Kansas Dugout

This is the perfect project to spring-clean by using all those scraps. Kansas Dugout uses lights and darks. It's a quick and easy pattern that can easily be made larger with adding a row or two of blocks. Use it as a baby quilt or make it as a queen size. If you have scraps, this is the quilt for you.

Design by Nancy Brenan Daniel

Project Specifications

Skill Level: Beginner
Quilt Size: 36" x 44"
Block Size: 8" x 8"
Number of Blocks: 12

Materials

1/4 yard red print
3/4 yard assorted light background scraps
1 yard teal print
1 yard assorted medium/dark scraps
Backing 42" x 50"
Batting 42" x 50"
All-purpose thread to match fabrics
Basic sewing tools and supplies, rotary cutter, mat and ruler

Project Note

The color palette of scraps chosen for the sample quilt was limited to red-rust, blues, blacks and browns. The design has the cohesion of a planned color scheme rather than a palette of scraps of all colors.

Instructions

Cut 156 squares light background scraps 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" for A. Set aside 60 A squares for borders. Mark a diagonal line from corner to corner on the wrong side of the remaining 96 A squares.
Cut 96 rectangles medium/dark scraps 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" for B.

To piece one block, join two B pieces as shown in Figure 1; repeat for four B units.
Place an A square on two corners of one B unit and stitch on marked lines as shown in Figure 2.
Trim 1/4" beyond seam line and press to create an A-B unit as shown in Figure 3; repeat for four A-B units.
Join the four A-B units to complete one Kansas Dugout block as shown in Figure 4; repeat for 12 blocks.
Join three blocks to make a row; repeat for four rows. Press seams in one direction.
Join rows to complete the pieced center; press seams in one direction.
Join 16 A squares to make a side strip; repeat for two strips. Sew a strip to opposite sides of the pieced center; press seams toward the A strips.
Join 14 A squares to make another strip; repeat for two strips. Sew a strip to the top and bottom of the pieced center; press seams toward the A strips.
Cut two strips each 1 1/2" x 38 1/2" and 1 1/2" x 28 1/2" red print. Sew the shorter strips to the top and bottom, and longer strips to opposite sides; press seams toward strips.
Cut (and piece) two strips each 3 1/2" x 44 1/2" and 3 1/2" x 30 1/2" teal print. Sew the shorter strips to the top and bottom and longer strips to opposite long sides of the pieced center; press seams toward strips.
Sandwich batting between prepared backing and pieced top; pin or baste to hold.
Hand- or machine-quilt as desired. Note: The sample shown was machine-quilted 1/4" away from some seams.
Trim backing and batting even with top; remove pins or basting.
Cut five 2 1/2" by fabric width strips teal print. Join the strips on the short ends to make one long strip for binding; press strips in half with wrong sides together along length. Bind edges with binding to finish.