Dot Crazy Blog Hop

Welcome to my day on the Dot Crazy blog hop featuring the Dot Crazy collection by Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr!

 I love the infusion of color these fun prints have brought to my studio! Like Weeks and Bill, I too have a love affair with polka dots--check out this scrap quilt I made back in 2012, completely from dotted prints: 

(read the whole post, which also shows two other polka dot quilts, here)

For today's tutorial, I used a pinwheel of 2-1/2" wide strips and yardage of the Fun & Games print to make the Dots Squared quilt:

The quilt as pictured would make a wonderful baby or kid's quilt (42" x 40"), but you can easily add more blocks and rows to make a larger lap or bed-size quilt. The blocks sew up so quickly (thank you, pre-cut strips!). 

What I used: 

1 pinwheel (forty 2-1/2" wide strips)

1/2 yard Fun & Games print

2 yards backing print

1/2 yard binding fabric

Let's look at that pinwheel unrolled. Such fabulous color! I'm in love. Dot Crazy includes multiple sizes of dots, plus some fun coordinating prints that offer a little variety from our round little friends. 

I took a photo of these three strips because they have a little surprise in them--multiple kinds of dots! Look carefully and you'll see how I used these in the quilt. 

Cutting:

I cut the fabric strips one block at a time. I'd choose the three prints I wanted to use, decide on placement, and then cut the pieces. 

Per block, you'll need:

(the quilt contains 12 blocks)

Fabric #1

(1) 2-1/2" square 

Fabric #2

(2) 2-1/2" squares

(2) 2-1/2" x 6-1/2" pieces

Fabric #3

(2) 2-1/2" x 6-1/2" pieces

(2) 2-1/2" x 10-1/2" pieces

Additional Cutting:

From the Fun & Games print:

(12) 4-1/2" x 10-1/2" pieces

Make the Blocks:

1. Lay out the pieces for one block as shown. 

2. Sew the (3) 2-1/2" squares together in a row. Position the 2-1/2" x 6-1/2" Fabric #2 pieces on the top and bottom.

3. Sew the 2-1/2" x 6-1/2" Fabric #2 pieces to the top and bottom. Position the 2-1/2" x 6-1/2" Fabric #3 pieces on the sides.

4. Sew the 2-1/2" x 6-1/2" Fabric #3 pieces to the sides and position the 2-1/2" x 10-1/2" Fabric #3 pieces at the top and bottom.

5. Sew the 2-1/2" x 10-1/2" Fabric #3 pieces to the top and bottom to complete the block. The block measures 10-1/2" square. 

6. Make a total of 12 blocks, varying fabric placement. Choosing which fabrics to use together in each block was my favorite part! Here are my 12 blocks. This layout would make a fun quilt too, but I like the addition of the Fun & Games pieces to mix up the design a litle.

7. Lay out the blocks and (12) 4-1/2" x 10-1/2" Fun & Games pieces into four horizontal rows as shown. 

8. Sew the blocks and pieces into horizontal rows and join the rows to complete the quilt top. 

9. Layer the backing, batting and quilt top and quilt as desired. Bind the quilt to finish it (you'll need five 2-1/4" x 42" strips). 

Enjoy! 

For a chance to win a fat quarter bundle of Dot Crazy fabrics, leave a comment below letting me know your thoughts on polka dots. Giveaway is open through Friday, December 22nd at 11:59 pm EST. Make sure I have a way to contact you! 

Head over to Benartex's blog to learn more about the Dot Crazy collection.