Scrappy Rail Fence Quilt

Scrappy Rail Fence Quilt
Block Size: 6"
Finished Size: 48” x 60”
What do I need?
2” strips of scrap fabric (about 2 yards of 44" wide fabric)
1 ½ yards fabric for border
½ yard fabric cut into 2--1/2" strips for binding
Backing fabric 54” x 66”
Batting 54” x 66”
Rotary cutter, ruler (at least 2” X 6 ½”), and mat
Scissors, thread to match
How do I do it?
Cut your 2” strips at 6 ½” intervals to make 192 pieces. Sort strips into three color value piles—really
dark (48 pieces), really light (48 pieces), and medium (96 pieces). Using very dark and very light values
will create a more distinct rail fence pattern on the finished top.
Sew each dark piece to one medium piece. Sew each light piece to one medium
piece. Press seams toward the darker fabric in each group. Now sew one
dark/medium unit to each light/medium unit together, matching the medium
strips (light and dark toward the outside of the unit). Press seams toward the
darker fabric.
Check the width of your strip unit. It should measure 6 1/2". If so, you are
ready for the next step. If you get a different measurement, say, 6 1/4", you
need to trim your strip units to that length. These strip units need to be
square.
Arrange four strip units together as shown to make the block. Sew
the units together in pairs; press seams toward the unpieced side.
Sew the two pairs together to make the block. Press seams to one
side.
Arrange blocks three across and four down as shown in picture of quilt. Sew together in rows, then sew
rows together to make quilt top.
Cut border fabric lengthwise into four 7” wide strips.
Measure longer side of quilt in three places (sides and
middle) to find the average length. Cut two pieces of
the 7” wide border fabric strips the same length as this
measurement. Sew border to side of quilt, then press
seams away from center.
Now measure across width of quilt (including the
border you just applied). Cut two pieces of 7” wide
border fabric the same length as this measurement.
Sew borders to top and bottom of quilt, then press
seams away from center. At this point, trim the
entire border to measure 6 ¼” wide.
Layer quilt top, batting, and backing and secure with pins or basting stitches if needed. Tie the quilt, or
hand- or machine-quilt the quilt. Apply binding.
How should I quilt this project?
With this much fabric action, your quilting will take a
supporting role. If you are hand-quilting, you may quilt
in the ditch or ¼” from seam lines. If you are machine
quilting, you may also quilt in the ditch between the
block units. Another easy finish is an all-over meander
or pantograph.
Hurry-up Hint: Are your strips
between 6 ½” and 8” long?
Don’t bother to cut them as
directed in step #1. Simply
sew the strips together,
matching one end and leaving
the other end ragged. After
you have sewn four strips
together, press the pieces,
then trim the entire piece to
6 ½” x 6 ½” (or use the
measurement you get for the
actual width of your sewn
strips to trim). If the leftover
bits that you cut away are
large enough, trim them and
set them aside as a trim for a
border or the seeds of a mini
quilt.