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Elizabeth’s Fabric Focus ~ Quick-Piece Tiny Squares
Elizabeth from Oh, Fransson! does it again with a fabulous project for your scraps. Enjoy this quick-piece technique and don’t forget about Elizabeth’s Charm Squares Baby Quilt for Scrap Busters Month.
You can find all of Elizabeth’s other monthly tutorials on our blog: Advent Calendar, Stack & Nest Quilted Blocks, Laptop Sleeve, April Bags, Pincushion Organizer, Ponytail Scarves, Sawtooth Stars. Elizabeth also has a great selection of PDF patterns for sale in her Etsy shop and lots of fun projects and helpful sewing resources on Oh, Fransson!
From Elizabeth: I do a lot of quilting and, consequently, end up with a lot of scraps. To keep things under control, I generally save only those scraps that are at least 5” square. However, there are some smaller scraps that I just can’t let go. Some are out of print, some are more difficult-to-find Japanese imports, and some are just prints that I really like. I love the idea of patchwork piecing tiny scraps, but it can take a whole lot of time. (And that’s saying nothing for how difficult it can be to match so many closely-spaced seams!)
The shortcut I’m going to show you today uses lightweight fusible interfacing to help quick-piece tiny squares. Using this method, I was able to piece the 81 squares in this mini quilt in less than 1 hour.
Start by determining the size of your finished block and how many squares you want to use. Calculate the finished size of your squares and blocks using a 1/4″ seam allowance, just as you would for conventional patchwork. That means, if you’re using 2” x 2” squares, your finished squares will be 1-1/2” x 1-1/2”.
I used 81 squares 2” x 2” (41 red and 40 aqua) to make a finished block 13-1/2″ across.
Now, on to the interfacing! I used very lightweight Pellon. (Some stores also carry a gridded interfacing designed especially for this purpose.) Cut a square of interfacing large enough to accommodate all of your fabric squares, including seam allowances. For me, this was 18” x 18”. Use a fabric marker and ruler to draw a 2” x 2” grid on the non-fusible side of the interfacing.
My ironing board would not accommodate an 18” square, so I created a makeshift ironing area by laying towels on my worktable. Lay the interfacing, fusible side up, on your ironing area. Starting in the center, use the grid you just drew (or the one printed on the interfacing) to arrange your fabric squares as you’d like them to be in the finished block.
Once all squares are in place, press to fuse them to the interfacing. Rather than ironing (i.e. moving the iron from side to side) pick up your iron and put it down on the block, using even pressure and a quick burst of steam. Continue across your block, until all squares are fused. Flip the block over and, iron (moving the iron back and forth this time) the back using very light pressure and several quick bursts of steam.
Note: This is what works with my iron and the interfacing I use. If you’ve had trouble fusing interfacing in the past, I recommend practicing with some less-precious scraps to get a feel for what will work for you. I don’t recommend laying a protective cloth over your fabric squares before pressing, at this is likely to disrupt their position.
Starting at one side of the block, fold adjacent vertical columns toward one another, matching right sides. Press fold and use a 1/4” seam allowance to sew columns together. Repeat until all vertical columns are sewn.
Use scissors or a rotary cutter and ruler to carefully trim a miniscule amount from each of the seam allowances you just created – just enough to allow you to press each of the seams open
Use the same method to fold and sew horizontal rows together.
Once again, trim a miniscule amount from each seam allowance and press seams open.
And that’s all there is to it. Square up your block and you’re done!
Because of the interfacing, blocks made using this method may not be appropriate for a quilt that’s going to be used as a blanket. However, they’re perfect for anything that will benefit from being slightly rigid. I used my block to make a mini quilt for my kitchen wall, but it could also have been used to make a bag, an oven mitt a hot pad, or even part of a placement or table runner.
Have you tried this method? Do you have other ideas for quick piecing scraps? Show them off in the photo pool!
ack!!! are you kidding me? this is the most awesome thing i have seen in months! yay, for elizabeth!!!!
amazing. I would never have thought of that. Love it!
this is such a great idea! I can’t wait to try it out!
That’s a great idea. I will have to try this method. I think it is a lot more sane and gives nice results. Thank you for the idea!
I love finding great ideas like this!
I have used this for pillows, and it works great! Nice tutorial.
Whoa. This is brilliant!!
My jaw just dropped!
This is the greatest idea I have seen in a long while!
Thanks so much!
This is a fabulous idea! I love it! Thanks so much for sharing!
My kids could even help with this one. Thank you!
Beautiful!
What a great idea! I’ve never thought of doing something like this, but will try it out someday.
This is GENIUS!
Wow! This is wonderful! Thanks so much!
What a great idea!! Is a perfect way to sew little squares, all the corners are perfecty matched. Can’t wait to try it
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Elisabeth, thanks again for another fantastic tutorial
Elena
This is so simple and yet so clever like all the best ideas! Thanks for sharing it!
Brilliant! Fantastic idea! Thank you so much for this.
that’s brilliant!!! can’t wait for a free moment to give this a try.
wow, just wow. that is so fabulous!!
This is so, so cool!
So smart! I would have never thought of it.
That’s awesome! I would never have thought of using interfacing like that. Thank you!
A brilliant idea indeed!
oh my goodness – this is BRILLIANT!!! And I LOVE the fabrics!!!
I have visions of many hot pads for Christmas presents. I’ve already have a ton of squares that I can work with.
This is so gorgeous–I love the color combination!
Now THAT is an excellent idea! So simple and so effective. I’d never have bothered with tiny squares before, but now I definitely will! Thanks so much.
This is awesome – you’re amazing Elizabeth!
Such a great idea!
this is ridiculously ingenious.
l love this idea. It’s wonderful. I have so many scraps that I could use this way. Thanks for sharing.
Genius! I have such a problem with pressing seams the wrong way that I think this is the best idea I’ve seen/heard in a LONG time!
what a great idea!! Thanks!
Wow!Thats a great tip. I couldn’t imagine putting the top together in an hour. But now I see how. Cute quilt.
test
doing this tonight. ironing and sewing in 2 steps…sold.
Cute…I love the colors!
Wow! Great idea. I would never have attempted this before but now I see some cool pillows in my future or hot pads.
WOW!
I agree, that is genius.
Brilliant.
genius as usual!
Thanks for the lesson, I would have never thought of this…I save scraps much smaller than 5in!!
Best. Idea. Ever. !!!!
Oh! I bought some interfacing that had large squares on it but didn’t realize that this is what you do with it. Somehow the instructions were lost. NOW I understand! Thanks. Great idea.
Yep, genius. Thanks!
That is SUCH a good idea. Perhaps some placemats are to come out of my bag o scraps!
I love this idea…so simple and yet not so obvious. Thanks!
I’m so impressed! That’s adorable!
Too many ideas, not enough time.
Love the patchwork tutorial.
Re: Quick-Piece Tiny Squares Is there a particular palce within Flickr photo pool when I should post images of Quickly Pieced Tiny Squares? I’m Flickr naive.
Wow! This is amazing! Now I have something to do with all these teeny tiny scraps I can’t seem to throw out
I have used this method for many projects. I just posted a picture of a “watercolor” quilt I made using this method, in the flicker quilt photo pool.
wow! i will be doing this soon for sure!
Gorgeous! I love this.
Please disregard previous comment. I was unable to post picture.
That is so brilliant! I love it because it will keep me from accidentally messing up the order of my squares.
What an awesome way to piece those tiny squares! I’ve gotta try that.
I totally forgot about this method!!!! I’m going to arrange my huge pile of 2.5″ squares. Thank you!
YOU are a creative genius!
brilliant! thank you for sharing. oh, the fun we shall have with those tiny squares!
Awesome! I’ll definitely have to try this.
Fantastic!!! I will definitely try this for a mini quilt! Thank you so much!!!
That is great! I have not seen this method before, but I will have to try it!
This is one of the best ideas I have read for ages – why haven’t anyone ever showed me this before? Great idea – I’m soooo going to try this out.
wow! what a great idea!
Perfect timing, as I was just starting to sew 2″ squares together to make patchwork pieces for some little projects! I remember seeing this done to make watercolor quilts.
Thanks as always for sharing your ideas and methods!
This is a great idea! I never would have thought of it–and it looks great too! Thanks for sharing
Awesome! Great tutorial!
That is awsome! Thanks for sharing!
This is awsome. I have a million thoughts on how to use this swimming in my head!
What a great idea! I keep small squares for applique projects but now I want to try this method for all my bits and pieces.
Beautiful! I love the interfacing technique- thank you!
Brilliant! I knew I was saving those precious bits of fabric scraps for some good reason and this is it. Thanks so much! Now I know I wasn’t being a pack rat for nothing.
pure genius. I might even keep some small scraps just to do this!
she is my personal hero. who else would call that quick?
Thanks for taking the time to make such an excellent tutorial! Great pictures and explanation!
How very clever! I’ve got to try this.
I had completely forgotten about this method! It’s a great way to arrange your squares in a very particular pattern – they stay put because of the fusing and you don’t have to worry about getting them out of order when you pick them up to sew. I really like the idea of slicing a bit off the seam allowances in order to press the seams open. Before I pressed them to one side, which makes it bulky on top of the stiffness of the interfacing. I think I might try this out again!!
Ok, this is amazing….I’m doing this tonight. PILLOWCASES!!!!
That’s so cheating! I love it.
This is the BEST idea ever! Thanks!
That is amazing. I would never have thought of doing that. I was just trying to make a tiny quilted heart and it came out all wonky. I am going to start again using your method. Thanks so much for sharing!
This is a great technique, its funny I posted a tutorial on how to piece this way on Craftster almost exactly a year ago.
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=276594.msg3130698#msg3130698
This is fantastic! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks – great photos in your tute!
Love, love, love this I am thinking this would be wonderful to do for some quilted placemats or table runner.
BRILLIANT!! I think I now know that I CAN actually make that postage stamp quilt I’ve always wanted to make.
So clever and so cute!
I have done this and it works great!
First saw it here:
http://rosylittlethings.typepad.com/posie_gets_cozy/2009/06/grilled-shrimp-patches-and-a-book.html
uh. brilliant.
I LOVE this idea! I wonder if I could make it work for a bed quilt if I used the lightest weight interfacing possible…
Beautiful scrap buster!!
Wow! This is such a good idea—and the little quilt is gorgeous!
Thanks, everyone, for all of your wonderful comments! I first tried this out 7-8 years ago and hadn’t used it since, but it seemed like a good one for scrap month.
I had no idea Alicia had a pattern for making pillows using a similar technique. You can find it here: http://rosylittlethings.com/summerhousepattern.html
What a great idea! Why didn’t someone think of this earlier? Thanks so much for the tutorial!
Wow, thanks for this method – I’ve got a tiny squares project in mind, and this’ll be fabulous for it.
Cheers!
WOW!! This is so fantastic!!
Fantastic
I absolutely love this & am off to give it a go – will try using this technique to make a knitting bag/basket which will suit the stiffer feel of the blocks
Thanks again for a great tutorial
what a great idea! wow. i am going to use this.
I have never tried this, but I wonder if you could use a fusible tear-away stabilizer instead of interfacing? That way you could use the same process but remove the stiffness afterward?
Ohhhhh, now I get it.
OK, that’s just genius!
Holly, My first thought on stabilizer is that there are too many seams and intersections of seams for it to be successful (or a time-saver, as tearing stabilizer out of so many finished seams would probably take a while). I’ve never tried it though.
Whoever thought of this…..I love you! I’m gonna buy some charm packs and make a patchwork in no time!
You are such an inspiration. I LOVE this technique. Gotta try it out this weekend.
Great job and great minds think alike. IT’s also a great project to do with your kids. My 7 yo granddaughter made one with me recently. I had 4″ squares of knit from a clothing company swatches. WE cut out a piece of lt wt interfacing to cover the top of her little table. Then I gave her the scraps and she designed a pattern, keeping the squares closely touching. After pressing, and ironing on the back side, We picked out pieces of trim and rick rack that I had, and she “designed” the seams. She helped me sew that over the seams and we attached some leftover coordinating fabric (about 6-8″ wide) to form the overhang. It turned out really cute and she was very proud. It also was a great way for scraps to be used, and for her to gain confidence in her ability. In fact when I asked her if she wanted to change the squares because 2 alike colors were together, she said no, that’s the way she liked it. What confidence and I’m glad I didn’t squash her creativity.
Ooops, just realized that I forgot to say that we didn’t sew the seams together, just put the trims on top and secured the seams that way. Much easier for both of us.
Now why didn’t I think of this? This is brilliant! I am totally going to have to try this. Thank you so much for sharing (and taking the time to write it all up with pretty pictures too!)
I just love this!!!!
This is a genius idea. I know I’m not saying anything new, considering the rest of the comments, but I just had to throw in my thumbs up. Thanks for sharing!
So Stinkin’smart!!! I love it. I was just thinking I wanted to make a scrappy bag, but was putting it off, considering the amount of work I knew I was getting myself into. But now that it’s so easy, I’ll get right on it!! Thanks for sharing!
Holy Crap! That’s genius. Why I have half a mind to skip work and march straight home to try that right now. Thank you so much! That brightened my day.
You’ve already gotten lots of praise for this, but I just have to tell you that I am sitting here with my mouth hanging open. This is the most genius thing I have ever seen!!!
I had to try this….so far, so good, and so easy! Thank you for a great tutorial!
Wow. I can’t bear to part with any of my scraps. I love this idea. I will be able to use up my tiniest of squares that I have saved. Thanks for sharing.
Love your idea. I am going to try that tonight. I love those tiny block blocks, but they are really hard to sew straight individually!!
Thanks so much for a cool idea.
shut up! this is so amazing. so clever. i’m so pleased.
SO SO SO CLEVER!!!
Amazing!
Thank you so much!
AMAZING!!!!
Oh my gosh! This is the best quilting idea ever – I’m excited to try that tonight after my baby falls asleep! Thanks!