I have been at it again, and I have a new design to share with you all, the next one in the Scrap Dance Series. This design idea was so simple ( as in ridiculously simple), I am amazed that it hasn’t been done already and all over the web. But, I wasn’t able to find anything like it, so here goes! You know we all have leftover jelly roll strips, ends of bolts, and various strips from projects, all 2-1/2 inches wide by the width of the fabric. Quickstep will give you a way to use them up, and create a great top faster than you would think! Just a couple of Quicksteps!
Start by sewing together 16 different jelly roll or WOF strips in sets of four. I had a bunch of floral fabrics that I used.
After they are sewn, press the seams going all the same direction.
Cross cut into 2-1/2 inch strips.
Arrange the units in a pleasing way.
Sew the units together, with one from each set of fabrics to make a square.
Cut 16 squares of solid fabric 8-1/2 inches square.
Mark a diagonal line on the back.
Pair a solid square with a pieced square right sides together. Sew 1/4-inch on either side of the line just like making the little HSTs.
Cut apart and press toward the solid color.
Now you have 32 blocks! These can go together however you like, in whatever way suits your style. Just like the light/dark log cabin blocks, these can create the same looks, and much faster.
Maybe you are a bargello fan.
Or maybe the offset diamond fits you better.
How about all going one direction?
Or a square set on point?
Double your strips to two of each color, and 32 solid squares and get 64 total blocks. This will allow some larger design opportunities. I made more and decided to use an asymmetrical placement. The floral fabrics and green solid look like garden paths of grass to see all the pretty flowers. I am not much of a modern quilter, but this really appeals to me.
I kept playing with the blocks, adjusting and changing the design.
I started thinking about it like a maze, with some of the paths having no way out.
I have been working on it for a couple weeks, between trips out of town and other projects. I’ll show you how I finish it soon. It has a lot of stretch due to the bias edges in the center of the blocks, so I think I will use a pantograph. I still haven’t decided whether or not to put a border on.
This idea lends itself to other combinations too, like using only three strips and 6-1/2 inch solid squares. It would use up those ends of jelly rolls you used for other quilts. You can also cut strips from your fat quarters. Want a larger block? Use five strips and 10-1/2 inch solid squares. Versatile and fast!
What do you think about Quickstep?
Scarp Dance Quickstep, copyright Carole Carter at From My Carolina Home
All Rights Reserved
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From My Carolina Home 
It all looks very pretty and easy to make – looks like you had a good time re-arranging all those blocks 🙂
Great, wonderful, and so pretty! I will pin this for sure and play arouned with my leftovers. Thanks for sharing it.
I will give this a try because I have plenty of those leftover strips. I’m a little worried about the stretch from the bias cut triangles but I think if I starch well, press well and maybe pin a little bit it will be fine! Thank you Carole – I really like the quick way to get a wild 16-patch!
Love this idea, and LOVE the colors! Spring has been very slow in coming to Michigan, and your quilt colors and variety of patterns made me smile! Now if I can just get my current gift projects done!
Carole, this is brilliant! Thank you so much for sharing it.
Good Morning Carole! This is a spectacular tutorial and it is beautiful with all of those special flower prints and combining it with that lovely green! Your photos and layout ideas are so helpful, I always have an especially hard time in playing with layout options. So having these photos to look at will help me a whole bunch. Plus, this is a great stash buster pattern and I have plenty of scraps. Thank you so much for sharing this brilliant tutorial! Have a fantastic creative day!
Amazing! What a great pattern and how lovely of you to share it. I was going to say the only thing wrong with the pattern/idea is you should be compensated for it. I would encourage you to just consider all of us who are going to make it as your pattern testers and quickly write up your instructions and sell on Craftsy or Etsy or Ebay or your local quilt shop. It’s just marvelous! I especially love the Maze layout. I’m seeing some beautiful feather quilting along those paths! Thank you so much for sharing. Sometimes a super quick and easy project is just what I need to get me out of quilting doldrums. Have a blessed day!
What a great way to use up some of those strips. I will definitely try this. Thanks for sharing this quick quilt tutorial. The possibilities for this should be lots of fun to play around with.😍
What a bright and fresh way to use up all those strips I have, and there are soooo many. Loved the floral maze layout best with green (my favorite color!) and I can visualize it with many shades of green in the paths. Thank you for sharing this simple, but very beautiful “scrap dance” pattern that will help us all use up those strips. You are a born designer of so many things! :o) m
What size do the quilt turn out to be? Great idea!! Using the 6 1/2″ blocks, should they be 6″ after cutting & 5 1/2″ finished? Can’t wait for the next mystery clue!! I’m using black and batiks & it looks good!
I Love it! I love the maze look you are going for. I wasn’t a fan of the florals, but sewn up like this, it’s fabulous.
Love the variations / alternate choices . I stopped at step one when I used all the left over binding scraps ( 2 1/2 inch strips) . Just have a plain striped quilt . Will definetly try to be more imaginative on next one. Thank you .
Oh that is gorgeous!!
That looks terrific. I like the mazy one best.
Very pretty!! Thanks so much for stopping by!!
Hugs,
Debbie
Such a pretty quilt your making. I would love to make one of these someday. I’m sure Brenda will share her scraps with me
Congratulations.It’s great and versatile.Added to my list.Thanks you.
What fun! You could make many different looking quilts from one block but using different fabrics and a different layout. This one will need some more attention. I look forward to see your final quilt.
Great idea and very clear instructions! Thank you again for sharing your creative genius.
Carol
Very pretty. I have put it on my list of quilts to make.
Great idea! I love this – in all its incarnations above.
Super idea and tute, thank you Carole! I have a whole box of full of left-over binding strips and a very large box full of state flower fabrics – both would be perfect for this idea. I especially appreciate all the different layout ideas – I usually just wimp out at the first or second I try before sewing the blocks together!
@susansquiltstudio
Thanks for sharing this!!! They look great and very do-able. Pinning for future reference.
Simple and easy – what more could we ask for? And the variations as to patterns is so much fun. Thank you Carole.
Oh I love this Carole. This looks so perky and happy
Wow, what a bunch of great quilts could come from this idea! I have done a similar thing but instead of 16 patch blocks I used wonky log cabin blockss made from scraps. Each block was just one color and I paired them with a print fabric.
Carole, this is stunning and simple…..deceptively simple. I love a BIG BANG for the BUCK! You are just so creative. Thank you for sharing. I agree w/ an earlier comment. You should make a pattern and sell this!
May I chime in and say “Magnificent” and so much gratitude for sharing. You are a true egalitarian quilter-my favorite kind.
I have so many strips and binding pieces left over from other quilts. Can’t wait to try this. Thank you so much for sharing your amazing idea!!!
Amazing how many different layout there are with such a simple block
I love all of the layout options for HST’s, and of course, I love all of that green! The maze layout is super cool.
I love the variety of layouts you can achieve with this. I was thinking of a maze too for your layout before I read your comment saying just that.
It looks beautiful. I love the MAZE. You mentioned the stretching with the HST. For anyone thinking about making this type of block, I offer the following comment — before you make the HST – STARCH HEAVILY – both your floral blocks (from the strips) and your solid (green in this case). It makes such a world of difference when handling HST and all that BIAS. I use good old fashion FAULTLESS or NIAGRA HEAVY STARCH from the laundry product aisle in the super market. I spray both sides of the block and let it “soak in” before I press. Be sure to pick a starch that say’s NO FLAKING. It really does help control the stretch while you are working with the blocks, and of course, it will wash out on that first laundering. 🙂 (I could never have made 1430 HST for Scrap Dance Tango without starch).
What a great simple pattern to do with leftovers. By time you get done it’s another great quilt. Thanks for the wonderful idea. Love the maze.
Brenda