut one 10" square vertically in half then sub cut one half into two..5" squares. At this point set aside the extra 5 x 10" strips until you need them. I like to cut as I go :-)
Beginner...rotary cut 100... 5 x 5" squares...layout 10 squares across and 10 squares down.
Once you have the squares layed out you may say "wow...this fabric is sew fun and I might just sew the rows together and have a fun spooky Halloween throw." I totally get it....this collection is so pretty but I would love for you to follow a long and see the advanced design. Remember that I'm not that far ahead of you so you can chime in anytime :-)
Advanced...rotary cut roughly 200...2.5 x 5" strips...depending on the stage you choose after seeing clue # 1...so don't stress. You will be laying them in the same concept...but staggering the squares creating a "brick lay" design. Lay them out as desired (remember no sewing yet) You will notice that it may look like you are short on every other row, but you will use your scraps later to make squares to fill in the corners. This will all make sense real soon... I promise! :-)
Hint...you probably noticed that I mentioned in the previous post that I used a 1/2 yard of Black...Eggplant...and Pumpkin batiks....well....those will be used real soon depending on the stage you decide to create. :-)
Talk soon,
Cat
