Retreat!

A small group of us gathered at the Shaw Nature Reserve Overnight Center for 3 days of sewing after the Bits n Pieces quilt show.  More on the show later.  We sewed, ate, hiked, did Tai chi, drank wine, sewed some more and generally enjoyed the friendship and the beautiful spring weather.  It is a bunk house style place to stay but we have adapted well.  Here are some pictures.

Jelly Roll Tutorial - Retreat

Thanks to Judy for sharing this jelly roll quilt with us at retreat.  We were amazed at how easy it was and how each quilt made looked so unique.  I am going to try to share the instructions here.  First of all here is Judy's quilt made with a batik jelly roll.  By the way, a jelly roll is made of 40 2 1/2" strips - usually from coordinated fabrics - often from a single line of fabrics but could be cut from your own stash. 
Here is Judy's quilt on the design wall.

Here is my quilt - made from Moda MoMo line:

Same quilt, different fabrics.

Now to see how it is done.

You need a jelly roll or a set of  40 coordinating fabric cut into 2 1/2" strips that are the width of the fabric.

 

Now divide the fabrics into groups of 4 strips - 10 total.  Sets should be color coordinated.

Sew the strip sets (4 strips) along the long edges.  Press seams to one side. 

Measure the width of the four strips (should be 8 1/4" to 8 3/8") and subcut these strips into squares.  You should get 5 squares per strip set.

 Now using squares from different sets lay the squares right sides together with the strips going perpendicular to each other.  In other words the strips should not be going the same direction.  Pin and sew all the way around the square using a 1/4" seam allowance. 

Sew all squares.  You should have approximately 25 sets

Now carefully cut the squares diagonally twice -corner to corner.

See what happens when you open up the squares.  You have a block looking like you did a lot of work.  The strips in each triangle are perpendicular.  Press the triangles carefully to the strip without a seam.  These blocks are all bias so be careful. 

Now to the design wall.

We laid them out 8 by 10 blocks but you can do it however you like.  Just lay them all out then start rearranging.  You are making a small quilt - lap or baby size.  The blocks are 5 1/2".  If you look closely the quilt made from Moda fabrics has a few squares that make a secondary design by placing the longest strips of the same colors in a pattern.
Have fun and please contact me if you have questions or problems.