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Art & Craft, DIY ideas and Tutorials – Craftbuds
Art & Craft, DIY ideas and Tutorials – Craftbuds
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Swap With Us! Low Volume Plus Blocks

  • Lindsay
  • Posted: February 20, 2015 - Updated at: January 9, 2022
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Low Volume Plus Quilt Block Tutorial | Craft  Buds

Update: Here is my quilt top made from the blocks I received in the swap! For a free block tutorial, please scroll down. The swap is over, but you are welcome to follow these instructions to start your own block swap, or check out my book, Modern Bee, for more ideas on how to host a quilting bee or block swap!

Low Volume Plus Quilt Block Tutorial | Craft  Buds

I thought it was time to host another craft swap! This time, we will be swapping low volume plus blocks.

These quilt blocks are easy and relaxing to sew, especially if you pre-cut your fabrics! Beginners can sew this blocks, and you can choose to sew and swap as many blocks as you’d like. You’ll get back the same number in return. I’m planning to use mine to make a queen-sized bed quilt, so I’m going to make a lot.

Swap is no longer accepting sign-ups.

LowVolumePlusSwap

About the Block

The block is 11 3/4″ unfinished, and it uses charm squares for the corners. The background is made of scrappy low volume fabrics … mostly prints, and a few white, cream or grey solids are fine. Make sure that the background and the plus fabrics read very differently when you lay them out.

The plus features a bright, single-color print, such as this pink herringbone! Any color of the rainbow, including dark neutrals like blacks, dark greys, and browns are okay for the center.

All fabrics should be quilt-shop quality, modern FUN fabrics! (Robert Kaufman, Moda, FreeSpirit, Etc.).

I estimate that you’ll  need this many blocks for each size quilt:

Mini: 9, 12 or 16 blocks

Crib: 24 blocks

Lap: 30 blocks

Twin: 48 blocks

Full: 56 blocks

Queen: 72 blocks

King: 81 blocks
Low volume plus quilt

Photo Credit: Rachel Wooden Spoon on Flickr

I’ve gathered some finished quilts for block inspiration! Check out this rainbow-licious version by Rachel. She used some great pops of color! If you join this swap, you’re most likely to get a rainbow of plus blocks back.

Photo Credit: Wombat Quilts

Imagine a whole quilt with dark blue or black plus blocks!

Photo Credit The Sewing Chick

Look at how warm and cozy this block looks in yellows, oranges and pinks!

Dimensions for low volume charm plus block

Photo Credit: Rachel Wooden Spoon on Flickr

See the rest of Rachel’s blocks and finished quilt HERE!

Here’s how to make the block:

Low Volume Fabric:

– 4 squares 5″ x 5″

– 4 squares 2 3/4″

Plus Fabric (Please Stick to One-Color Prints!):

– 2 squares 2 3/4″

– 1 rectangle 7 1/4″ x 2 3/4″

Step One: Join two of the 2 3/4″ backgrounds to the 2 3/4″ color blocks. Press the seams open.

Step Two: Join the strip you’ve just sewn to the 5″ backgrounds. Press the seams open.

Step Three: Sew the remaining 2 3/4″ backgrounds to the long colored strip. Press the seams open.

Step Four: Join the three rows to make a 11 3/4″ unfinished block. Press the seams open.

If you have to repeat a low volume fabric in the same block, that’s fine! Just make sure all big squares are different and all the small squares are different, and that no matching prints touch. By the time we’ve swapped, everyone will have a good variety of low volume fabrics in their finished quilt!

 

Who wants to swap blocks with us?

1. You will get back the same amount of blocks that you mail in. You can make any number of blocks, but I’m going to recommend sets of 12 blocks (12, 24, 36, or 48)!

2. Ship your blocks to me by May 10th (Mother’s Day), 2015. This will allow you to sew about 1 block a week if you want to swap 12, two blocks for 24, etc. Once you sign up, I’ll e-mail you my address!

3. All blocks must come from a SMOKE FREE home.

4. You must include return postage. Please send a self addressed stamped envelope; it’s much easier for me.

5. We’re going to keep this swap to the U.S. and Canada only! Sorry international friends. This will be my first swap in awhile, and I don’t want to overwhelm myself.

6. Please mail your blocks in a gallon zip-sealed plastic bag. Please put a note inside of a gallon bag with:

A. Your Name
B. Your Mailing Address
C. Your Email
D. How many blocks you sent.
E. Any special requests you have for the blocks you get back. (“I hate orange.†“Anything is great!†“No florals please.†“Masculine prints only.†“Love pink!â€) I can’t guarantee that I’ll be able to adhere to this, but I’ll try!

7. We’ll share our blocks on Instagram with the hashtag #lowvolumeplusswap

8. Also, please spread the word and invite your friends, because the more participation we get, the more variety of blocks you’ll receive!

 

Signing up is not a commitment to send blocks; it is the list that I will send my address to.

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Lindsay

Hi, I’m Lindsay Conner, an author, modern quilter, editor, and founder of the Lindsay Sews blog. I’m a Baby Lock ambassador and Stash Books author who loves writing modern sewing and quilt patterns for beginners and weekend sewists! I live in Indianapolis, Indiana with my husband, son, and two loveable cats, Murph and Chloe. I’ve been crafting for as long as I can remember. As a kid, I saved my dollar bills for trips with my mom to Jo-Ann Fabrics, where I’d find new floss for friendship bracelets or mini cross-stitch kits. Because my mom has always shared my love for crafting, she bought me my first sewing machine, a Hello Kitty Janome.

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17 comments
  1. Lynn Bs says:
    February 20, 2015 at 2:32 pm

    I’m hoping to do this. Fun fun fun

  2. Solonge says:
    February 26, 2015 at 6:01 pm

    What do you mean by one color prints? Do I have to pick a color and only use that one fabric, or the fabrics should read tone on tome?

  3. Jenn D says:
    February 27, 2015 at 12:49 pm

    Sounds fun! I signed up. Can we send you 12 blocks that are all the same or do they have to be different?

  4. Art and Steph says:
    March 1, 2015 at 12:01 pm

    Awesome idea! It’s been a quilting kind of weekend for us…we found an awesome new quilt store in town and now we ran across your blog!

    -Art & Steph

  5. Crafty Ashley B says:
    March 4, 2015 at 2:10 pm

    This is so great! I’ve been wanting to make this block! Now I have a great excuse plus a new swap!!!

  6. Kelly O. says:
    March 24, 2015 at 1:50 pm

    What a great idea! wish I could join but I’m not on instagram 🙁

  7. Ellen says:
    March 29, 2015 at 6:37 pm

    I see this is a few weeks old, is it still open to join?? maybe less blocks sent.

  8. HelgaMarie says:
    November 8, 2015 at 6:36 pm

    ….will this be happening again in 2016

  9. Kathy Harris says:
    December 17, 2015 at 1:47 am

    I signed up for take 2 of this swap and have my blocks ready. I need an address where to send them

  10. Lindsay says:
    January 8, 2016 at 4:18 pm

    Working on the details!

  11. Dorothea Longbrake says:
    August 21, 2016 at 12:54 am

    Just found this site. Sounds like fun. Wondering if you were doing this swap again. I saw you posted in January. Any updates? Love to know. DL.

  12. Judy Nichols says:
    July 11, 2018 at 3:39 pm

    Will you be having future swaps in 2018 or 2019? How do I participate if you are planning another? Thank you.

  13. Mary says:
    August 6, 2018 at 9:51 am

    Hi Judy, thanks for checking! We don’t have any plans for future swaps at this time. If we do one again, it would be announced on the blog with information on how to participate.

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