For years I’ve been sewing 2.5″ squares together at the start and end of much of my patchwork sewing. While I do this I’m actually creating a bonus quilt! So many people have told me they didn’t know about this, so here is how I do it!
If you have never thought about doing this, I’ll walk you through it. It just takes a tiny bit of planning to have things ‘at the Ready’!
First I cut my scraps into 2.5″ squares. And I keep them together by color.
Here is a bin of Green squares and Cream squares. The lights might have other colors in it but they read as a light fabric
The reason I do these as 2 color is I like the final effect it makes. You can also make it totally scrappy or control it with a light and the alternate is totally scrappy! SO FUN!
Let me me show you…
BIG TIP – I find it more effective to sort out about 10 of each color and sit them on top of the machine
Because it saves time.
When i cut them, i might have 5 of the same fabric in the stack, but i don’t want to SEW the same fabrics to each other, this way I get random placement and don’t have to hunt each time I go to pick up a square!
When I start patchwork it’s great to have something that has already been sewn.
Many people will use the same 2 square folded and sew over it again and again. But why not make something while sewing something else instead?
The bonus is… You save thread! No long tails as you just clip between!
Here I am sewing up a backing. I have my set of 2″ squares and roll right into my backing..
I will clip the threads between them.
Then when I come to the end of this backing, I sew another 2.5″ square onto the unit I’m building!
Pretty soon I have….
Sets of 2.5″ squares sewn together!
I sew 6 at a time alternating color.
When I have 6 strips…
I lay them out, then I’ll press the seams alternating directions
At this point i can either sew this block.
Or I use these units to start and stop other patchwork!
Here is the 6 x 6 block.
It’s 12.5″ square before setting it.
I keep making them… and pretty soon I have enough to set into long vertical strips.
And when I do that …
I’m getting very close to calling this green & white ‘Done’.
getting the last strips sewn for anther vertical row.. then maybe a horizontal row or 2 on the bottom
and here it is without the last one…looking good! love the pop of the tomato print
I have a FREE Lap quilt in progress, which is so exciting!
These can be a baby quilt, a lap quilt.. or a bed size, just depends on the use you want.
I’m sure you have left over jelly rolls, smaller fabrics you can clean up and store better as 2.5″ squares.. all good things come of them with this technique!
What do you think? Have you tried this before?
Goodies I use
- MINI charm Packs – If you don’t have much fabric yet, you can jump start a quilt with 2.5″ mini charm packs! They are Awesome .. some on sale too!
- Trimming rulers to trim 2 sides at once
- Bloc Loc rulers
- Sign up for my notices to get a FREE quilt Block each Wed!
102 Responses
Nann I think quilters have done this type of thing for years, I did it way before the internet.. fun to have a plan!
there are Deb!
super!
go Dottie go!
I’ve done that too Judy, for years, like way before the internet! I think quilters have ALWAYS done this type of thing
It’s fun Deb!
now you know!
it’s a great plan Cindy!
great plan Judith!
yeah!
actually Laurie I’ve done this way before the interent… like forever.. so it’s nothing new!
thank you!
you are so welcome Karla!
I can’t even remember how long I’ve done it GeeGee way way way before I knew anyone online.. like before the internet!
I have been doing this way before Bonnie’s leaders and enders but I like to pick a design that uses 2 1/2 inch squares such as Irish chain, log cabin with squares, chevron type blocks, etc. and when I have enough blocks set them into a quilt. I taught this method to my students eons ago. Scrap away and enjoy!
Love your green “twosie” quilt. I always enjoy your emails for the inspiration and for being so upbeat. I still wonder how you keep up with so many projects and ideas. Thanks again, Pat!!
Love this idea, Pat! Your green quilt is beautiful!!
Yep. Bonnie Hunter’s “Leaders and Enders” .. .great idea!
I have not started cutting up scraps but will definitely do it.
I started doing something similar a few years ago …. I cut 5″ squares (now we call them Charms!) I also, if I have a piece with full WOF, cut 2 1/2″ strips.
I’m thinking multiples of 2-1/2″, 5″, 10″ pieces…. I have a bunch of patterns for these sized.
Odd sized pieces are saved for making various sized yo-yo’s.
I have been doing that for awhile and I have a pile of squares and blocks of squares all sewn!
Great idea. I have been saving scraps from my first three quilting projects. I was not sure why I was saving my scraps. Thank you.
Love this idea!
Donna,
Fonz and Porter has a glove that will keep your fingers safe. Also try not to push so hard. Maybe do some practicing with scraps to learn to control, better yet use an old blade and slice up some newspaper before you recycle it!
I’ve been making bonus triangles when constructing some of the Solstice blocks (a la Bonnie Hunter, too). If the leftover is going to be a big waste when making a half square triangle or flying geese or… I draw an additional line on the back of the square 1/2″ from the first line. After stitching the line for my block, I make sure it will cover the corner, then go back and stitch the second line. Cut 1/4″ from the seams and you have a bonus triangle. I’m a little light on scraps, but I’m getting there.
What a fabulous idea! Thank you so much! Some of us really enjoy making scrap quilts so this is perfect. 😀
Awesome idea…I hadn’t heard of it so thankyou Pat. I have soo many scraps and have intended for some time to sort them and cut them up…Better get started? Also love Quiltcutie’s idea of doing four patch and then using five inch scraps make a Jacobs Ladder quilt… thanks for sharing..
I do this all the time! I sew two together, then into 4 patches. I had a whole basket of 4 patches, so I looked for a block and found Jacob’s ladder, so I used up a bunch of 5 inch squares and made HST’s. It was so much fun laying out the scrappy blocks! I now have 24 blocks and I’m ready to sew the quilt top together! All out of scraps from other quilts I’ve made!
I have been doing this also from Bonnie Hunter’s leader and ender tips. It’s a great way to save your thread and start another project. I haven’t tried doing with the 2 and 1/2 size, but will definitely start. Thanks for the tip!
Same concept but using 2 1/2″ light squares as the background, I use odd shaped scraps (medium – dark) to make free wonky star blocks!
Pat, this is a great idea. I save all the little bits but sometimes I wonder if I am spending more time on the side projects. That and my high distraction level helps my procrastination but soon I will have a fabulous extra!
Hola Pat Sloan. Me encanta la idea de la colcha y la colcha es preciosa. Voy ha hacer una cuando pueda coser, pero primero el Solsticio. Gracias por sus maravillosas ideas y lo bien que lo ha explicado. Saludos.
Isn’t it amazing, what some of us have done for years – there is some that have never heard of- newbees :-} Glad that u are sharing this.
Great idea, those mini charm packs are especially good for this!
Great idea!
Is there a trick to get corners to line up? I try to cut exactly but i have a difficult time getting corners to line up☹️ Also do you have any tricks for cutting. I probably am not good at it. Once cut my fonger had 7 stitches. Ouch!!
This is very similar to what Bonnie Hunter calls Leaders-and-Enders. I can use any size or shape, not just 2.5-inch squares. It all depends on what I want to end up with. I am fairly new to doing this, but it makes more sense than just using a scrap of fabric each time to start sewing.
Great Idea. You have so many of them, and I thank you for sharing them with us. Have a great day.
Fantastic idea!!! I will start doing this ASAP!!! Thank you Pat for your great tips.
Pat I love this idea. Thank you so much for being a great inspiration to myself and others. I guess I need to get started going through my scraps and making 2 1/2″ blocks, and thanx again for always keeping me busy.
I have been doing this with my reds from my Solstice Challenge…will have more than enough for the checkerboard setting blocks by the time the last block is made…and probably a pillow or two to match. Love twofers!
Pat, I love this idea. I recently bought a bag with 780 2-1/2″ squares at the thrift store for a dollar. I’ve been wondering what I’m going to do with them. This idea is perfect. Thank you!
I have done this before. I’ve even cut up a quilt from a kit and stacked the cut blocks near my machine and worked on them while I complete the one I’m working on. It’s usually simple blocks. It’s great you’re spreading the word on this technique.
Good grief! What a sew simple dual purpose idea – you’re a genius. Thanks – Great way to start using my Ton of scraps.
Pat what a great idea!! I love watching your videos and reading your posts I always learn a little something.
I am doing it with 3 inch squares. Totally, totally scrappy, what I pick I get. Will probably use for 27″ charity doll quilts. Great idea!! Thinking of using 5-inch next time.
I love this idea and will definitely use it. Thank you.
I use different versions of leaders-and-enders (as Bonnie Hunter calls them) — my go-to shape is to pair up 3″ squares, cut them diagonally, and end up with 2.5″ half-square triangles. They find their way into many projects. I don’t always make triangles, though. Sometimes I use 1.5″ postage stamps, or 2″ squares, or 2.5″ squares. The resulting twosies become foursies and from there larger blocks and entire quilts.
I love using my washing basket full of tiny scraps for things, always adding to it all the time, also people giving scraps as well, endless ideas, thank you kindly for another!! hugs x
Great idea! I will putting this idea to work soon! thanks for your inspiration Pat!