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Using strip sets to make quick and easy quilt blocks

Using strip sets to make quick and easy quilt blocks

by Christine Baker

My fabric has arrived!

Thanks to Elaine at Northcott, my fabric arrived quickly and I’m able to get started on my quilt. I asked for more of the flying geese stripe and one of the Mod Squad panels that Nellie and I used for our Modern Vibe quilt pattern. I ordered more of the black tone-on-tone that I used for my retreat tote since it looks so nice with the other fabrics and a few more of the ColorWorks solids. I have an idea of the block I want to use, so today we’re going to be using strip sets to make quick and easy quilt blocks!

The fabrics have arrived!

The fabrics have arrived!

Fabric requirements

This week I’m going to be making a lap sized quilt. If you’d like to sew along with me, you’ll need the following fabrics:

  • 1 panel mod squad panel #20794-44
  • 44″ flying geese stripe #20792-99
  • 44″ black tone-on-tone #20826-98
  • 5 solids – 8″ each (ColorWorks #9000-28, #9000-45, #9000-54, #9000-71 and #9000-840 were used for this quilt)
  • 8″ inner border
  • 36″ outer border
  • 16″ binding
  • 118″ backing
  • batting – 60″ x 80″

Cutting the strips

Since the flying geese stripes run the length of the fabric, I’m going to cut one strip that’s 42″ wide and then sub-cut it into strips. Using my rotary cutter and ruler, I trim each of the flying geese stripes so that there is get a scant ¼” seam on each side.

Trim each stripe with a ¼" seam allowance along each side

Trim each stripe with a ¼” seam allowance along each side

Cut 10 flying geese strips.

Set aside the 1" striped strips for a future sewing project

Set aside the 1″ striped strips for a future sewing project

Cutting the other strips

From each of the 5 solid fabrics: cut 4 – 1¼” x WOF (width of fabric) strips.

From the black tone-on-tone fabric: cut 20 – 2″ x WOF strips.

Twenty 1¼" strips of solid colored fabrics

Twenty 1¼” strips of solid colored fabrics

Sewing the strip sets

Strip sets are long (often width of fabric) strips that are sewn together and then sub-cut into blocks. This is a fast and efficient way to make blocks since you don’t have to cut all the smaller sections of the blocks before they are sewn together. You can also chain piece the strip sets to make things go together even faster!

Sew one solid colored fabric to each side of one flying geese strip. Press towards the colored strips. To make sure that the striped fabric doesn’t show on the front, sew with the flying geese fabric on the top and sew right along the edge of the striped part of the fabric.

The striped part of the flying geese fabric is showing on the front because the seam allowance is too small

The striped part of the flying geese fabric is showing on the front because the seam allowance is too small

Sew right along the line between the flying geese and the stripes

Sew right along the line between the flying geese and the stripes

Sew one solid fabric strip to each side of the flying geese strip

Sew one solid fabric strip to each side of the flying geese strip

Sew one black tone-on-tone strip to each side of the strip set.

Sew one black strip to each side to make one finished strip set

Sew one black strip to each side to make one finished strip set

Sew the remainder of the strip sets

Repeat this process with each of the flying geese strips to make a total of ten strip sets, two of each solid color of fabric. Tomorrow we’ll sub-cut these strip sets into blocks and we’ll start arranging them into our quilt design. You’ll see that using strip sets to make quick and easy quilt blocks is a great way to make use of the flying geese fabric!

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11 comments

Thunder October 1, 2018 - 9:54 pm

Love these bright colors ❗❗

Reply
Jill Anderson January 15, 2016 - 9:24 pm

Wow these fabric colours are vibrant. And those flying geese are so much easier than the real thing. I am certainly going to look for this fabric for my next quilt

Reply
Michele Timms January 10, 2016 - 8:37 am

These colours are amazing!!! Thanks for sharing some great ideas with these fabrics!! I need to get some and create something vibrant and beautiful!!

Reply
Kathy MacKie January 9, 2016 - 1:53 pm

I must get over the fear of using solids, thanks for the great instructions.

Reply
Elaine Morton January 9, 2016 - 12:11 am

Such vibrant colours. And great instructions

Reply
Heidi Rolland January 8, 2016 - 9:23 pm

I’m new to quilting and just wanted to say, thank you for making everything so clear and concise to understand. I’m in love with these amazing colors! Thanks again!

Reply
Christine Baker January 9, 2016 - 12:46 am

Thanks!

Reply
Susan Barnett January 8, 2016 - 6:36 pm

I am just starting a strip quarter-triangle quilt so I like the tip on sewing strips.

Reply
Shari Lund January 8, 2016 - 11:57 am

Love this idea and will use I am sure in a quilt I make in the future! Bright colours and fun colours make any quilt pop! Flying geese are one of my favourites to make.

Reply
Elaine Theriault January 5, 2016 - 2:59 pm

Love the post – super job explaining how to sew those flying geese!!!!!

Reply
Christine Baker January 7, 2016 - 8:50 pm

Thanks Elaine!

Reply

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