• Scrappy Roads

Scrappy Roads

In celebration of my recent cross-country move, this newsletter includes a free pattern titled Scrappy Roads. This small quilt celebrates the traditional Rocky Road to Kansas block. My favorite part about this quilt is that I don't have to precisely cut and piece straight strips of fabric -- I find that liberating.

In its original printing, this quilt used luscious iridescent velvet fabrics that were first stabilized with a lightweight fusible interfacing, and then sewn onto a foundation. Using standard quilting cotton would eliminate these steps. This quilt would be beautiful made in rich batiks or completed in any number of colorways. With the holidays just around the corner you might consider making it to be used over a solid-color tablecloth -- just imagine it on your dessert table!

Designed by Sue Harvey

Project Specifications

Quilt Size: 32" x 32"
Block Size: 12" x 12"
Number of Blocks: 4

Materials

• 1/2 yard each 5 different iridescent velvets*
• 1/2 yard each 7 different mottleds*

• 1/2 yard tan-on-cream print*
• 5/8 yard black iridescent velvet*
• 1 yard black solid
• Backing 36" x 36"
• Batting 36" x 36"
• Black all-purpose thread
• Cream machine-quilting thread
• Clear nylon monofilament
• 1 1/2 yards lightweight fusible black interfacing
• Basic sewing tools and supplies, rotary cutter, mat and ruler

*Iridescent Velvet, Rose-Petal Tapestry Scroll and Teatone Muted Grounds from David Textiles Inc. used to make sample project.

Click here to download templates.

Instructions

1. Cut five squares lightweight fusible black interfacing 10" x 10"; fuse one square to the wrong side of each of the five iridescent velvets. Trim square from the velvet pieces; set aside.
2. Cut several random-width by fabric length strips from the remainder of the velvet pieces and all the mottled pieces. Note: Strips should be at least 1" wide, but no wider than 3", and some should taper from one end to the other as shown in Figure 1.

3. Cut one strip 16" by fabric width black solid; subcut into four 10" x 16" foundation rectangles.
4. Place a mottled strip along one 10" edge of a foundation rectangle as shown in Figure 2; place another mottled or velvet strip right sides together with the first strip as shown in Figure 3.
5. Stitch along edge of strips as shown in Figure 4; trim excess seam allowance of two strips, again referring to Figure 4. Fold over second strip; pin to foundation rectangle. Note: If using a tapered strip, stitch seam at an angle to result in tapered pieces when stitching is complete as shown in Figure 5.
6. Place a third mottled or velvet strip right sides together with the pinned strip; stitch, trim seam allowance, fold last strip over and pin to foundation rectangle.
7. Continue to add strips to completely cover the black solid rectangle as shown in Figure 6, cutting additional velvet and mottled strips as needed; repeat for all rectangles.

8. Cut four strips 4" x 30" black solid. Cover strips as for foundation rectangles.
9. Prepare templates for pattern pieces given. Cut C and CR pieces as directed on pattern.
10. Cut B pieces from 10" fused velvet squares cut in step 1.
11. Cut four A pieces from each 10" x 16" rectangle referring to Figure 7 for positioning of template on rectangle.


12. To piece one Rocky Road to Kansas block, sew C and CR to opposite sides of A and add B as shown in Figure 8; press seams away from A. Repeat for four A-B-C units.
13. Join the A-B-C units to complete one block as shown in Figure 9; repeat for four blocks.
14. Join two blocks to make a row; repeat. Join the two rows to complete the pieced center.
15. Fuse lightweight fusible black interfacing to the wrong side of the black iridescent velvet.
16. Cut two strips each 1 1/2" x 24 1/2" and 1 1/2" x 26 1/2" from the fused velvet. Sew the shorter strips to opposite sides of the pieced center and the longer strips to the remaining sides; press seams toward strips.
17. Cut a 3 1/2" x 26 1/2" strip from each of the 4" x 30" patchwork strips. Sew a strip to opposite sides of the pieced center; press seams toward black velvet strips.
18. Cut four squares 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" from the fused black velvet; sew a square to each end of the remaining patchwork strips. Sew a strip to the remaining sides of the pieced center to complete the top; press seams toward black velvet strips.
19. Sandwich batting between completed top and prepared backing piece; pin or baste to hold.
20. Hand- or machine-quilt as desired. Note: The sample shown was machine-quilted in the ditch of seams using clear nylon monofilament in the top of the machine and all-purpose thread in the bobbin and 1/4" from the A pieces using cream machine-quilting thread in the top of the machine and all-purpose thread in the bobbin.
21. Remove pins or basting; trim edges even with top. Cut four strips 2 1/4" by fabric width from fused black velvet. Join strips on short ends to make a long strip. Fold in half along length with fused sides together; press to make binding strip. Bind edges of quilt to finish.