Are you looking for an easy scrap quilt? Don’t hesitate to look at a postage stamp quilt as an option. Since I keep my scraps cut into squares, making a postage stamp quilt is quick and easy. Let’s jump into how I make a scrappy baby postage stamp quilt.
Sorting Scraps
Creating a color palette that works together with a good amount of variety is my first priority.
From my 2.5″ scrap bin I grabbed yellow, neutrals, green, aqua, navy, brown, orange, and gray. Mixing in prints, novelty, and solids. If I think they coordinate, they make the piles. As the colors and prints are spread out you may not notice that one that didn’t fit.
Chain Piecing
When working on a postage stamp quilt, I find that chain piecing is the best way to go. I’m striving for a random layout on the quilt top. Grab from yellow and gray, then brown and green, and just keep going around. Once I have 10 sets (20 squares) pieced I begin pairing them up yet again. Ultimately I’m just sewing one long strip of 20 squares. Repeat that 18-24 times for the top. 18 rows is a smaller baby quilt and 24 rows is a better size.
Pressing and Sewing Rows Together
I grab the starch and spray each row. Next I press all my seams the same direction and then flip one row to create nesting seams. Sew the nested rows together and repeat 3-4 times. From there begin flipping and turning rows to nest together and get to the desired length. Some colors and prints may line up next to each other over the rows and I think that is okay.
Finished Top
Once all the rows are sewn together, head back to the ironing board. Spray starch the entire top. At this step I like to press all my sewn rows the same direction on the back of the quilt top. Then, I turn it over and press again on the top. This helps to flatten the top and smooth things out.
Thank you for the comments when I posted the top. A comment was made about the concentration of brights in the middle. That’s what happens sometimes when I got for random. I didn’t really see it but I do now that it was mentioned.
Backing and Binding
Within my stash I found a green and blue variations on polka dots. Maybe they are circles, but does it really matter? They coordinated well and used some pieces I had leftover from other projects. The binding is a blue polka dot I have had stashed away. You’re going to see it again on an upcoming quilt. I thought why not just make up some binding with this. Done!
Quilting
I prefer straight lines in a coordinating thread on the diagonal of each square. With this method I can keep quilting as I get to the end of a line, just flip around and start a new line all the way to back to the edge. Quilting takes no time, unless I run out of bobbin thread.
QAL interest??
Since I love creating scrappy postage stamp quilts, I’m mulling the idea of hosting a QAL later this fall. Would you be interested? Let me know in the comments.
Link ups
Crazy Mom Quilts – Finish It Up Friday
Needle and Thread Thursday
