Better late than never! I promised a tutorial on the 16 patch quilt made from a Gardenvale jellyroll.
If you’re using a jellyroll, make 20 pairs of strips. Each jellyroll will yield 40 – 8″ blocks.
Sew 2 strips together lengthwise. If using a jellyroll, you will sew 20 strip units like this. Press to the darker strip.
Cut the lengthwise strip unit in half and sew the 2 halves together. Press the center seam in the same direction as the 2 previous seams — even though you will be pressing it under the lighter strip.
Cut 8 — 2-1/2″ slices. There is virtually nothing left as you can see so don’t straighten and be careful when you measure.
This is all that is left of my 2 strips after cutting my slices.
Flip every other slice top to bottom.
Sew slices into pairs and then sew pairs together.
Press finished block either with seams open or to one direction.
Voila! Two completed 16 patch blocks.
I laid it out 5 blocks by 8 blocks to measure 40″ x 64″ — no pieced back!
And there you have it – a great quilt using a jellyroll to the max! No waste, no scraps, no pieced back – my idea of a fun project!
Here is what is happening on the farm this morning. Remember that huge walnut tree that started leaning last summer? A few weeks ago in a thunderstorm it leaned a little more taking down that other tree in its path. Today the tree service came and cut it up in chunks so we can split it for firewood. More cleanup in my future.
I’m off to mow grass south of the barn. Tonight I will sew.
P.S. The grass by the ramp is called Karl Foerster Ornamental Feather Reed Grass.
Thanks for the great directions. Even I ‘think’ I could do that!!
Thanks for the tutorial. I have several jelly rolls that will make beautiful quilts!
Mary, thank you ever so much!! I have two or three jelly rolls that I now what their future holds.
I am waiting till Sept. though for my Gardenvale roll. I am going on a retreat and looking for a somewhat easy project. Your quilt looks so vintangy old and comfy. Your boundless energy is mind boggling!! Thank you again…you promised and you delivered.
So am I the only one who wants to know what vitamins and supplements you take? Good grief, you get more done in a week than most people do in a month!
I love your 16 patch, it’s so soft and comfy looking, looks like the quilt you want to snuggle under with a pot of tea, a box of chocolates, and a good book! Oh, right, any quilt would be good with the tea-chocolate-book combo, but still…to have THAT quilt to wrap yourself in…oh my!
Do you ever snuggle up with tea and a book? It seems you are always so busy….
This is a great idea. There is a good-sized box in my sewing room overflowing with 2 1/2″ strips….. Oh, what fun. When I was cutting up scraps and small pieces of fabric in my stash, I cut everything the last being 2 1/2″ squares which are wonderful and divided by color. When I get an idea, they are already to go except my ideas are way beyond my sewing time… The piles of fabric weren’t as high but there is still a lot left.
Betty in Rapid City
Hi Mary,
What a great tutorial: you just sealed the fate of one of my unused Jelly Rolls! Now I just have to choose which one.
Dramatic photos of your trees, but isn’t it great to live at a time when someone can come and cut it up with a machine! When I was young on the farm we had to do that sort of thing with a huge two-person cross-cut saw!
By the way, if people are looking for the Karl Foerster grass, the scientific name is Calamagrostis acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’, which might be helpful, as there are also other grasses that carry his name. I have it in my garden too.
Fiona — thank you for telling all of us that there are other Karl Foerster grasses out there – I am not familiar with any others so maybe nobody sells it around here. And your Gypsy Wife blocks are very nice – I can see that you sew beautifully!
Thank you for the information on the “Karl Foerster” grass. I am going to look for it at my locale garden center. 🙂
Thank you Mary for replying with the name of the grass in your lovely garden. 🙂
Ahh another happy quilt:). This reminds me of my quilter Nana. I have one of hers with a 16 patch over the top of a well loved 9 patch. Love it!!
Have you made a 1600 with a jelly roll? That would make a great tutorial:). Hint, hint. Rain, rain, rain in Central Ohio, but I’m not complaining. Look at poor California!!
Mary, Thanks so much for your tutorial for the 16 Patch. Know they will come in handy someday. One thing about firewood…..it warms you twice! Splitting and stacking it to dry and then while using it! I’ve done my share of helping when my husband used the chain saw and his wood splitter. We opted for gas logs in this our retirement house.
YES, Poor California and our lack of rain.
Just bought a batik jelly rook called Milkshake and one called River Rock…looking to make two soft toned quilts for each of my boys. Thanks for the inspiration!