Scrappy Fall Colors - A Wall Hanging

This month's scrappy project started out as a lap quilt, but I liked the look so much I thought it would make a better wall hanging.

It's a bit of a departure from our usual quick scrappy projects. Although it's an easy pattern, there are quite a few smaller pieces and an accurate 1/4" seam allowance is important.


For a wall hanging this size (approximately 42" X 42") you'll need the following:

- an assortment of scraps in fall colors
- 1-1/2 yards of cream colored fabric (or an equal amount of cream scraps if you like an even scrappier look)
3/4 yard fabric for outer border and binding

         Block Size: 7-1/2" unfinished (7" finished)

To make the double hour glass block:

Cut a 2-1/4" X 22-1/2" strip of a fall print and a 2-1/4" X 22-1/2" strip of cream.

Sew them together lengthwise with a 1/4" seam allowance. Press to the darker fabric. Lay the long edge even with a line on your cutting mat (this helps get an accurate first 45 degree cut). Line the 45 degree line on your ruler up with the edge of the fabric, continuing along the line on the mat and cut:

Move the ruler only to the other side of the cut piece. Mark the top a scant 1/2" over with a pin (this gives you a little seam allowance room) and line the 45 degree line up with the edge of the fabric and the line on the mat; cut:

For the next cut, mark a scant 1/2 over on the cream side and cut. Cut a total of 4 triangles the same way. You'll have 2 with the cream on the top and 2 with the cream on the bottom. Lay them out in a square like this:

Notice how I placed them in 2 groups? Sew the 2 sets together on the diagonal seam down the middle; press and then sew the 2 half blocks together to create the finished square. Trim and press.

Make a total of 13 double hour glass blocks in a variety of fall colors.

To make the X-block:

Cut 13 assorted 1-1/2" X 1-1/2" squares from the prints
Cut (2) 1-1/2" X 5-1/2" pieces from the cream
Cut (4) 1-1/2" X 3-1/2" pieces from the cream
Cut (4) 1-1/2" X 2-1/2" pieces from the cream
Cut (6) 1-1/2" X 1-1/2" pieces from the cream

Lay all the pieces out as pictured below:

Sew the rows together and press seam toward the darker print fabrics:

Sew all the rows together and press the seams open (which helps prevent the rows from developing "waves"):

Make a total of (12) X-Block blocks (I think you'll use approximately thirteen or fourteen 1-1/2" strips of the cream fabric).

Lay the finished blocks out on your design wall or other space like pictured below:

Sew the blocks into rows and press. Then sew the rows together and press:

Cut 4 more 1-1/2" strips of cream fabric. Measure the length of the quilt top. Cut 2 of the cream strips the length of the quilt top (mine was 35-1/2") and sew a border down each side.

Then measure the width of the quilt top (with the borders) and cut the remaining 2 strips that length (mine were 37-1/2") . Attach to the top and bottom of the quilt; press.

Cut (4) 2-3/4" strips of outer border fabric. Sew outer border on in the same manner as the inner border:

Layer, quilt and bind. I used the same fabric to bind with as I used for the inner border.

Display prominently, of course!  :)