In January, I did a post on scrap quilting and stash building. In that post I talked about how I like to collect 1 1/2″ and 2 1/2″ strips. I was asked “what do you do with all those strips?” I thought it would be fun to show you some simple blocks that can be made with strips. I also use strips to make borders when I think my quilt looks just a little too plain and I use them for scrappy bindings. Let’s take a look at some of the blocks I make with strips. These are only some of the many, many blocks that can be made with strips. You are only limited by your imagination!
Blocks
Block #1 – Rail Fence
Let’s start with some of the simplest blocks from strips, the Rail Fence. This block is very versatile because it can be bigger or smaller based on the length, width and amount of the strips. Below, I used 4 strips that are 1 1/2 x 4 1/2″:

Stitch these together to make a unit. Join 4 of these units together and you get a Rail Fence block! I made two of the units from different color strips to add to the scrappiness.



Block #2 – Four-patch
Here’s another really easy block made from strips. The Four-patch block:

And, no, you don’t have to cut out and stitch together individual squares to get this block. You can do it with strips! Here’s how. First you make what we call a strip set. Take 2 strips and sew them together lengthwise.


Then, cut the pieces you need from the set and sew them together to make a Four-patch block.



Block #3 – Nine-Patch
The strip set method can also be used to make the Nine-patch block. You will need 3 strips in your strip sets and you will need 2 different kinds of strips sets so the same colors are not next to each other. The illustrations below show what you need.

The above strip sets make a two color nine patch. If you want a scrappier block, you can use 6 different color strips, or if you want some tan or other neutral in there you can do that too.
Block #4 – Log Cabin
This one is my absolute favorite because it’s easy to make and there are many variations. The traditional Log Cabin has a center square with “logs” added on alternating sides. Cut the center square from a 2 1/2″ strip and the logs from 1 1/2″ strips.

Very easy stitching there. Here is another variation called Courthouse Steps:

These blocks allow me to sit by my strip containers and just pull out what I want. This is my favorite scrappy block.
Borders
Sometimes I get done with a quilt top and think it needs something else, either to bring out the design in the top or to simply make the quilt bigger. It’s a bonus when it helps you use up extra fabric from the project! Here are some of the borders I have done with strips:


The border above is called a piano key border. Really easy to make. Just choose a length and width for your strips that fits the size of your quilt top and you end up with the perfect frame. Here are a couple of variations on the piano key border by adding in flip & sew corners:


Finally, you can just add a simple checkerboard border or even just strips.


Binding
Finally, I use strips sometimes to make a scrappy binding. Just cut an assortment of strips from the leftover fabric from your project. I think it adds a bit of whimsy to my quilts when I do this.

Speaking of binding, next week’s blog post will be about how to make binding, both single-fold and double-fold. I will also demonstrate adding binding to a quilt, including how I make corners.
So that’s it for this week. Leave a comment on using strips, whether you use them now or not. I will choose a winner from the comment who will receive my pattern, Seaside Cottage.

I used a lot of 1 1/2″ strip sets in this one! It will give you some great practice. The drawing will be on Monday, March 8th. **We have a winner! Congrats, Janice Kohnke!**
Happy Quilting!
Deanne
These are all great ideas. Thank you!
Thanks for all the pointers Deanne!!!!
I love using strips, especially for borders and scrappy binding. Great tips, as always!
I used my strips to make string quilt blocks and for the alternate blocks I used my neutral strips to make horizontal striped blocks!
That’s a good idea!
Wonderful tips and some new ideas! It seems my quilts are getting scrappier as I age…Wonder what that means?
We’re going to pieces? LOL!
I’ve saved strips of different sizes. Now I need to create. Thanks for the tips.
As of this moment i am using strips to make placemats for my kitchen table..I cut 6 in sq of an old white sheet ,sew strips of my scraps until i had them covered.Than squared then up to 5 in.sewed 2×3 togather Than made a 2 in border out of small scraps same way and sewed them around my 6 sqs .My husband taught they were very pretty. Still working on 2 more .so i will have a set of 4.
That’s a great way to use up strips!
I have been saving my left over fabrics from previous projects and got enough now to make a scrappy quilt….. for my dog! ;>) He is a sighthound so he does not have an under coat. The first quilt I made for Elmer is ten years old. He loves his quilt and does not tear it to shreds; he is a good boy. 🙂 The best part is it’s going to cost me something next to nothing. Can you tell I love my dog? LOL. Yep, our pets need to be kept warm as well!
Thanks so much for all your awesome tips you share with us, Dianne.
Your dog is so lucky to get a beautiful scrap quilt! That’s the fun of saving these strips and scraps. It gives you the opportunity to make quilts like this.
Log cabin blocks are my favorite quilt blocks. You can use scraps from all fabrics together and the assembled quilt is always awesome!! I am a true fabric hoarder too!!
Loved all the ideas for using strips! My favorite that I intend to try asap is the scrappy binding. I cut all my binding strips at 2 1/2″ and always save all the “too short to bind anything” leftovers. I never thought to sew them all together!
How do I get the pattern for the quilt with appliqué flowers? The quilt was in the last tips pictures.
That is my quilt pattern, Posey Patch. You can find it here:
https://shop.snugglesquilts.com/collections/wall-hangings-and-table-runners/products/posey-patch-quilt-pattern
I cannot throw away scraps! Thanks for some wonderful ways to use them up. They are all attractive and easy!