Scrappy Window Block Tutorial

This block tutorial comes from this quilt I designed “Through the shattered Looking-glass”. It uses a collection of scrappy improv blocks.
ThroughTheShatteredLookingGlass

A single block can be any size but is made up of scraps that are sewn together with 1/4″ sashing, like so.
IMG_8686

Tutorial:

Here are the steps I used to build a block.

  1. Depending on the size of your block, use painters tape to mark out the edges of your block on a design wall (in this picture I just used a piece of batting). This is a technique I learnt from Nicole @ Mama Love Quilts.
  2. Take scraps that are between 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 inches of various sizes, and shades/values of the color you chose and start laying them out within your marked area. Overlap your edges of your scraps to take into account for the 1/4 inch seams.
  3. Take a photo of the layout to use while you sew.laypout_block_pieces
  4. When laying your pieces out try to take into consideration the construction of the block, you want areas that can act as straight lines.
    Construction_Improv_Blocks
  5. Cut some white 3/4 inch sashing strips (Kona White). Based on your smaller quadrants you, take one blue piece and sew some sashing on one side. Trim. Take the next neighboring blue piece and sew to the other side of the sashing. Add sashing along your next side. Here are 3 quadrants (A, B, C) and the numbers represent the order in which I added the piece/sashing. Please Press your seams open as you go (this helps with the bulk of the seams).
    Improv_Piecing_Steps_Example
  6. Repeat, until block is at the size you want and trim to square the block.

That’s it, the block is done. Let me know if you have any questions.

6 thoughts on “Scrappy Window Block Tutorial

  1. Sarah @ Berry Barn Designs

    I can’t wait to get started on this. The hardest part is going to be choosing a color. Maybe I’ll dump out my (not nearly as nicely organized as yours ; ) scraps and just see which group there’s most of. Thanks for the great tutorial, Michelle! (P.S. That’s a fabulous “how we met” story!)

    Reply
  2. Heather @ Bobbins and Bullets

    I came over from your stash bee post. I’m in hive 12, but had to see where a fellow NC girl was from! I live just south of Sanford. I’ve been wanting to check out the Triangle MQG for awhile, but something always seems to come up. Maybe I’ll finally be free for the April meeting. Fun tutorial, and I can’t wait to see what your finished quilt will look like 🙂

    Reply
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