Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Strippy Quilt or Finally, A Tutorial!

I finally got my crafting bug back! I almost didn't know who I was without it. This weekend I worked on two projects that have been on my to-do list for quite a while: some hooded towels for an order (should be up in an etsy shop in the next few months!) and a Cars quilt for my son.


Lincoln is in love with all things car, so I decided to make him a quilt to encourage his habit. It's on the smallish side because I used a Cars panel for the backing, but this is a super easy quilt to modify to make bigger. It's a style of quilt my MIL has been making for years, and it's one I've not seen elsewhere. It goes together very quickly because you quilt it as you piece, so once you're done piecing you just bind and you're done!


Here's a quick tute:

Gather material - backing fabric and 3-5 (or more) fabrics for strips. I used 10 4" strips for a 35" panel and ended up a little short because I was just winging my seam allowance. You would need more yardage for a longer quilt - I would suggest 1/2 yard of 5 fabrics for a 2-yard backing fabric.

Start by laying out your backing fabric, front side down. Then place your batting on top.

Next place your first strip, right side up. So the first strip is wrong sides together with the backing. Pin that down.


Now, before you sew, place your second strip directly over the first, right sides together. It should look like this:


Sew along the bottom edge, then fold the second strip down so the right side is facing you and iron the seam open. Then move on to the third strip, placing it right sides facing with the second strip, like this:


Sew, iron, and continue for the length of the backing fabric. Notice how the front is being quilted with straight lines as you piece the strips:



When I got to the bottom, I had just a few inches left:


Since the panel is just a checkered piece on the bottom, I decided to cute an inch off rather than have a narrower strip. Depending on your backing fabric, you may or may not go with this option. If your backing fabric is not as forgiving, you'll want to pay more attention to your seam allowance and the strip width than I did.

Finally, bind along the unfinished edge, and you'll all done!


Easy peasy. I would love to make some of these with jelly rolls because the cutting is usually the most tedious part for me. I also think that embellishing the quilting with decorative stitches, stitching along the center of the strip, ribbons, etc, would be a fun variation. If you make a quilt like this, I'd love to see how it turns out!

I'll be linking to the parties on the left.

14 comments:

  1. super cute! we would love if you would come link up your project at quiltstory.blogspot.com

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  2. That is super cute Kelli! :) I so have to try that idea for my soon to be niece! :)

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  3. Great job! I've never quilted but I keep seeing way cute ones and I'm getting the itch to try it!

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  4. i love this...great tutorial...a perfect quilt for a beginner. thanks for sharing!

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  5. good job...I did this same thing before--but was insane and did a king size. I don't recommend it. It cured me of wanting to make that quilt again.

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  6. SUPER cute! My little boy loves cars. In fact, a while back I made him a pillow case using that same Cars fabric...and he sleeps with the leftover strip, about 4" x 20". It's now one of his "blankies"!

    Thanks for linking up! We'll see you next week :)

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  7. Sooo Cute..You did a great job!! I'm Barb from Tools..Women...
    I am your newest follower. I hope you will get a chance to visit my blog @ santasgiftshoppe.blogspot.com
    & get inspired by something for your family/home. I hope you will follow me as well. I also would love for you to be a new Fan of my Facebook page too & click “LIKE” in the upper right hand corner of my blog & you’ve done it..Thanks so much! I am just starting at Facebook. Nice to meet ya new friend!!!

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  8. This turned out so cute! Thanks for planting your creative seeds at Plant a Punkin Seed Party!

    Hugs,

    Kristi
    Punkin Seed Productions

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  9. Whoa, that is super easy! I'm working on my first quilt right now, and it's similar, but the quilting as you go method is blowing my mind! (I'm stopping by from NFF, but I've been a follower for a long time!)

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  10. WHOA...weird!!! My son's name is Lincoln and HE loves cars too!!! Seriously obsessed! AND my MIL is a quilter. How crazy is that? I might have to make this quilt for my Linc! ;) Cute!

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  11. Ok, I just sent this link to my quilting friends :) I am pretty sure I'm going to be making quilts like this for all of my Christmas presents this year. Thank you so much for the tutorial!

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  12. Hi Kelli! So great to see you at Craft Schooling Sunday, and thanks so much for sharing this great tutorial- I just know quilts are in my future, the question is when? All the best!

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  13. HOw cute! I love the sriped look.

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  14. love this! I haven't ever made a quilt and this seems like one to try!
    we have a friday link party- we'd love it if you'd link up tomorrow! :)

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