Grayscale Quilt block tutorial

I woke up to lots of emails asking for a pattern for the Grayscale quilt, and since I’m not planning on writing a pattern for this one I threw together a quickie tutorial.  Literally…I threw it together…user beware.  

My quilt holder uppers were at school and work…so here’s a full-ish (dang tree!) shot of the quilt top: 

This top measures 60″ x 70″, with a 10″ finished block size, so it’s easy to make larger or smaller.  

I used these two jelly rolls as mentioned in my previous post, but you could use one print jelly roll and solid jelly roll to cut down cost.   If you want to lay out the blocks with with a gradient effect like I did, just make sure your darker jelly roll has some light and dark prints in it.  If you’re new to jelly rolls, it contains 42 (but can be more or less) strips 2 1/2″ x the width of the fabric.  

You’ll make 21 of Block A (white at the corner square and outer strips), and 21 of Block B (dark at the corner square and outer strips), 42 blocks total. 

To make the Block A blocks, choose 21 white/light strips, and 21 dark strips.  

Cut the white 2 1/2″ strips into:  1 square 2 1/2″, 1 strip 4 1/2″, 1 strip 6 1/2″, 1 strip 8 1/2″, and 1 strip 10 1/2″. 

Cut the dark strip into:  1 square 2 1/2″, 1 strip 4 1/2″, 1 strip 6 1/2″, and 1 strip 8 1/2″.

You can cut all your light and dark strips together and whip out the cutting in no time!

Start with a white 2 1/2″ square and sew a dark 2 1/2″ square to one side, press.  Sew the dark 4 1/2″ strip to one side, press.  Repeat with the light and dark 4 1/2″, 6 1/2″, 8 1/2″ strips, and finally add the white 10 1/2″ strips, making sure you are sewing them to the right side as you go!   The block will measure 10 1/2″ square. 

To make the Block B blocks….cut and sew the blocks the exact same way, except switch the white and dark fabrics that I have above.  You’ll choose 21 light prints, and 21 dark prints again, but this time cut the dark strips with a 10 1/2″ strip instead of the white, and start with a dark square in the corner when sewing. 

Lay them out alternating Block A and Block B, and if you use dark strips with lighter/darker prints in it, you can lay them out with a gradient effect like I did. 

Make sense?  I hope so…it’s pretty easy and a fun/fast quilt to make, especially when you cut all of your Block A or B blocks at once and chain piece like crazy! 

Sophie’s not a fan of this one…not enough pink.  Or princesses.

 If I re-made this quilt I would probably add more dark/black blocks, or a color like navy blue so there weren’t so many gray/beige blocks.  If you use two jelly rolls and the same cutting methods you’ll have lots of scraps left over to make pillows, a table runner, or maybe even a baby quilt!