Crumby Squares Tutorial

 

 

This month it's my turn as Queen Bee in the Do Good Stitches Comfort Circle.

Good morning friends. This month you have the chance to use up some of your small scraps in making four squares which will finish at 7" in the quilt. 

I’d like you to use your scraps to make a 5.5” crumb square in one colour and then surround the square with a 1.5” border of one fabric in the complementary colour. You can choose to make all four squares in the same colour, or make one each of four different colours; it's up to you.

 Preparation

• So pull scraps of the same colour – different fabrics, different shades, all shapes

• Make sure you have a 1.5” strip at least 27" long (see below) of the complementary colour (the one directly opposite your first colour on the colour wheel) for the border. I prefer to use a solid or near solid for the border, giving good contrast in tone without competing with the crumb square. (For reference I've added photos of the colour wheel and how to find the complementary colour):
  
  

  

  photos: © Joan Wolfrom "3 in 1 color tool
  

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• No black or white and also no navy blue for the border please.

various fabrics but all orange

Join two pieces

 

 

Method

• Use a 0.25" seam throughout.

• Sew the scraps together (starting with an irregularly shaped piece), pressing the seams open.  

add a third


• If you're new to crumb blocks check this tutorial by Darlene Michaud: “5 Ways to start Crumb Blocks” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMtLyM352Y4

• Don’t just use strips; we don’t want a rail fence block.

• If it’s starting to look like a rail fence, then cut across it at an angle and turn one of the pieces round or keep it apart and use it in another block.

  

  and trim
  

• Keep adding and trimming until your piece is larger than 5.5" square.
  

• Select your final square, check, and CUT!
  

• Attach the border: 2 strips 1.5" x 5.5" and 2 strips 1.5 x 7.5" 
  

 

Finally trim your block to 7.5" square (5" crumb square plus a 1.25" border on each side) which will be 7" square in the finished block.
 

Good luck

Happy sewing

 

Marly.