You may have noticed that I am into bright and cheery fabrics these days. I am feeling very upbeat lately with all my free time to sew, and find that happy colors suit my mood perfectly. I cannot believe I actually own the fabric group pictured above, but there it was, smiling at me from the stash closet. For a time, I belonged to the Fatquarter Shop's Jelly Roll of the Month Club, and this was one of the offerings. Sometimes, fun things just turn up in the mail box.
At the recent retreat I attended, my daughter Sara was working on a pattern from one of Heather Mulder Petersen's books, On A Roll Again. If you don't already have this book, go get it from your local quilt shop. It is full of great ideas on how to use Jelly Rolls, as is Heather's first book On A Roll. (I swear I am not on her payroll, I just love her stuff!)
The pattern Sara was working on was one called Picketty Sticks. Sara used a jelly roll of the Fig Tree's Fig and Plum group, and it turned out so adorable–everyone at the retreat said they wanted to copy her.
The point of the pattern is sew strips onto a muslin base, and angle the strips slightly so that the effect is slightly wonky. Sewing wonky on purpose? I am so there. Anyway, you sew four of these vertical strip panels together and put on a border and you have a simply adorable quilt in no time flat. And Heather is not kidding when she says the cutting takes five minutes. Maybe even less.
Sewing the strips on a muslin base ensures that your panels will be straight once you trim off the edges, and not veer crazily to the left or the right. See how I have my strip angled slightly? Line your presser foot up with the edge of the top fabric and sew right along it. Fold the excess muslin from the strip to the right so it is out of your way. Once stitched, flip the top strip over and iron.
For this project, you will want to move your iron right next to the sewing machine, because you must press every strip open after stitching and you do not want to keep hopping up and down to the ironing board.
So here's the thing. You do not have to make an entire quilt using this method. Make just one panel, to the length you prefer, put a border or two on it, and you have made the cutest table runner ever. The muslin gives the piece extra structure and weight, so for a table runner, you might even skip the quilting of it. Or just do stitch in the ditch, which anyone can do.
Let your imagination go with this one. Use those leftover scraps of seasonal fabrics you know you all have. Halloween, Patriotic, Christmas….
You see where I am going with this?
30 responses to “Picketty Sticks”
I am LOVIN’ your ideas!! Thanks for all the inspiration!
I am LOVIN’ your ideas!! Thanks for all the inspiration!
Fun!!! Can I come over and sew this afternoon?
Fun!!! Can I come over and sew this afternoon?
Hmmmmm, I think I have that book too! Great ideas! :~)
Hmmmmm, I think I have that book too! Great ideas! :~)
Well, thank goodness. I already have that book. LOL What a great idea for a table runner! I love it.
Well, thank goodness. I already have that book. LOL What a great idea for a table runner! I love it.
Oh, I like the idea of not having to make a whole entire quilt of this…somehow that seems more calm…those colors are so gorgeous…not your usual style, but am thinking this is maybe the new you! Something old and something new blended together…a great match.
Oh, I like the idea of not having to make a whole entire quilt of this…somehow that seems more calm…those colors are so gorgeous…not your usual style, but am thinking this is maybe the new you! Something old and something new blended together…a great match.
Very nice! And I love how easy this looks. Those are beautiful fabrics – yes, happy springy colours!
Very nice! And I love how easy this looks. Those are beautiful fabrics – yes, happy springy colours!
OMG could that be any cuter? Very fun! Love it!
OMG could that be any cuter? Very fun! Love it!
Thats it I think. I am going to have to buy those books. I have been putting it off (I really dont know why) but my Jelly Roll collection is getting a bit ridiculous (I cant help it if I see them cheap). Love those fabrics though. I am the same and dont usually go for brights but they are cute. Cant wait to see it finished.
Thats it I think. I am going to have to buy those books. I have been putting it off (I really dont know why) but my Jelly Roll collection is getting a bit ridiculous (I cant help it if I see them cheap). Love those fabrics though. I am the same and dont usually go for brights but they are cute. Cant wait to see it finished.
I have that book!!! And I do so love Heather’s designs.
I have that book!!! And I do so love Heather’s designs.
Holy smokes, another of your quilts that I just love. You are on a serious roll! It is grey and snowy (as usual) today and the colors you are using just scream happy, sunny things to me. Thank you….I needed that.
Holy smokes, another of your quilts that I just love. You are on a serious roll! It is grey and snowy (as usual) today and the colors you are using just scream happy, sunny things to me. Thank you….I needed that.
That jelly roll fabric is really, really pretty. What line is it so I can order it, too. And guess I’ll go a-huntin’ for those books. Dang…
That jelly roll fabric is really, really pretty. What line is it so I can order it, too. And guess I’ll go a-huntin’ for those books. Dang…
Very nifty! I’ll keep that in mind for my increasing stash of jelly rolls…I never seem to have a project in mind when I buy them, I just like the fabric…
Very nifty! I’ll keep that in mind for my increasing stash of jelly rolls…I never seem to have a project in mind when I buy them, I just like the fabric…
Love the Picketty Sticks! I used one row of them for the back of a quilt I was finishing today! Fun, fun, fun!!
Love the Picketty Sticks! I used one row of them for the back of a quilt I was finishing today! Fun, fun, fun!!
So cool! I learned this technique last week in a new quilting group I joined that makes quilts for our wounded soldiers (quilts of valor). I love this technique! so fun! We did it with muslin squares, but I never thought to do it in strips! I like that better! :)I have got to try it! Thanks for the post!
So cool! I learned this technique last week in a new quilting group I joined that makes quilts for our wounded soldiers (quilts of valor). I love this technique! so fun! We did it with muslin squares, but I never thought to do it in strips! I like that better! :)I have got to try it! Thanks for the post!
Thanks for the show-and-tell Nicole! I always love to see what you are working on and if I had a paid staff positon available, you would definately be hired! As it is, you would have to compete against my mom and that would be a tough. You are very good, but my Mom happens to take the cake! I guess we will have to settle for how things are – LOL. Keep up the great work.
Thanks for the show-and-tell Nicole! I always love to see what you are working on and if I had a paid staff positon available, you would definately be hired! As it is, you would have to compete against my mom and that would be a tough. You are very good, but my Mom happens to take the cake! I guess we will have to settle for how things are – LOL. Keep up the great work.