One way to achieve a unique and scrappy look for the Mountain Valley Quilt Pattern is by using fat quarters instead of yardage. In this blog post, I’m going to guide you through how I made my scrappy Mountain Valley, including some FQ cutting diagrams to help. (You will, however, need the original quilt pattern to get the cutting sizes and assembly instructions). Let’s get started!
Before we dive into the scrappy goodness, let's quickly talk about fat quarters. For those who aren't familiar, a fat quarter is a pre-cut piece of fabric that measures approximately 18 x 22 inches. I really like working with curated FQ bundles, because they provide a variety of prints and patterns all while staying coordinated. Curated FQ bundles are sold in almost every quilt fabric store. Since these bundles are made uniquely by each shop, make sure to pay attention to the number of FQs included in each bundle before you buy.
Once you have your FQs selected, it's time to start cutting them into the necessary units for the Mountain Valley pattern. The great thing about using FQs is that you can get multiple pieces from each one, allowing for even more scrappy goodness.
I’ve included four different ways to cut up a FQ showing how you can get the various pieces from one FQ. That being said, I worked one block at a time, selecting six fabrics for a single block and cutting them into the necessary units. I did not cut everything at the beginning and then mix and match (my usual method of scrappy quilting).
Doing it this way was a lesson in slowing down. It definitely took me longer to get all of the blocks put together. But I also think it allowed me to make sure I had as much variety within the blocks as possible.
If you are making the throw size, you’ll need 18 sets of the A - F units. I used a FQ bundle of the full Winterglow fabric collection by Ruby Star Society, which includes 31 fabrics. I used some from each print, and had plenty left over. I’d aim for at least 24 FQs, but you can always use more if you have them! If you are working with a smaller fabric collection, adding coordinating solids is a good way to increase the number of FQs you have!
So, the next time you're feeling adventurous, grab some fat quarters and give the Mountain Valley pattern a scrappy twist. Happy quilting!
Get your copy of the Chevron Stars quilt pattern in the shop now! You can get the PDF pattern here and the Printed pattern here!
Chevron Stars quilt pattern is the second in my chevron series. You can get both Chevron Series Quilt Patterns here!
Alexia Abegg is one my all time favorite fabric designers so I was thrilled to get this collection from Ruby Star Society as part of their Makers program. I really admire the way she puts her collections together without huge floral motifs. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE a good floral print, but Alexia's collections don't need them. Her style is unique and I love it. You can get to know a little bit about her here!
I didn't have room to use all of the fabrics from this collection in the quilt, so I selected the ones that flowed best and ran with it!
This was the first sample of Chevron Stars I made while I was testing the pattern. It was so fun to see it come together. I had been working on this design off and on for almost a year so it was a long time coming! I'm glad that I'm finally able to share it with you all!
I used Michael Miller's Cotton Couture Fabrics in the color Quartz as the backing of this quilt. I think it compliments the colors in Alexia's collection perfectly. The Moonglow collection is a stunner, so I didn't want to put a print on the back to compete with it.
The quilting on this Chevron Stars quilt was done by the wonderful Katie Hanson of Modern Textiles. We decided to go with the Pretty Petals pantograph for this one and I'm glad we did! It gives the quilt a dainty feeling that fits the collection perfectly.
If you've been around for a while, you might remember I had an obsession with the original Warp and Weft line by Alexia Abegg for Ruby Star Society. I am hoarding FQ bundles of that line and the second warp and weft collection she came out with. I was lucky enough to get my hands on some of the newest collection, Warp and Weft Honey, several months ago so I made a Chevron Points with it.
I wanted to show an example of the split chevron style with prints instead of solids and one without doing an ombre/gradient. These fabrics fit the bill for that perfectly!
With a pattern like this, working with directional prints like stripes can be tricky, so I took extra time to line up at many of the stripes as I could, and I think that extra effort was 100% worth it. It didn't workout in every case, but when it did it looks good!
I wanted to use as much of the fabrics as I could, so I took the leftover pieces I had and pieced the backing. It is my favorite things about this quilt because it is extra soft and squishy having woven fabrics on the front and back. It was a little tricker to baste and quilt due to the stretchiness of woven fabrics and I ended up with a few puckers on the back. Honestly, I'm okay with it that way. They won't be noticeable once I wash the quilt and start using it!
I used a black metallic stripe for the binding. You can't go wrong with stripes for the binding. It's my favorite way to finish off a quilt top!
I loved making this one. It is definitely going to be a favorite in our quilt rotation!
The original inspiration for this quilt came from when I used to live with my boyfriend (now husband) at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. We hiked in the Franklin Mountains and enjoyed spectacular sunsets at night.
When I saw the Warp and Weft line by Ruby Star Society I knew immediately I wanted to use it for this pattern. The combination of orangey brown, light pinks and purples, and navy fabric is exactly what I think of when I think back to my time in El Paso.
I made the wall hanging size, and it turned out exactly as I imagined.
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Want a cute Mountain Valley sticker? You can get yourself one here! |
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