Snowball nine-patch

This one combines two blocks - a snowball using 5" squares and 2" square corners, and a nine-patch using 2" squares. Dead simple and quite effective.

What it uses: 2" squares, 5" squares

Disappearing Four Patch

Easy instructions can be found here, on the Sew Wonderful blog.

what it uses: 5 inch squares (or could use another size square)

Peaches and Dreams....

From a free Judy Laquidara pattern.

What it uses: larger scraps, 2.5" strips, 1.5" strips, 2" strips

Modified Nine Patch

What it uses:

1.5" squares or 4.5" squares or 5" squares

1.5" strips

This block finishes at about 5" - you could, of course, start with a bigger square size...

Slice it up

what it uses up: 3" squares, 3x8" rectangles (you could use 3" strips for these)

When I originally blogged this quilt top, I explained the process - so you can check that out over here. I'd like to do this one again in a more controlled way - perhaps using only two colours for the larger rectangles (or one) and scrappy in the middle. Maybe for the next colour challenge!

Boxed-in batiks

What it uses up: 2.5" squares

You could use this pattern with any colour or theme of 2.5" squares - and of course, you wouldn't have to use black for the sashing between the sections. I saw it originally on the So Scrappy blog, in blue and white - as you can see, a totally different look - but equally good. Unlimited possibilities!

Squares and Rectangles

What it uses up:

• 2.5" squares,
• 2.5"x5" rectangles (i.e. half a "nickel" piece)

OR any combination of squares and rectangles where the square is half the size of the rectangle

Easy block to do - plan to create a square from three pieces - a rectangle, which is half the width of the desired square (plus seam allowance), and two square, each of which is half the size of the rectangle (plus seam allowance).

For instance, you'd like some 6" (finished) blocks. Rectangle size: 3.5x6.5"; square size, 3.5"

Or if you want to make 8" (finished) blocks, rectangle size 4.5x8.5"; square size, 4.5"

The block construction is so simple, I don't think I even need to tell you how to go about it!

Log Cabin Corners

Small Log Cabin Corner Quilt

What scraps it uses up:

• 2 inch squares (1 per block)
• 4 inch squares (1 per block)
• 5 inch squares (1 per block)

alternatively, you can use 2" strips you might have, or of course, you can always use fabric which is bigger in size than what I list - you just can't use anything smaller!

For each block cut

• one 2" square for the cornerstone (white in my block)
• one 2" square and one 2x3.5" rectangle in the same fabric (you can cut these from a 4" square)
• one 2.3.5" rectangle and one 2x5" rectangle in the same fabric (you can cut these from a 5" square)

For the setting triangles:

The setting squares could be scrappy but will probably look better if they are the same fabric all around. For this number of blocks I used (32) you will need

• 14 QST triangles (cut a 7.75" square in half diagonally twice) [i.e. 4x 7.75" squares]
• 4 HST triangles (cut a 5.5" square in half once) [2 x 5.5" squares]

Personally, I am probably going to put a narrow border in the same fabric around it, so the top floats a bit, but you don't have to!

QST unit fun

Quarter Square Triangles with Plain Squares

What scraps it uses:

• 4" squares (for the plain squares - cut to 3.75")
• 5" squares (for the QST units - one each in two contrasting colours - makes 2 units)

I make the QST units by putting two squares face together, drawing a line diagonally across the back and stitching 1/4" from the line on both sides. Then cut them apart, press, and put them back together faces towards and do it again. Web directions for that method can be found lots of places, for instance, here.

You can actually use any size squares you like, but the squares for the QST units need to be 1.25" bigger than the size you desire, so your plain squares need to be 1.25" smaller than the ones you choose for the QST units. If you are unsure, make a single pair of QST units and check what size they are, then cut your plain squares to that size!