Back in the Fall of 2023, this quilt started out as a project that I was doing just for fun. I took 2.5″ squares from the scraps of my quilt kits, mini charm packs, and other quilty projects with fabric collections that had 25 or more different SKUs and started building 25-patch blocks. Since I started sharing this project with you at the beginning of last year in the January 26th, 2024 Livestream, you have been asking for a tutorial on how to make a 25-patch block. So, now that I have a plan for the whole project, I’m excited to share the 25-patch tutorial and the finishing details for the quilt!
Supplies
With just a few handy notions and some tried and true tricks of the trade, 25-patch blocks will become a favorite in your scrappy block tool belt, too! The real star of this scrappy block is the 2.5″ Creative Grids ruler! I always keep it on my ruler rack so I can grab those scraps while I’m working on a project. Here is everything I have at hand when making this block:
- 2.5″ Creative Grids ruler
- 16″ Wooden Ruler Rack
- Olfa 45mm Ergonomic Rotary Cutter
- Fat Quarter Shop Magnetic Pin Caddy
- Bee in my Bonnet Design Boards by Lori Holt for Riley Blake Designs
- Quick Press Seam Roller
Piecing Process
Making these blocks couldn’t be simpler. After you get a feel for the steps, you’ll be putting together your blocks in 15 minutes or less!
- Step One: I begin with laying out my 25 squares I’ve cut using the 2.5″ ruler on a design board in a 5 x 5 layout to make sure I like the final arrangement.
- Step Two: I work in columns, piecing five squares together with a 1/4 ” seam, and pressing open using my Quick Press Seam Roller so I am left with five columns of five squares.
- Step Three: I sew the remaining columns together using a 1/4″ seam, pressing seams open, and then give my block an all-over press.
Full Quilt Details
For this quilt, I decided to make 30 blocks in total to create a 6 x 7 layout. It was sometimes hard to find collections that had 25 fabrics, enough to make a whole 25-patch block with no repeating SKUs, so this has been an almost 3-year project! Below are the finishing details I decided on for this project in case you want to make yours just like mine:
- Cornerstones: 2.5″ squares.
- I haven’t decided yet on whether they will be scrappy or all the same SKU. I’m waiting until I have all 30 blocks to decide!
- Sashing: 2.5″ x 10.5″ rectangles
- I will most likely use On the Farm Cream Spots & Dots Yardage, which is a white-on-white dot that will really help the blocks stand out.
- Inner Border: 2.5″ wide
- I will use the same fabric as the sashing.
- Outer Border: 6.5″ wide
- Like the cornerstones, I’m waiting until I see the final layout of the blocks to decide which fabric to pick!
Color Placement Tips
In the Livestream from, January 3rd, 2025, I go over a ton of my tips and tricks on how to make sure that your scrappy projects feel balanced and not too matchy-matchy. You can watch the full segment below, and you can also see all the blocks I’ve made so far! With only 7 blocks left to make, I’m excited to be able to share a finished quilt with you sometime this year.
Share Your 25-Patch Projects!
This quilt has been such a fun project to work on. It’s a super cute and cozy way to remember all the great fabric collections I’ve worked with over the past few years! If you decide to start a 25-patch project too, I know you will have just as much fun as I did.
I can’t wait to see the collections that make up your stash so be sure to tag @fatquartershop in anything you make and follow us at @fatquartershop to follow along on my progress!
Happy sewing!
Stay connected to Fat Quarter Shop!
14 comments
30 blocks don’t make a quilt 6×7. They only make a 5×6.
Perfect leaders & enders project!
I love how you fussy cut Camile’s block and how you turned some.
Just a little confused…if you made 30 blocks, how did you make the quilt to 6×7? I know “new math” is the big thing in school, but it doesn’t add up…or did I miss something? Thanks for another great project idea!!!
where I live, 6×7 is still 42
Just a little confused…if you made 30 blocks, how did you make the quilt to 6×7? I know “new math” is the big thing in school, but it doesn’t add up…or did I miss
something? Thanks for another great project idea!!!
I like how each block is a specific collection of fabric. Such a great idea for a longer term quilting project.
If you watch the video, she says 6×7, but her drawing is 5×6 so 30 blocks. 6×7 would be 42 blocks.
Did you mean 30 blocks with a 5X6 layout because 6X7 layout is42 blocks?
Kimberly I love making this type of quilt – it’s like mindless sewing!!! I make a lot of what I call 18 patches from 2.5” scraps. My favorite quilts. Thanks for the free pattern and all you do for us!!!!
Lori mentioned 30 blocks multiple times so my guess is the 7 should have been a 5
This would also make a great quilt to donate to charity using your scraps from jelly rolls too.
I’ve read all the comments and maybe I’m wrong, but no one has taken sashing and borders into account. 5 10″ blocks = 50, + 2 borders, each 6.5 = 12.5, + 4 sashing = 8″. Total = 70.5. The length would be 82.5. So the quilt top would be slightly less than 6×7, FEET, not blocks! Just sayin!!
Thank you, Rikki! Everyone rushed to comment without thinking about that! Lol