Let's Get Scrappy – Let's play in the scrap box

As quilters we all have them, some more than others – lots and lots of fabric scraps. If we are new quilters we may not have as much, but don’t let that stop you from making a beautiful scrappy quilt. There are all kinds of way to build your scrap stash. One fun way is to have a scrap exchange with quilter friends. Your scrap stash will go very fast. Another way is to look for “Stash Builders” from Island Batik at your local quilt shop. They are great for making scrap quilts. So Let’s Get Scrappy and let me show you a great way to use up those beautiful scraps.

For those of you that are new to Island Batik and not familiar with there “Stash Builders” here is a little about them.

• They contain 5 rolls of wonderful batik fabric per package

• Each roll contains 4 different batik fabrics that are 5″ x 44″ in length.

• There are approximately 3 yards of fabric in each package.

Stash Builders from Island Batik

As many of you know, I like to take a traditional block and add a modern look to it. For this “Let’s Get Scrappy” challenge I used a block that was originally designed back in the 1940’s, commonly know as the Wheel of Fortune block.

No photo description available. — *Wheel of Fortune from Laura Wheeler,*
*perhaps copyright 1940.*

I used the Crazy Wheel of Fortune block in the EQ8 software, “BlockBase”. The “BlockBase” software is an add-on product. It has over 4,300 quilt block patterns to print in ANY size. If you are an EQ8 software user you can import these into “Easy Draw” and manipulate them to create your own twist to any of the blocks that are available for use in the software.

The Wheel of Fortune block is a paper pieced pattern. In each block the pattern is repeated 8 times. It is an easy sewing block for any skill level of quilter. The blocks can be made any size. I drafted the size of the block I made for my scrappy Wheel of Fortune quilt to be eight inches.

There are 16 blocks in the quilt. I added a scrappy inner border to frame the Wheel of Fortune blocks.

The finished quilt measures 45″ x 45″.

Sandwiched between the top and backing is Heirloom® Premium 80/20 Cotton/Poly Blend batting. I choose this batting because I am going to use the quilt as a wall hanging.

Hobbs Heirloom® Premium 80/20 Cotton/Poly Blend Batting (image)

The quilt was quilted with swirly style of quilting to enhance the spinning motion of the Wheel of Fortune blocks. I used white Aurifil Cotton 50wt. thread for the sewing and the quilting my Wheel of Fortune quilt. The Aurifil thread enhances and brings to the life the lantern shaped blocks.

So if you have lots of scraps, you have an idea of what you can do with them. You can work on your paper piecing skills and make a colorful scrappy quilt. This project can be any size. If I had more time I would have made it into a bed size quilt. I love how all the colors just play together so nicely. I hope you have been inspired to create a scrappy project using the Wheel of Fortune block as a starting point.