Thursday, July 13, 2017

Yum! Layer Cakes, Cupcakes and Jelly Rolls!

The title may make you hungry, but for sewing, not food!  It refers to a series of patterns for quickly making quilt blocks, even if you have little sewing experience.  Sue K presented this information at the recent Sewphisticuts meeting.

Sue shows various fabric pre-cut sizes.
I had seen pre-cut fabric blocks in various sizes advertised in sewing catalogs, along with something called charm packs and jelly rolls.  But I was unaware of the pattern books that use these pre-cut fabrics to let a person churn out quilt blocks so quickly and easily.  Sue brought along samples of the fabric packs as well as the patterns.  So I learned that 10" squares are called layer cakes, 5" squares are called charm packs, and jelly rolls are cut 2.5" x width of fabric.  There are also jolly bars which are 5"x10" rectangles.

Sue prepares to cut along the indicated lines.

So you can use these pre-cut pieces in standard quilt patterns if you like, or you can use "recipe cards", printed patterns sold in a tablet form, which you layer with your fabric and then sew through on the specified lines.  It's somewhat similar to paper-piecing, with numbered sewing lines to indicate sewing order.  And like paper-piecing, after you have sewn on the lines and trimmed on the other lines, you have to tear away the paper to get your finished piece.  The "recipe" gives directions on how to layer the colors and also has suggestions for various layouts of the pieces.  The process is ideal for someone new to sewing and/or quilting, but is also enjoyable for experienced quilters.
A recipe page - arrows and lines show where to sew.

Sue said that the cost of layer cake squares starts around $30.  Recipe books range between $8 and $12 for layer cakes, $6-$8 for cupcakes (patterns using the smaller size pre-cuts).  She shops on-line for hers;  there are various sources.  The main ones are listed here:
  • Missouri Star Quilting
  • Quilt In A Day
  • Fat Quarter Shop
  • Sew Lux
  • Miss Rosie's Quilt Company
I hope this whets your "appetite" to try some sweet quilting patterns.  It sure has made me hungry to try one!

Following are some pictures from show-and-tell from the group.

Kathia's $49 bag - from an embroidery class.

Baby quilt by Kathia

Another baby quilt in progress by Kathia, all embroidered blocks.

Pat's bag from vintage tablecloths.

Same bag pattern, different fabric

Tote by Pat, made from twill


Drawstring pouch bag by Pat

Judy's tee shirt