Simply Sensational Summer Scrap Quilt Clue #1

I'd like to welcome quilters from far and wide to......

the........

CLUE #1

PDF HERE

Thanks to my friend Joyce for making

the PDFs for this Mystery Quilt!)

Remember, from the Introduction last week, this quilt is a 2 color quilt using high contrast colors.  I am going to try to teach  a few things while making this quilt.  As far as contrast, I think we all can agree, that contrast is something that is very different from something else.  When referring to colors for this quilt, I will be using batik fabrics in browns and neutrals.  With this being said, I am including light values, medium values, and dark values of each of the 2 colors.  This will provide the highlights and low lights I  seek and desire in my quilt's coloration.  Which ever colors you have chosen to use, make sure you have a wide variety of hues/values of each.  The color placement within the quilt will not alter the design.  Brown will be referred to as Color 1.  Neutral will be referred to as Color 2.

Side note:  I try to think ahead when it comes to my quilt making endeavors.  I need a really nice fall quilt for my bed, therefore I chose browns and neutrals.  I also love EASY summer time sewing.  I hope this answers some of your questions concerning my color choices, and the name of this mystery/sew along.

Keeping things simple.......

When cutting.......cut accurately and consistently.

When sewing......sew accurately, using a consistent 1/4" seam.

When pressing......press seams the same way for all units made.

Please do NOT stress over seams not matching, or nesting.  When it comes to scrap quilting, perfection is highly over rated in my opinion.  Some of my seams are definitely not perfect!

Also, I do have to admit something to you all here.  I am human, and make mistakes on a regular basis.  Not just with quilting! LOL  If there are any mistakes within the directions of this quilt, please accept my apology right here and now! LOL

Here is your first clue......

You can make this quilt using whatever size square you would like.  Now how about that?  You get to choose your own colors AND the size of square you want to work with????  YAHOOOO!  Seriously, this quilt is built around a simple square, and (without giving anything away), as long as you keep everything the same size for your units, you can use any size square you want!  1.5", 2", 2.5", or even 3"!  I personally wouldn't go any bigger than 3 because I don't like working with large squares.  1" may be going a little too small, just sayin'!  So have at it quilters!  Choose your own square size.  I chose to work with 2.5" squares in keeping somewhat with the size of the inspiration quilt.  I will be using 2.5" squares as reference in the directions, but, please remember, you can use which ever size square you would like.  

So what will we be sewing this first month of summer????

4 Patches in Color 1

184 to be exact!

Using 2.5" squares

will yield a 4.5" 4 patch unit.

I encourage you to work from your smallest of scraps

with a "USE'R UP" mentality!

This is the way I typically work.

I love piecing twosies, then foursies!

Try not to match fabrics in your 4 patch units.

Be bold, and try to have 4 different fabrics in 

each individual 4 patch you make.

If you do strip piece for these units,

please take into consideration utilizing

strips of varying lengths.

You don't want the same fabrics next to

each other all of the time, do you? LOL

If ever I do strip piece, I always cut down those

strips so I will have a larger variety of  different

fabrics next to each other.

Look who helped Ole' Kevin the Quilter with this clue!

My beautiful, sweet Momma!

Oh, we had so much fun talking about her days working

in a garment factory!  She enjoyed herself here at the

Quilt Cave, and you all KNOW

I loved having her and Dad here with me!

We reminisced about when I was a young boy sewing

with my Great Auntie Mae.

Boy, did I love spending time with her

during the Summer, and learned so much from her about

cooking and quilting.

Pressing matters are left up to you.

My lovely Momma was intrigued by the 

spinning of seams.

I do spin my seams for these 4 patch units.

By doing this, my units lay flatter, and

MOST.......NOT ALL seams nest

in this quilt.

There are a ton of tutorials on the internet 

concerning how to 

spin seams.  Look them up if you are

so inclined.  If you aren't, press the way

you typically press your 4 patches.....

just remain consistent and press all of them

the same way.

Oh yeah......just so you all know.....

this quilt is Mother approved!

My Mom really loves this quilt!

HOOOORAY!

ALSO.....

We will be making the following.....

2 Patches in Color 1

Make 16 of these 2 patch units.

Press the seam to one side.

Using 2.5" squares will yield

a 2.5" x 4.5" 2 patch unit.

And....before you put Color 1 away.....

Cut 32 individual squares of your

Color 1 in your chosen size square.

Again, mine are 2.5" squares.

Totals for Color 1 squares used:

800

That's it for our first clue.

Don't be overwhelmed.......

remember, this is easy sewing.

Have fun digging in your scraps

to find a lot of variety for this first clue.

And, enjoy your summertime sewing!

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Keep on Quilting!
Kevin the Quilter