Postage Stamp Blocks | susies-scraps.com

Postage Stamp Scrappy Irish Chain Quilt Top

Hello Dear Friends and Readers, and a warm welcome to today’s post. This is a post, I have been working on for a long time. It is a great way to use all kinds of scraps. This quilt top is made from small squares, which, when incorporated together look good, despite their many differences.

Today I am sharing a kind of scrappy Irish chain variation made with postage stamps blocks.

By collecting up all the small pieces of fabric and cutting them to a size that will actually become something beautiful down the track. Cut Up Your Quilting Off-cuts and Obsession with Pre Cuts / Make Your Own

As a project is completed, cutting the leftovers into useable strips or squares means they are ready to use when the need arises!

Postage Stamp Scrappy Irish Chain Quilt Top susies-scraps.com

Today’s quilt has been put together by using two different blocks and alternating them. The challenge with the postage stamp blocks is to try to make them as even as possible, and with the points being as sharp as possible. I have to admit that I began making these blocks a long time ago, My seam allowance in the beginning was really too small. At this stage have decided to accept the fact that my blocks are a little bit uneven. I am putting it down to a learning curve, from which I believe I have progressed in that time. Sometimes finished is better than perfect. I did become waylaid with this project because I ran out of the background fabric hand despite looking around I could not really find a perfect match, so, with those imperfections in mind, I believe it’s better not to dwell on it any longer, and to complete the project. Despite that, it’s still a pretty quilt top, I am sure you will agree, and learning from the journey is good.

I have mentioned it before, but one thing which I believe I have done correctly, is to pre-wash all these fabrics so that when the finished quilt finally is washed, there won’t be too much shrinkage in the fabrics, given they are all so different.

I understand it is a personal choice. To Wash or Not to Wash?….This is the Question

Finished quilt top size 81 ½” x 63 ½”

Requirements for Making the Postage Stamp, Irish Chain Quilt Top

32 of postage stamp blocks 36 Patch Postage Stamp Blocks Tutorial

31 of Around the Garden in Scraps Blocks Around the Garden – In Scraps – Block

This quilt top could be made in any size you like, using the same approach whether it was a cot, single, double queen or king size, depending on how many scraps you would like to use.

Making the Postage Stamp Scrappy Irish Chain Quilt Top

Beginning with a Postage stamp Block, attach an Around the Garden in Scraps Block. Next row, Begin with an Around the Garden In Scraps Block and attach a 36 Patch Postage Stamp Block.

Repeat until this pattern has been repeated for a total of 9 rows. Begin the next row alternating the blocks as before so that the quilt top will be in a 9 x 7 configuration.

I call this scaffolding a quilt top. Please use the same method as making the 36 Patch Postage Stamp Blocks Tutorial.

This makes it very easy to put the quilt top together.

TIP

Use binding clips on the edges of the first row set to keep the blocksin order and prevent twisting.

Thank you for joining me for the is fun use of scraps. If you enjoyed this post, you may also like

36 Patch Table Mat

And this great scrappy quilt block Arkansas Cross Road Quilt Block Tutorial

Scrappy Jacob’s Ladder Quilt Reimagined

Happy stitching,

Susie

Postage Stamp Blocks

Hello Dear Friends and Readers. Todays post is about using up squares to make Postage Stamp Blocks.

Quilters, Post your Stamps!

When you think about it Postage Stamp Quilt Blocks are your Stamp. They can be a true reflection of the fabric styles you like and choose. And the scrappiness and variation in each block, no matter what size or style you choose, is just wonderful.

Personally, I would never make this kind of quilt block straight from yardage, as it defeats the purpose. That’s why, if I have leftover fabric, scraps, I like to cut them up, or store into similar sized groups, ready for piecing. You will be surprised how much variation there is. The marvellous thing is, no matter what the fabric, they look really great when pieced together. Over time, blocks can be prepared for a quilt or other quilted items.

My personal favourites are 1 1/2″ squares and 2″ squares. They be made into any sized block you like. I tend to use a scant 1/4″ seam and always keep something under the needle so that the machine doesn’t draw the small pieces down.

This is how I do it.

When I sew these blocks, I like to sew them as a whole block. For example, if I’m sewing a sixteen patch block, I will begin by chain piecing the first four sets of two. I don’t cut them apart. Then I will open the chain and add on the next four pieces, then the last four in a chain. The 16 pieces are now connected. Then I will join each chained row. This makes it very easy to nest the seams, keep the seam allowance even, and enable same direction of how the seams lay in each row, so they all lay flat and lock into each other.

Pinning is very useful too. Using as stiletto as they are fed through I find is very good.

This is my basket of 1 1/2″ scraps made from 1 1/2″ scraps and left over Charm Squares. I find they are great for storing the scraps (and other things. Pretty, and can sit next to my machine, ready to use any time.

Quilted Scrap Fabric Baskets

So, dear quilters out there, if you like scrappy blocks, take up the challenge of postage stamp blocks. You’ll be shocked at how many you can make and how little pieces of fabric come together, in what may have been waste, into something really beautiful, which is after all a reflection of you!

Happy Stitching,

Susie

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