Friday, July 3, 2015

June Block of the Month: Rails and Ladders



Sorry this is a few days late!  To make up for it, this one is a two-fer.  This "pattern" will make two coordinating "rails and ladders" improv blocks.

This is an improv-style block based on a rail fence pattern, so there is no cutting list.  All you'll need is a nice big pile of scrap strips ranging from 1" to 3" wide and about 12" or longer, in three colors.  They don't even need to be straight/ even.  Great for using up  scraps!  Here is my pile of strips:



Using each of the two colors separately to make two rough blocks, arrange the scraps in a "rail fence" pattern alternating each color with white.


Sew together into a large block, and do the same with color 2.



Trim these to roughly 2" NARROWER than you want them, width-wise, and about 2 - 2.5" LONGER than you want them, lengthwise.  (Note:  I'm not very fussy about block sizes for improv quilts, but if you want these to finish to a perfect measurement it's probably better to add/ subtract 3" and then trim to size at the end.)

Now, cut a strip from the bottom of each block, across the stripes, approximately 2-2.5"  in width. Again, these cuts needn't be perfectly straight -- they look good a bit wonky.


Do the same for the other color block, and sew a strip of white down the side of each strip.


Now we are going to open up our "rail" blocks to insert these strips.  Choose the place you want the "ladder" to be inserted and open the seam.



Now sew a contrasting "ladder" strip into the "rail" block, press and trim.



Then do the other one.  These blocks look cool sashed in white, and arranged with the "ladders" going in different directions.




2 comments:

  1. I love this. Creative way to make the ladders at the same time as the rails! Thank you!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love this. Creative way to make the ladders at the same time as the rails! Thank you!!

    ReplyDelete