Q&A Friday Week 19

Holliberry Fabric Collection

Happy Friday and Welcome to week 19 of Q&A Friday.  I’ve had a number of questions recently about Holliberry so, I’ve decided to do a Holliberry Edition of the Q&A.  Let’s dig in. =)

Bonnie Scanlon asks:

“Hi Corey, I am so excited about the release of your Holliberry collection.  All of your collections are so stunning and the palette of Holliberry is amazing.  In all my years of quilting, I have never made a Christmas quilt.  My plan is to make a log cabin lap/throw using some of the reds and greens from Holliberry – 6″ or 12″ blocks yet to be determined – half the blocks either reds or greens with the other half being a Moda white.  Could you advise how I would calculate the yardage needed for each block.  Thank you for your help and thank you for all the inspiration you provide.”

Holliberry Log Cabin Mock-up

Answer:  Well, first of all, I couldn’t resist playing around with Holliberry in a Log Cabin Design.  I love it with the reds on one side of the block and scrappy light grays on the other.  And then I couldn’t resist adding a little bit of vines/berries applique.  I think this would be a beautiful quilt!

There are so many ways to rotate the blocks and Holliberry has so many different colors.  You are going to have so much fun choosing your design and fabrics!

Holliberry Log Cabin Block

Now, how to figure out the yardage you will need for your blocks.  In my example above, I used 8″ blocks (right in the middle of the 6 or 12 you were debating about).  And, my layout is 6 blocks across by 8 blocks down–I will need 48 blocks and my finished center portion of the quilt (with no borders) is 48″ x 64″.

Here are the cutting instructions for one 8″ Log Cabin Block.

Having those measurements will help as I walk you through how to figure out the math on your quilt.

Let’s start by figuring out the yardage needed of that center fabric, it is piece H in the cutting instructions.  You will need (1) 2 1/2″ square for each block.  In my layout, I need 48 blocks, so I need (48) 2 1/2″ squares.

I usually figure my yardages based on 42″ of usable fabric width.  With this in mind 42 divided by 2 1/2″ (the size of my squares) = 16.8 (and round down to 16 because we can’t use .8 of a square).  I can cut (16) 2 1/2″ squares across one strip of fabric 2 1/2″ x 42″.  Divide 48 (the number of squares needed) by 16 (the number of squares that can be cut from one strip of fabric) and I come up with 3 strips.  I will need (3) strips of fabric 2 1/2″ x 42″ to cut all of the 2 1/2″ squares I need to complete 48 blocks.  This equates to 1/4 yard of fabric because I will need 7 1/2″ x 42″ (9″ is 1/4 yard of fabric).

The next fabric I would figure out is Fabric G.  I am going to need 48 pieces 1 1/2″ x 2 1/2″.  We know that we can fit 16 pieces across the width of the fabric because these pieces are also 2 1/2″ wide just like our center.  So, we are also going to need 3 strips of fabric for this one as well.  This time, however, they will be 1 1/2″ x 42″ strips.  3 of those will equal 4 1/2″ of fabric ( 1 1/2″ times 3″).  This would be 1/8 yard of fabric which I would round to 1/4 yard because it doesn’t allow for any miscuts.

And you just keep figuring out what you need working your way around the block.  If I have multiple pieces of the same fabric, I figure out the inches total I need for all of the same fabric and then convert that to yardage.  So, if you were using all solid white for the one side of the block, you would figure out how many inches you need for each piece individually and then add the inches together and then convert to yardage.

4 1/2″ = 1/8 yard

9″ = 1/4 yard

13 1/2″ = 3/8 yard

12″ = 1/3 yard

18″ = 1/2 yard

22 1/2″ = 5/8 yard

27″ = 3/4 yard

31 1/2″ = 7/8 yard

36″ = 1 yard

Log Cabin cutting instructions for one individual block are easy to find online.  So, if you wanted a different size, it would be easy for you to find the cutting instructions.  Then, you’d need to decide how many blocks you wanted to make.  Then, you would figure out your yardages based on your block size as well as how many blocks you need.

Quilt math feels kind of tricky at first but it is so nice to be able to make quilts larger or smaller or create your own quilts using whatever blocks you would like to use.  I hope this information gets you on your way!

Snowy Quilt

Vicki Wishart says:

“I love the Holliberry fabric line.  I’m wondering if there will be any kits coming out for the #165 Snowy pattern with this fabric??”

Answer:  I think now, more than ever!, it’s important to support our local quilt shops if we can.  I would encourage you to check with your local shops to see if they ordered the fabric and if they would be able to kit the quilt for you.  It is not a boxed Moda kit but if a quilt shop is getting in the Holliberry line, they would probably have what they need to kit the line–and definitely would if they ordered the full line.  Now is a great time to give them a call!

Secondly, if you do not have a local shop that is able to kit Snowy for you, this shop is accepting pre-orders online.

A Very Coriander Christmas Book–photo courtesy of Fat Quarter Shop

Traci Vasquez asks:

“Hi Corey!  I am looking forward to doing the A Very Coriander Christmas BOM with Fat Quarter Shop, I’m curious what you think makes this pattern intermediate/advanced?  What is tricky about it??”

Answer:  I’m excited for this also. =)  I plan to sew along with all of you this summer.  I have heard many quilt shops both online and locally are participating in this sew along too.  If you are a shop participating in the BOM, leave a comment below so your local shoppers know!

The piecing in this BOM is traditional piecing, but there is a lot of it.  The blocks are larger blocks, finishing at 18″, but accuracy is going to be key for all of the patchwork.

Holliberry Grays–coming in July

And that wraps up our Friday Q&A Holliberry edition.  As I say every week, I really enjoy these Q&A sessions with all of you so please leave your questions in the comments.  There are no silly questions and I am happy to answer. =)

Have a wonderful weekend! Corey