Making a versatile Island Vibes curved strip pieced quilt block

Yesterday I showed you how to do some easy curved strip-piecing using fabrics from Banyan Batiks Island Vibes collection.

Today I’ll show you how to re-cut those strip sets and create a unique, modern-looking block.

Let’s get started!

• Straighten the left-hand edge of each strip set.
• Cut each strip set into 5 – 4″ segments.

• Using 3 segments from 1 strip set and 2 segments from the other one, arrange the segments as desired. I found it more interesting to off-set the segments a little. It’s also easier to sew them together when you do this.

• Overlap the first 2 segments by about 1″.
• Using a rotary cutter, cut a gentle wavy curve line through both fabrics. This is the same technique I shared yesterday to cut the first set of strips.
• Sew the segments together. Press seam to one side.
• Repeat this process with the 3 remaining strips.

Now you’ve created an original curved strip pieced block!

Square up the edges to the desired size. You could use this block for the front of a tote bag or cushion cover. You could add some borders and make a small wall hanging. Or you could make more blocks using the same curved strip piecing technique and use them for a small quilt.

You still have 5 – 4″ segments left over, so let’s use a different technique to create the next block.

For this block, you’ll need one more fat quarter from the Banyan Batiks Island Vibes collection. I chose this pink fabric (#80274-21) because it would contrast well with my previously sewn strips.

• From pink fabric, cut 4 – 2″ x WOF strips. Trim them so they are a little longer than your strip segments. Mine were about 15″ long.
• Lay out the pieced strip segments in the desired order and place pink strips between them.

• Overlap one pink strip by about 1″ on top of the first segment. Just as you did before, use a rotary cutter to cut a gentle wavy line through both layers of fabric.
• Remove excess fabric.
• Sew pink strip to blue segment. Press seam toward pink.

• Continue until you have all the pink strips and blue segments sewn together.
• Now you have another original curvy, strip pieced block!
• Trim the block to the desired size. Remember it’s OK to have a rectangular block. My block squared–up to 13″ x 17″. Again you could add borders to make a small wall quilt or use the block for another project such as a tote bag or placemat. And of course, you could keep making these curvy strip-pieced blocks until you have enough for a quilt!

I’m sure you’ll enjoy using these Banyan Batik fabrics. They’re so easy to cut and sew and the edges don’t fray – bonus!

Be sure to check out the other colorways in this Island Vibes collection – Bermuda Breeze and Junkanoo.

Come back tomorrow and I’ll show you how to get started making a small baby quilt – it could also be used as a wall quilt – using some different Island Vibes Palm Bay fabrics.