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Scrap Quilt Pattern
Published by Shana | Filed under Free, Patterns, Quilting
In economics, externalities are the unintended side effects of industry. Similarly, this quilt is the side effect of many of the other quilts I’ve made. I always buy more fabric than I think I’ll need, so I thought it was time to turn the left overs into some thing more awesome.
This quilt is a good way to use up scraps. Each color strip uses only a 3″ strip of the width of the fabric. It’s a quick and easy quilt, but still interesting.
If you’re interested in making other sizes, it should be simple to scale up. If you’d like help, I have a tutorial on how to resize quilt patterns.
Scrap quilt pattern
Externality Quilt
Finished size
36″x48″ – a bit smaller than crib size
Supplies
- Eight sets of twelve 3″ blocks
- 2/3rd white (or contrast) fabric, cut into eight 3″ x width of fabric strips
- 56″ x 80″ Batting – I doubled the batting to make the quilt extra fluffy. A precut twin size piece is large enough.
- Backing fabric – 1 1/3rd yards
- 1/3rd yard for binding
- Yarn for tieing
- Thread and other common quilting notions
Top of the Quilt
For each two row set of one color, you will need one strip that is 3″ by the width of the fabric. Since this quilt is meant to use scraps, you might not have strips that are the full width of the fabric. This is no big deal, it will just require more cutting.
- If you have a 3″ x width of fabric strip, grab one of the strips of white. Sew the two strips together along the long edge. Press seam toward the color. Cut this down to twelve 3″ x 5.5″ pieces.
- If you do not, cut twelve 3″ blocks from the scraps that you do have. From the white, cut down a strip to 3″ blocks. Sew one color block to one white block. Press seam toward the color
Continue until you have ninety-six 3″ x 5.5″ blocks with color on one side, white on the other. For each color, chain together six of these blocks. Press the seams toward the color. You now have sixteen strips of twelve squares (alternating color and white) which can be paired by color.
For each color pair, prepare to sew them together so that the color and white alternate. Take the time to pin and line up the seams. How well your seems line up can make or break this quilt.
Color strips.
One you have sewn together the pairs of strips, lay the strips out to determine what order you would like the colors to appear in. Pin and sew together the strips until the top is together. Press the seams open.
A freshly pieced top
Finishing
I wanted the quilt to be extra fluffy, so I doubled up the batting. Tie in the middle of the white blocks.
Bind your new quilt
Backing fabric
Print 
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July 28th, 2011 at 4:28 pm
can you please tell me how to make this in a twin and queen size please. im new at quilting so the math part i dont have down yet. i let do what is said and what the pattern says.. lol. ty
July 29th, 2011 at 12:29 am
You know, I'll write a blog post about how to resize quilts. It's a good skill to have.
August 4th, 2011 at 11:04 am
I put up a tutorial on how to resize a quilt. Let me know if you have questions!
January 4th, 2012 at 10:20 am
Can you please tell me how to do the tie ups in the middle of the blocks. I have seen this on many older quilts, and have often wondered how it is done. Thanks!
April 4th, 2012 at 10:09 am
When I learned to tie quilts, I was taught to use embroidery floss because of the variety of colors available (and it’s cheap!) and a curved needle. It was so easy to go through the fabric. Great way to learn tying quilts.
April 4th, 2012 at 10:28 am
I prefer to hand quilt my quilts
April 4th, 2012 at 10:32 am
Looks like a neat quilt. Appreciated your great and easy to follow directions
April 4th, 2012 at 10:37 am
Love this. I know my scraps seem to multiply like rabbits
April 4th, 2012 at 10:49 am
Can you explain how to tie the quilts? I’ve always done hand-quilting; but, have been interested in trying to tie them. Looks so easy, but I haven’t been able to figure out how to do it yet. I’m a visual person. Need to see it to learn it.
April 4th, 2012 at 11:06 am
It would be nice to have a link to a printer friendly version.
April 4th, 2012 at 11:27 am
I would love to know how many blocks would be needed to get this to queen size. I love the simple beauty of the design!
Definitely going on my “to-do” list.
April 4th, 2012 at 11:36 am
This is a great idea for a quick baby quilt. I am going to make one in left-over pastels. Thanks so much for stimulating my creative juices!
April 4th, 2012 at 11:42 am
To answer Barbara’s question, the easiest way to explain how to tie a quilt or to do anything that you’re interested in learning to do, is to go to http://www.youtube.com and type in whatever you’re looking for and a video of how to’s, comes up for your viewing.
April 5th, 2012 at 8:42 am
There are little buttons at the bottom of the post before the comments begin.
August 15th, 2012 at 8:12 am
Hi. I am 75 and always learning ways to do this or that. Thank you for having such an informative website. Will start a tie quilt. I have never made one only machine quilted. This will make nice Xmas gifts this season. Again, thank you.
I must say tho submitting a comment is very confusing took me several attempts u need to make it plain on what you want.
August 27th, 2012 at 5:29 pm
Could this be made for a double or full bed using charm packs? I know it could but need help to obtain correct size……..thanks soooooooo much. tina
August 27th, 2012 at 9:43 pm
I have a tutorial on how to resize a quilt here – http://www.needyl.com/shana/how-resize-quilt-pattern/
Hope that helps!
October 25th, 2012 at 7:10 am
Sorry – that should have read:
If you press the seams open, the batting can sneak out. It is better to press all seams in one direction, just be consistent.
November 24th, 2012 at 4:01 am
Never tried a tied quilt. Really want to and this is going to be my next job, or should I say pleasure!
November 26th, 2012 at 7:04 am
I’ve made many quilts (tied and hand quilted) but still have difficulty lining up the corner points. Yours looks so perfect…what is your secret? Another question…my Mother always told me to press my seems toward the darkest fabric but I noticed you say to press the seem open?? Does it matter?
November 26th, 2012 at 8:21 am
Pressing the seams open makes it easier for me to line them up and get crisp corners, but it does create a weaker join than pressing them to the side.
February 18th, 2013 at 1:17 pm
So simple & so elegant!