Twirling at the Disco Quilt {FREE PATTERN}

#TwirlingAtTheDiscoQuilt

My 'Twirling at the Disco' quilt was an idea I had to use up some of my 2.5" scrap fabric squares. 


Twirling at the Disco Quilt - Pattern by Anorina Morris


I am very pleased to be sharing the details on how to make these lovely scrappy blocks.As I mentioned in my previous post, this will be my leader and ender project, so I haven't fully made the quilt just yet. 

Wondering what a leader and ender project is? It's the sewing you do when sewing another project - rather than cut the thread when you get up to go and press or trim etc, you have a tub with your 2.5" squares handy beside your machine. 




Pair up two squares with right sides together and sew down one side, enabling you to cut the thread of whatever you're working on and leaving this 2.5" pair attached to the thread. Make sense?

Lately, when I turn on my machine, I have a pair of 2.5" squares sitting on the bed from my previous sewing session. These 2.5" pairs build up rather quickly and you'll have enough sewn together to start making blocks before you know it.

Okay, let's do this. I cannot wait to see your Twirling at the Disco quilts come to life.

To make one block, you will need:

(40) 2.5" assorted (scrappy) squares
(2) 4.5" squares in white solid
(2) 4.5" x 8.5" rectangles in white solid

Start by making two 16-patch blocks (4x4) with your assorted 2.5" scrap squares. 

Use the remaining 2.5" squares to make two more 4-patch blocks.

Press these blocks - ideally pressing the seams open would be best as the blocks may be rotated or flipped when it comes to assembling them, but I just tend to press to one side and deal with the seams as I come to them.

Now take your 4-patch blocks and sew a 4.5" white square to the bottom of the block. Press.

Next, position your block with the scrappy 4-patch oriented up, and sew the white rectangular 4.5" x 8.5" piece to the right side of the block. Press.



Now lay out the pieces oriented just like this image (below), with the two 16-patch blocks diagonally across from each other and the pieced 4-patch blocks oriented to the centre.




Sew these all together. Press it and there you have your first block all completed, finishing up at 16.5".

Easy, peasy, right? 

4 x Twirling blocks will make up a little baby size 32" quilt

16 x Twirling blocks with make a nice lap size 64" quilt

36 x Twirling blocks with make a great bed size 96" quilt

Please, please, please share your #TwirlingAtTheDiscoQuilt with me as I would love to see your creations. Feel free to use the hashtags on social and share the scrappy rainbow inspiration with your sewing buddies.




27 comments

  1. What a great idea for using up scraps. The quilt will be amazing. Thanks for sharing with Oh Scrap!

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  2. I love your block so far! Your scraps are so bright and happy. Thanks for sharing your pattern :)

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  3. Great scrap busting project.

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  4. Great idea! I've got "millions" of 2,5 inch squares flying around in my sewing room, so I'm going to give this a try!

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    1. LOL I think I might have millions of them too. I've been finding some very old squares and trying to remember what the original fabric was and what I made with it. It's been a trip down memory lane.

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  5. What a great pattern. Thank you for the tutorial! I'm going to make up a little pile of scraps today and try your leader/ender idea.

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    1. Yay!! It's quite addictive and I hope you enjoy :)

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  6. Thank you for the pattern! I'll be using this for the next raffle quilt I make for Days for Girls (https://daysforgirlsmackay.blogspot.com/p/days-for-girls-how-it-all-began.html), once I finish the EPP hexie quilt I'm currently making for them. The feminine hygiene kits they make for girls in undeveloped countries generate a lot of small scraps from which we can cut 2.5" squares, so this is the perfect scrap-eater and ensures that none of the fabric and money donated goes to waste.

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    1. I'm pleased to hear that you'll be making this quilt and I look forward to seeing it.

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  7. You are so sweet to share! Well done, by the way! I love leader/ended projects, and if I don’t have one in the works, I panic before I cut my thread and grab two scraps to sew together. It’s like a game...how long can you go before cutting that thread!

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    1. LOL I love this game. I hate cutting thread too - especially with my machine's auto button because it seems to waste so much.

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  8. A great way to use the scraps! I like to have Leader-Ender projects on the go as well - sometimes they take over and I forget what project is supposed to be my main focus!

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    1. Oh my goodness! You sound like me. I had to stop myself from sitting there just sewing squares together yesterday. It can be addictive when you have a little tub full of 2.5" squares just wanting to be played with.

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  9. Thanks for sharing this will be my next leader ender project too! I have an abundance of 2.5" squares.....they are breeding I'm sure! I appreciate your generosity. Do you have a PDF of these instructions?

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    1. Hi Leanne,

      I’m pleased to read this. It seems we all seem to have a lot of scrappy 2.5” squares in our sewing rooms.
      No I don’t have a PDF as yet - I figured I’d make the actual quilt first (eventually) and then write up a printable pattern. I’ve been sewing the 16-patch and 4-patch blocks. They stack up quite quickly.
      Happy Sewing!

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  10. Thank you! Added this to my Quilt Love: Scrapiliciousness pinterest board and will start cutting my scraps today.

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  11. I loved this design when I first saw it, and love it more now! I think it might be the perfect design to bust my feedsack stash. I've been wondering what to do with all that fabric that I no longer use...thank you for the tutorial!

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    1. Yay! I look forward to seeing a feedsack version of this quilt. I'm going very scrappy with mine and honestly I wonder at some of the fabric scraps I'm finding (wondering what on earth I was thinking back then).

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  12. This is such a fun pattern!! thank you so much for sharing it !! I am loving it!

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  13. This is beautiful ! Wish I had enough scraps to make it. Maybe some day. :-)

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  14. Muchas gracias por compartir.... Deseo empezarla y compartirla

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  15. That is a great idea, thank you,stay safe♡, greetings from Hungary

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  16. Hello! Just saw this pattern and I'm in the process of making one. Will send pics once top is done. I've been looking for a nice 2.5 inch block pattern to make with all these 2.5 inch squares. Great way to use them up. I have tons also.

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  17. Could 2 inch square blocks be used instead of 2 1/2 ?

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