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| Photos above © Pen and Paper Patterns |
Why Choose the Sparrows Quilt?
The Sparrows Quilt is a charming pattern by Pen and Paper Patterns that features adorable sparrow blocks surrounded by floral and geometric designs. It’s a versatile quilt that can be made in a variety of colorways, making it perfect for any season or decor style.
But beyond its aesthetic appeal, the Sparrows Quilt carries a deeper meaning. Sparrows are often associated with creativity, productivity, peace, and adaptability. They symbolize the ability to create something beautiful from what you have—much like quilting itself. This quilt is a wonderful way to celebrate the joy of making something meaningful and unique.
Part 1: Fabric Preparation and Organization
Choosing Your Fabrics
The first step in creating your Sparrows Quilt is selecting the right fabrics. For this project, I used the With a Flourish fabric line by Riley Blake Designs, which features a beautiful mix of florals and coordinating solids. Here’s a breakdown of the fabrics I chose:
- Background Fabric: Riley Blake’s Confetti Cotton Solids in Denim.
- Tail Feathers and Beaks: Confetti Cotton Solids in Pumpkin.
- Half-Square Triangles: Confetti Cotton Solids in Peaches and Cream.
- Binding: Salmon Weave from the With a Flourish collection.
- Backing: Denim Main Yardage with floral prints.
For the sparrows’ bodies, I opted for a scrappy look using eight fat quarters from the With a Flourish bundle. This approach adds variety and visual interest to the quilt.
Organizing Your Fabrics
To keep everything organized, I grouped the fabrics into sets of three for each sparrow block. Since there are 24 sparrows in total, this method ensures that each block has a unique combination of fabrics. Here’s how I did it:
- Head, Body, and Tail Feathers: Each sparrow block consists of three main fabric pieces. I mixed and matched the fat quarters to create 24 unique combinations.
- Background and Accent Fabrics: I cut the background fabric, tail feathers, and half-square triangles according to the pattern’s instructions.
- Binding and Backing: These were set aside for later stages of the project.
Cutting and Ironing Tips
Before cutting, I made sure to iron all the fabrics to remove any creases. Here’s my go-to method for getting deep creases out of fabric:
- Steam Ironing: I use a wool mat and steam from the iron to relax the fabric.
- Best Press: After steaming, I apply Best Press (a starch alternative) to make the fabric stiffer and easier to cut accurately.
For cutting, I followed the pattern’s instructions carefully, ensuring that all pieces were the correct size. I also labeled each set of fabrics to avoid confusion during assembly.
Part 2: Piecing Tips for the Sparrows Quilt
Half-Square Triangles Made Easy
The Sparrows Quilt features half-square triangles (HSTs) that form the arrows pointing at the sparrows. Here’s how I made them:
- Draw Diagonal Lines: On the lighter fabric pieces, I drew diagonal lines corner to corner.
- Sew Quarter-Inch Seams: I sewed a quarter-inch away from the drawn lines on both sides.
- Cut and Press: After sewing, I cut along the drawn lines and pressed the seams open to create eight HSTs at a time.
Assembling the Sparrows
When piecing the sparrows, I found it helpful to focus on one direction at a time (left-facing or right-facing). This approach kept me organized and prevented mix-ups. Here are some tips for assembling the blocks:
- Aligning Points: Pay close attention to the points where the head, beak, and tail feathers meet. Use pins to hold the pieces in place and ensure accurate alignment.
- Pressing Seams: Pressing seams open helps reduce bulk and ensures that the blocks lie flat.
- Chain Piecing: To save time, I chain-pieced the consistent units (like the beaks and tail feathers) before assembling the scrappy bird bodies.
Design Wall Layout
To visualize the quilt’s layout, I pinned the blocks on a design wall. This allowed me to see how the colors and patterns worked together and make adjustments as needed. I also took photos of the layout to reference later.
Final Thoughts
Creating the Sparrows Quilt has been a rewarding and enjoyable experience. From selecting fabrics to piecing the blocks, every step of the process has been a chance to express creativity and embrace the joy of quilting.
If you’re considering making your own Sparrows Quilt, I hope this guide has provided you with the inspiration and tips you need to get started. Whether you choose a scrappy approach or stick to a more structured color scheme, this quilt is sure to be a beautiful addition to your home or a cherished gift for someone special.
Happy quilting!
Want to see the Sparrows Quilt come to life?
Check out the full video series on YouTube for step-by-step tutorials and more quilting inspiration.