Hodgepodge Patchwork Tuesday - Got the Winter Blues?

Here is fun and simple way to get rid of them, using 3 blue fabrics.
You start with three coordinating fat quarters.

Medium, dark, and light.

Cut the dark fabric fat quarter into 1 1/2 inch strips X 22".

Cut the medium and the light fabric fat quarter into 3 inch strips X 22".

Stitch them together alternating the dark strips in between the medium and light fabrics.

Iron/Press the strip set with the seams going away from the skinny strip and towards the larger strips.

Next cross cut the strips at 2 inches wide.

The cross cut strips will look like this.

Next stitch the skinny strips (dark blue) in between each of the cross cut strips.  Start with a light square at the top and then a medium, so that it creates an offset pattern. I even staggered a few of the strips by cutting off a little at the top, before I started sewing, so it was even more offset.

Don't worry if the top or bottom edges don't line up perfectly.  Rotary trim is after it is pressed.

Doesn't that create a cool pattern? It is like a basket weave. Of course, it really is cool to me, because it is BLUE!

I will quilt it and then rotary cut it into mug rugs - 7" X 10", but it could be quilted and made into a table runner.

I'll share the finished mug rugs sometime in the future. It may not happen before Christmas, I wanted to share the idea with you today!

Did that get rid of the Winter Blues?
Sewing something fun and easy always does it for me!
Remember to take time to play!

Enjoy!
Marcia

How to Create a Scattered Checkered Pattern

Using a Fat Quarter Fabric Set I created a simple table runner and table topper with a scattered pattern.

I created a scattered checkered pattern using a simple method to scatter the squares.

Choose a printed fabric and 3 Quilter's Blenders fat quarters.

Orange, Yellow, and Blue (Fat Quarters) and Hot Peppers Print 29" X 19".  This Fabric Set is available by email - While Supplies last.  
Super Sale Only $6.50 plus shipping (US $5.20 - Flat Rate Envelope- too heavy to weigh - but more than one set will fit in the Envelope for the $5.20) Marcia@craftysewing.com.  
You can also hop over to the Facebook Fabric Destash Page and bid or buy other colorful fat quarter fabric sets. Request to join the Destash Page -- It is free to list fabrics and you can bid and buy all you want!

Let's get started:

Press the fat quarters and the print.
  
Lay them on top of each other and cut the strips all at once.  Cut the strips 3 inches wide.  You should be able to get six 3 inch strips across the 18 inch side of the fat quarter.  Then length of the strips will be 21 inches long. If your fat quarters are not 18 inches -- then make your strips just a little less than 3 inches -- like 2 7/8" or even 2 3/4"  --- just as long as you make them all the same width and later when you make the cross cut you need to make it 2 7/8" instead of 3".

Randomly sew the strips together --- do not make a pattern or sew them in any order. First in sets of 2 and then 4 and then 6 and then 8.  

Press the strips and then you are ready to cross cut the strips at 3" wide or 2 7/8".  

Randomly sew the strips together --- sometimes I even lay them out and flip them around to see how it looks before I sew.  You may have to stagger them or even take a square off on the end to make them line up.  It is OK to have two colors together, but it it bothers you move them around.

Remember the print was larger than a fat quarter.  You could use two prints and you could use more than three quilter's blenders.  More colors - more scattered!

Another fun project that is simple and easy to make!

You could add borders to the runner and the topper to make them larger.

Remember to take time to play!
Marcia