Stretching 2 1/2" Squares

I’ve spent the last 25 years surrounded by fabric.  While being meticulous about trying to save every tiny little scrap of fabric, I admit to getting lax.  Not so much about being wasteful (still saving those scraps), but not worrying about cutting errors.  Slip and it’s just a few paces over to the bolts or grab another charm pack.  For the moment my fabric stash is just a handful of less desirable quilt strips that I've gathered here in France & the few layer cakes Laurie sent over in a box the other week.  Hence, hoarding every scrap has begun again.

I set out last week to test a new pattern, Jelly Roll Spools.  It comes in 2 sizes.

Before writing directions, I always make the quilt first or at least make up the blocks.  It helps me see where confusions could occur for others or easier ways to make the blocks.  It’s not uncommon for me to have a block put together one way & while making it realize that there’s a better way.  I also discover what could be the pitfalls that lead to difficulties or errors when I make those same mistakes myself.  That way I can put little reminders & warnings in the directions.

So I chose Camille Roskelley’s Layer Cake ~ A Cat Named Stitch to test out this block.  Unfortunately, I quickly realized that the measurements would not work for a Layer Cake.  Therefore I went back to the drawing board & revised the pattern to accommodate either a Jelly Roll or a Layer Cake.  Since I have limited background fabric right now, I decided to use the low volume prints that were included in the layer cake.  This would save me from having to use any of my valuable background fabric that I have right now.  I quickly realized that from each 10” square for background prints, I could only get 1 block made with it.  Ugh.  I really needed to be able to make it stretch. 

Think...Think....Think.....!

This maybe a widely known trick but I haven’t run across it before so I thought I’d share what I discovered.  The block requires 4 – 2 ½” background squares.  BUT, if I made a 2 ½” x 3 ½” strip, I could use it to make 2 – 2 ½” squares.  I’ll show you what I mean.  This is what I needed to do.  If I instead, laid a 2 ½” x 3 ½” on the right side of the print strip, leaving 1” hanging off the right side, then sew a diagonal line from the upper left side to the bottom right side of the print strip underneath, I could make this work.  I then carefully cut (blue dotted line).  Using the piece leftover, I laid it on the other side, lining up the square end on the bottom corner of the print strip.  Then I sewed a diagonal line from the top left corner to the bottom right.  There was more than the slim ¼” on the bias that helps tremendously so you don’t end of pulling & stretching that bias.

And Viola ~ Ça marche – It works!

I don’t know if I’ll do this every time but when I’m tight on fabric – Definitely! Instead of getting 1 block with my 10” square, I was able to get 2 & that made a big difference for this mock-up.  This pattern calls for 120 – 2 ½” squares which takes 20” of background fabric.  This different method would take 60 – 2 ½” x 3 ½” strips which takes 12 ½” of background fabric so if you’re in a pinch it will help.  You may have done this before or know of a better method.  In 35 years of quilting I had not run across it before.  I’m not at all surprised if it’s widely known & I’ve just been living under a rock. 

Hope this is new info for some.  Check out the pattern on the site -https://www.pastryshopquilts.com/product-page/jelly-roll-spools-layer-cake-or-jelly-roll-pattern-pastry-shop-pdf-pattern.

The pattern comes in 2 sizes 70" x 83" or 70" x 70" & it's Mia approved. The featured digital version above is using Lori Holt's Flea Market Jelly Roll. I subbed out the browns & added more blue prints from the Flea Market collection that are still available from Riley Blake. If it's something you're interested in Laurie can help you with that. I myself, cannot wait to get my hands on one of those JR's that's in my boxes coming one day & make this up with that collection. Feel free to share if you know a better or different way. Always love to gather new ideas & methods.

Bonne Couture ~ Happy Sewing

À Bientôt ~ Cherie