plus quilt

Free Scrap Stash Plus Quilt pattern

I’m excited to finally blog this free Scrap Stash Plus Quilt pattern today! This is a free pattern to help you sew through your scrap stash.

You can download a free copy of the free Scrap Stash Plus Quilt pattern here.

Every once in a while I start to feel overwhelmed by my fabric stash or my scrap stash. This time it was my scrap stash. The scraps were piling up so it was time for a happy scrappy quilt!

The Scrap Stash Plus Quilt is perfect for your scraps. It uses 2.5 inch strips and only needs a small amount of each fabric. You can use left over 2.5 inch strips or cut all of your pieces from various size fabrics in your scrap stash. I mostly used odd sized pieces in my stash.

The Scrap Stash Plus quilt is a modern scrappy plus quilt pattern.

Rainbow scrappy plus quilt

The Scrap Stash Plus quilt became a rainbow quilt kind of by accident. I was picturing it to be a random colorful quilt but as I was writing up the pattern I decided to color in a mock up to see how many blocks of each color would be needed. The easiest way to figure that out was to start coloring in order starting with a corner.

What resulted was the rainbow of color that you see in this quilt. I would still love to see how these blocks would look randomly placed but the color fade was too pretty not to try.

Scrap Stash Plus Quilt options

There are so many different options you could do with this plus quilt!

Make a rainbow version like the one featured here. (exact colors are suggested in the pattern)
Make a monochromatic version using one color scraps + low volume scraps.
Use the same solid throughout instead of low volume scraps.
Make monochromatic blocks using a lighter + darker color for each block.

If I make another Scrap Stash Plus quilt, I’d like to make a monochromatic one with all blues or blues and aquas.

Check out the Instagram hashtag for ideas and inspiration! Be sure to hashtag yours when posting on Instagram too! The hashtag is:

#ScrapStashPlusQuilt

Scrap stash organization

Before I get into the Scrap Stash Plus quilt pattern I want to talk a little bit about scrap stash organization.

When I first started quilting I threw all fabric scraps into one big basket. Everything was mixed together. I would pull from that basket every once in a while but it was mostly overwhelming especially as the scraps started piling up.

You can see a couple of baskets overflowing with scraps in my old photo below (left.)

Color, size, prints, solids… How should you organize your fabric scraps?

How you organize your scraps will be such a personal preference. When I finally got overwhelmed enough with a big basket of assorted scraps, I decided to sort by color. You can see the very beginning stages of this in the second photo up above.

I just started tossing scraps into piles by color. You can even see the little sticky notes with the colors written on them. This was also a great opportunity to decide and filter out what was worth keeping vs what wasn’t.

Click here for these scrap bins (size large)

So during this initial sorting process I only kept the prints I loved and knew I would use and I only kept everything over 2.5 inch minimum.

Some quilters keep smaller scraps because they also love sewing with those smaller scrap sizes.

I personally find that I enjoy using my scrap stash when it’s not bogged down with fabrics I don’t love love.

Over the years I’ve gotten pretty ruthless with what scraps I keep, what I toss and what I sort out and give away.

Prints vs solids

When I first sorted out by color, I only included prints. Solids were still stashed all together in a basket. I still have them sitting in a basket (unused) so I need to add them to these bins one of these days. Going forward, I’ve started mixing solids and prints in my scrap bins.

Scrap Bins

One of my favorite sewing room purchases has been my scrap bins! For me personally, I knew that having my scraps out and visible would help me use them the most so I went on the hunt for containers that would help with that.

I bought and returned a few options but when I found these wooden bins from Target I knew they would be perfect! I absolutely love these bins. These are the larger size and they stack so nicely. They happen to fit perfectly underneath my Ikea kitchen island cutting table.

These bins are very lightweight though and one or two of them showed up cracked so that would be my only complaint. They haven’t gotten damaged at all since using them though.

I love that I can take out just one color bin at a time.

Sew your scraps

So if you want to make more of an effort to sew with your fabric scraps, organizing them is going to be key! Maybe you like this system that I use or maybe tucked away in clear bins is more your preference.

I see some quilters who keep their scraps all pressed and folded neatly. Personally, I don’t mind them all mixed and messed. Digging through the bins is half the fun for me. 🙂

I enjoy the process of pressing scraps as I sort and use them. The Oliso mini iron is perfect for this task. Sorting, pressing and trimming is one of my favorite steps in scrap quilts because you can watch a show while doing it.

Easy Scrappy Plus quilt pattern

Back to this free plus quilt pattern!

The Scrap Stash Plus Quilt is a really easy beginner friendly quilt pattern. And for those beginners who may not have a large scrap stash yet, you can always cut into a fat quarter bundle, jelly roll or even layer cake for this free plus quilt.

These plus blocks are quick and easy to sew up.

Color Guides included

I’ve included color guides in the quilt pattern if you want to replicate this exact version. I’ve also included a planning page for you to plan out your own color schemes.

There is also a coloring page to try out different color options.

Fun and easy scrappy quilt pattern

This scrappy plus quilt was such a satisfying quilt to sew up. I worked on it over the summer when I needed a break from other projects. These plus blocks are cute little 6 inch finished blocks and it only takes a few minutes to make a block or two.

I worked on these plus blocks by color. So I pulled out each color bin and cut all of my pieces for that particular color and would sew them up as time allowed.

Low volume scrappy background

To keep this quilt 100% scrap stash friendly, I used low volume scraps as the background. In fact, my low volume scrap stash was my inspiration for this quilt. I wanted to make a quilt that would put a dent in those low volume scraps.

Low volume fabrics are fabrics that read as a neutral but usually have some kind of print on them. They are very light fabrics.

So I cut most of my low volume pieces up front and had them ready to go. Then I cut the colors as I went.

It was so satisfying and enjoyable sorting through my scrap bins finding just the right colors and prints for this scrappy plus quilt.

Free Scrap Stash Plus Quilt Pattern – all the quilt sizes

I’ve included alllll of the quilt sizes in this free Scrap Stash Plus quilt pattern!

This scrappy friendly plus quilt pattern includes instructions for:

Baby size
Small throw size
Medium throw size
Large throw size
Twin size bed quilt
Full size bed quilt
Queen size bed quilt
King size bed quilt

So I have you covered for every single size plus quilt you would need. The quilt featured in this blog post and on the cover of the free pattern is the medium throw size.

Quilt top assembly – Webbing chain piecing method

If you follow all of the pressing instructions in the free quilt pattern then assembly is a piece of cake! All of your seams will nest together eliminating the need for pins.

I took it a step further and assembled my quilt top using the webbing method. I just learned that term..haha. Webbing is when you piece the quilt top in a chain piecing method without cutting the threads.

I’ll try to explain it but looking up a tutorial might help you understand it better.

Start with the first two blocks in row one. Sew them right sides together.
Now grab the first two blocks in row two. Sew them right sides together without cutting the threads or removing those first row blocks.
Now grab the first two blocks in row three, four, five, etc…. Keep adding without breaking the threads.
Once column one and two are completed remove from your machine.
Now you will add column three.
Sew block three in row one to your quilt top.
Sew block three in row two.
Sew block three in row three, etc, etc, etc…
You will end up with completed rows all webbed together as shown in the photos below.
Last step is to sew your rows together. I don’t break the threads and in this case didn’t press my rows first either. Instead I nested them together and then gave the quilt top a good press after it was completely sewn together.

This webbing chain piecing method works well for block based quilts. I’ve been using this method quite a bit lately as it is faster and also helps keep the quilt top organized. No more sewing a row on the wrong direction. I’ve done that more than I care to admit..ha.

Long Arm Quilting

This colorful Scrap Stash Plus Quilt was quilted by Katie of Modern Textiles. We chose this fun loopy pantograph which keeps this colorful quilt nice and playful.

Katie did an amazing job quilting this one and I highly recommend her.

Backing and Binding

I finished off this colorful scrappy plus quilt with a Yarn dyed classic grid (Ivory) background by Robert Kaufman and a black and white striped binding by Timeless Treasures.

Since the front of the quilt top is so colorful and busy I toned down the backing with a neutral. I tend to use neutral backings for most of my quilts.

Materials used for this free Scrap Stash Plus quilt pattern

Quilt Pattern: Scrap Stash Plus quilt pattern by Quilty Love – Free quilt pattern!
Fabrics: Assorted scraps
Backing: Yarn Dyed Classic grid in ivory
Binding: Black and White Stripes by Timeless Treasures
Pieced on my Janome MC6700p
Long Arm quilted by Modern Textiles

Plus Side Quilt – Easy Beginner Modern Plus Quilt Pattern

Today I’m sharing the Plus Side Quilt. The Plus Side quilt pattern is an easy, beginner friendly, modern plus quilt and somehow it never made it up on the blog! This one is an old one! You can tell by the age of the baby..haha. And I made this plus quilt well before she even showed up.

Plus Side quilt is fast and easy and perfect for the beginner quilter. Piecing this plus quilt is simple and it’s a good introduction to doing corner square triangles.

The Plus Side quilt pattern requires fat eighths or fat quarters so it is very stash friendly.

Plus Side is available in the Quilty Love pattern shop.

I started this quilt so many houses ago…lol. I can still remember working on it way back in my studio space along the dining room. I don’t think it was quilted up until we were in our temporary apartment. And then it didn’t get photographed and turned into a quilt pattern until possibly our current house. This one dragged on for a few years and a few houses…lol.

If it looks familiar, that is because it showed up in this machine binding tutorial. I used this plus quilt as the sample quilt to write the binding blog post.

Check out that machine binding post if you are struggling with your binding! A lot of quilters have found it very helpful.

Plus Side quilt pattern

The Plus Side quilt pattern is written with beginner quilters in mind! This would make a really great first quilt. I actually tested it out on my sister who was a new quilter ;).

Plus Side is a fat eighth or fat quarter friendly quilt pattern. Mix and match fat eighths or fat quarters from your stash to make up this simple plus quilt.

I curated the fabrics in this quilt from my stash. They are mostly older cotton and steel fabrics. I see a few Carolyn Friedlander mixed in also.

Gender Neutral quilt

Plus Side is the perfect gender neutral quilt pattern. Great for boy quilt, girl quilt or as a baby quilt when you don’t yet know the gender. For this version of Plus side, I choose blues, aquas and a little yellow from my fabric stash.

Machine quilting

I quilted this Plus Side quilt myself using a walking foot on my smaller Janome machine. I straight line quilted diagonal lines in each direction to form a diamond grid quilted pattern.

The straight lines look like they are quilted about 1.5 inches apart.

Straight line quilting using a walking foot is a really great beginner friendly way to quilt your own quilts. A walking foot really does make all the difference so if your quilt didn’t come with one, it’s worth getting one! I just found myself a cheap singer brand walking foot for my Janome machine and preferred it over the Janome brand.

When looking for a walking foot, just be sure it has the same attachment as your machine.

Essex Linen background

The background of this Plus Side quilt is Robert Kaufman Essex Linen in the color black. I love how fabrics pop off this black Essex Linen. Plus that linen gives it so much texture. I work with Essex Linen in my quilts often because I love the extra texture and warmth it provides.

Linen does fray and has caused some problems for quilters. Check out this blog post for tips and tricks when sewing and quilting with linen.

I personally have not had any issues when quilting with linen but I always use a smaller stitch length as a pre-caution. I rarely pre-wash anything but it’s never a bad idea to pre-wash linen since it does shrink up more than quilting cotton.

Plus Side quilt sizes

The Plus Side quilt pattern includes instructions for a baby size, a throw size and a queen size quilt. This linen and Cotton and Steel version is the throw size.

Using sheets as a quilt backings

I used a Target bed sheet as the backing of this quilt. I love using sheets as backings and do it often. There are two reasons I love using sheets as quilt backings: Time and money.

You save time by not having to piece a quilt backing and it can be a lot cheaper to use a sheet as a backing over quilting fabric.

If you buy the sheet set in a larger size like full or queen then you can use both the fitted and flat sheet in two different quilts.

I’m a pretty fearless quilter so I’m willing to try any fabrics in my quilts. I’ve used sheets several times without issues. However, when looking for sheets to use, stick with a better quality cotton sheet.

Stick with good quality sheets that are 100% cotton

The sheet used in this quilt is a little silkier and not the best option. It might not even be 100% cotton. Stick with 100% cotton and it should wash up nice and soft just the same as your quilt top. Stick with a better quality sheet so it doesn’t pill with washes.

This very loved and very washed Fancy Fox quilt has a sheet backing and it has washed up so well! I really wish I had stocked up on that exact sheet because it hasn’t been available for a long time.

My favorite places to find sheets as quilt backings is Target. I also love using Ikea duvet covers! Just like sheets, you can get two backings from one duvet cover when you cut it apart.

Striped binding

I finished off this simple plus side quilt with a black and white striped binding. Black and white striped bindings are so classic! These stripes are a little tighter but lately I’ve preferred a striped biding with wider stripes.

Fast and easy beginner friendly plus quilt

If you are looking for a fast and easy quilt or even a first time quilt project, Plus Side is just that! Raid your stash for some fat eighths or fat quarters and sew up this modern plus quilt this week!

Materials Used:
Quilt Pattern: Plus Side quilt
Fabrics: Cotton and Steel, Carolyn Friedlander and other misc fabrics from my stash
Binding: Timeless Treasures stripe
Backing: Target sheet
Batting: Warm and White
Spray baste: 505
Pieced and quilted on a Janome 4120QDC

Plus Squared quilt – The scrappy Ruby Star Society one

Today I’m sharing this Scrappy Ruby Star Society Plus Squared quilt. It might be a new favorite!

Plus Squared is available in the Quilty Love Pattern Shop.

Scrappy Plus Squared Quilt

I made quite a few quilts using different Ruby Star Society fabric lines recently. That means I had a lot of Ruby Star scraps! I couldn’t resist mixing all of the leftover fabric into this pink and yellow and peach scrappy plus quilt.

Plus Squared is one of the original Quilty Love Patterns! But it’s still a favorite and I was excited to remake it with these warm colors.

Perfect scrap quilt

Plus Squared is the perfect scrap quilt since it’s made up of squares. The pattern includes instructions for fat quarters if you want to use a fat quarter bundle.

Chain piecing quilt

Plus Squared quilt is a chain piecing quilt for sure! I think that’s why I enjoyed making it so much. There was a lot of chain piecing and nice mindless sewing with this one.

Ruby Star Society basics fabrics

The Ruby Star Society fabric lines have been so good lately! Most of the fabrics in this quilt are from their basics line. I mixed in some Clementine also. Clementine is a little harder to get your hands on as it was a super popular line. The Ruby Star basics are readily available though.

This quilt is a fun one to sew together! I love block quilts because each block is so satisfying to finish.

It looks like I had a little help from my super helpful one year old while deciding on the layout for this Plus Squared..lol.

Background fabrics

Here’s another non white background quilt from me! Haha. I’ve been trying to branch out from my standard white more and more. I mean, I don’t branch out too far since I’ve been sticking with subtle print backgrounds but aren’t they good!!? I’ve really loved using subtle prints like this speckled one as backgrounds lately.

The background of this scrappy Plus Squared quilt is Ruby Star Society Speckled in Metallic White Gold.

I love a crisp white quilt background but lets be honest, they aren’t very practical! Mostly, I use white out of convenience since I always have plenty of Kona Snow on hand.

The sashing around these plus blocks ends up being really subtle with the white fabric. It keeps the plus shape the front and center and really allows it to pop.

It’s interesting to look back at these photos taken such a short time ago. This half wall below is now a full wall with a fireplace on it 🙂 We are in the middle of a great room renovation.

The next step of the reno is wood floors and you better believe I can’t wait to have them for quilt photos..haha.

So much kitchen table quilting going on these days! The 1.5 year old is busy, busy, busy and the kitchen table seems to be the only place to actually get any sewing in. I don’t mind being right in the middle of the action though while I’m working and sewing 🙂

She’s always nearby to jump into photos..haha.

Hoping this plus quilt passed her inspection. 😉

I think I took just a few too many photos of this scrappy Plus Squared quilt..haha. I so enjoyed working with these Ruby Star fabrics and couldn’t resist alllll of the photos.

Long arm quilting

I sent this scrappy Plus Squared quilt off to Knot and Thread for quilting. I’ve been sending more quilts off for long arm quilting than usual because I have such limited time with the toddler these days.

It still feels like such a treat to get quilts back after quilting. I had Kait choose the quilting for me again and LOVE this baptist fan she chose. This quilting design has always been a favorite of mine. The baptist fan quilt design is such a traditional quilting design. But this one has nice tight lines making it feel much more modern.

This scrappy Plus Squared quilt is finished with a mustard colored binding from the Ruby Star Society Speckled line.

I did a little quilt styling for these quilt photos. We recently rearranged my daughters room and it isn’t doing my photos any favors..haha. Her bed used to be the perfect quilt photo spot until we moved it. The lighting is way more challenging now but I’ll still make it work 😉

I used a Kona cotton solid in the color Peach as the backing for this scrappy plus quilt. The throw size Plus Squared is pretty large so I stuck with a solid fabric to save a little money on the backing.

Plus Squared is in the Quilty Love pattern shop:
PDF automatic download
Paper pattern

Materials:
Ruby Star Society Basics
Ruby Star Society Clementine (Try searching Etsy)
Background: Ruby Star Society Metallic White Gold
Sashing: Kona Snow
Binding: Ruby Star Society Speckled Cactus
Background: Kona Peach

Pieced on a Janome MC6700p

Hopscotch II – The Ruby Star Society One

I have a new one for you today! I’m so excited to tell you about the new Hopscotch II quilt pattern.

Hopscotch II can be found in the Quilty Love Pattern Shop.

Hopscotch quilt by Emily of quiltylove.com using Smol fabrics

But first…. can we talk about this fabric!? This is the newly revealed Smol line by Kimberly Kight for Ruby Star Society. This fabric line has all of my favorites… blue!!! Pinks, and Peach and light grey and greens.

I’ve really been drawn to darker quilt backgrounds these days instead of my usual white. What a beautiful change! Mostly I use white out of sheer convenience. I always have a bolt or two on hand (kona snow). But I tell you what, it’s worth being patient and finding something other than white..lol.

What I really love about using this blue fabric as the background is the subtle print on it. I was a little nervous about the directional fabric since I rarely worry about directional fabrics but it turned out to be an easy choice in this pattern.

Smol will be shipping to quilt shops in October of 2020. Watch for preorders to start popping up before that.

Hopscotch II quilt pattern

Now back to the quilt pattern…. Hopscotch II is inspired by Hopscotch from my book Modern Quilts Block by Block.

The version in my book is a cute little baby size with smaller blocks. This new version has bigger blocks, bigger quilt sizes and a little different layout.

The new Hopscotch II quilt pattern includes instructions for a crib size, a throw size, a twin size AND a queen/king. So basically alllll the quilt sizes!

Beginner friendly

Hopscotch II is a great beginner quilt since it’s all straight lines. There are some seams to line up but the bigger block size really helps with that.

Fat quarter quilt

This one is fat quarter friendly! You only need 10 fat quarters for the Throw size. Most of us can find 10 coordinating fat quarters from our stash. And of course you can always use even more fat quarters (or slightly smaller pieces) for more variety and more stash busting.

Plus quilt

One of my favorite elements of Hopscotch II is the second plus shape that emerges. I’m a sucker for plus shapes in quilts so they show up in a lot of my quilts.

Fast and Easy

Another favorite thing about this quilt is that is is fast and easy! I’ve made three throw size versions so far because they really do go together quickly. There is a strip piecing shortcut in the pattern that helps speed up the assembly.

Did you see the little apples in this fabric line?! They are the cutest. There is another colorway in this line that I left out also with apples.

I know I’ve mentioned this before but this new Ruby Star Society fabrics is so soft and silky! It’s a little thinner and drapier than a quilting cotton but I really enjoy quilting with it. Using this fabric in the entire quilt really makes for a soft and drapey quilt. You just have to be a little careful with a backing since it’s not as sturdy as a quilting cotton and has more of a tendency to want to pucker and bunch.

I’ve made several full quilts with Ruby Star Society now and really love how they have all turned out.

Kait of Knot and Thread Design quilted this Hopscotch quilt up for me. I asked her to surprise me with a design and I sure do love the one she chose!

Did you notice the backing on this quilt?! Oh my goodness, do I love it. That print is probably my favorite one in the line. You can see it in navy in the shot below too. So so good!