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Home / Featured Tutorials / :: Quilting with Magic Numbers ::

:: Quilting with Magic Numbers ::

August 21, 2011 By Katie

Learn this quilting method in a Workshop or create something unique with it in an Open Studio😉

My Scrappy Sunshine quilt is about a quarter there.  I’m randomly piecing it using a method I call ‘Magic Numbers.’

Magic Numbers are perfect for designing your own quilts, pattern free, especially if you’re not quite ready to improvisationally free piece or figure out the math.  Magic Numbers is a system of using block sizes that automatically fit together for flexibility in design without alteration.

We could 100% improvisationally piece our design and not do a lick of math, but magic numbers is another path, and it’s a path that can offer a load of texture with all its seams.

The easiest shapes to understand are squares or rectangles.  My squares have no piecing in them, but you could use this same method for piecing together traditional or improvisationally pieced blocks.

I used 6.5″, 4.5″ and 2.5″ squares for my Scrappy Sunshine Quilt.

I messed up the order of some of the blocks constructing this, but you’ll get the picture!

These all nest together once sewn to produce rectangle or square blocks, panels or columns, you just need to think a little ahead to figure out the best method of construction.

I started with a layout for my block and sectioned it in two.  First, I sew together the smaller squares in each section to match the block sizes next to them.

So that would be (2) 2.5″ blocks for every 4.5″ block and (3) 2.5″block for every 6.5″ block, or 2.5″ and a 4.5″ block for mating with a 6.5″ block.

Keep sewing raw edges together, pinning where needed to match corners.

Now I have two panels the same length.

Sew these two panels together to finish your block.  It would be fun to raid the scraps to create a mess of scrappy blocks.  
SEW KATIE DID:Magic Number quilt block tutorial
Here’s a little update with the finished quilt
SEW KATIE DID:Smitten Kitten Magic Number Quilt Tutorial
and another quilt design using magic numbers is here.
Hope you are all having an amazing weekend.  Starting this quilt to produce some of my own sunshine somehow made summer finally come to Seattle.
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Filed Under: Classes and workshops, fabrics, Featured Tutorials, Improvisational Quilting Classes, Improvisational Quilts, Innovative Patchwork Piecing, modern quilt, seattle quilting Tagged With: fabric, Improv, improvisational, magic number quilt, quilting, Quilts, sew katie did

Previous Post: « ::Enter Scrappy Sunshine::
Next Post: ::August Seattle Modern Quilt Guild Sew-In:: »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. glen in Louisiana says

    August 21, 2011 at 2:34 am

    I wonder, if you wanted to make a “controlled” scrappy quilt, how many fabrics you would need as a minimum number. There must be an algebra formula to figure that out! Too bad I didn’t listen that day!

    I have some batiks, bits and pieces, that would look fabulous like this.

    glen: 3 degrees and none of them in math……..

  2. Toni says

    August 21, 2011 at 2:49 am

    This is so exciting! And I’ll tell you why…until last year I did not keep “scraps”. If it couldn’t be cut into a strip of a decent length I didn’t keep up. This past year I’ve started keeping everything! At first I thought “look at all the time I’m saving not cutting these into strips”. But today I actually thought “I’m nuts to be keeping all these “pieces” (I will no longer call them scraps!). With a plan like yours I can actually start making them into something. A little bit every day. Thankyou ever so much! I can wait to start! Heck! I might start tonight! Toni

    • Sew Katie Did says

      August 21, 2011 at 3:02 am

      awesome!

  3. Cherie says

    August 21, 2011 at 2:58 am

    Thank you for that! Can’t wait to try one!

  4. machen und tun says

    August 21, 2011 at 12:34 pm

    yes, thanks! this will be a great way to use up scraps. or even my collection of FQ which i always forget to use because they are stored a bit away from the yardage and the scraps..
    thanks for enableling!!
    Claudia

  5. Debbie says

    August 21, 2011 at 2:51 pm

    Sounds fun – great! I agree with Seattle summer – my Summer Sampler did the same thing for me! (at least it tried!)

  6. Melissa says

    August 21, 2011 at 3:07 pm

    Thank you Katie! I think this is so exciting for some reason. I think I need to look through my scraps and see if I can start a few blocks. I don’t have a ton of scraps yet but having a ongoing project like this could possibly keep them from getting out of control.

  7. Siobhan says

    August 21, 2011 at 9:39 pm

    Looks like we are both doing the scrappy improv thing! Love the colour 🙂

  8. Katherine says

    August 22, 2011 at 8:43 pm

    Love this, Katie. Combines two favourites. Scrappy. Improv. Makes me swoon. ;o)

  9. Krista - Poppyprint says

    August 23, 2011 at 4:04 am

    great explanation of how to scrap it up right!

  10. Tonya Ricucci says

    August 23, 2011 at 12:36 pm

    beautiful and an excellent explanation

  11. beth says

    August 23, 2011 at 1:54 pm

    great tutorial. This is going to be a terrific quilt!

  12. Cheryl Arkison says

    August 23, 2011 at 11:23 pm

    I’ve used this technique many times, but never heard it called Magic Numbers. You learn something everyday. Thanks!

  13. Michele says

    August 25, 2011 at 12:01 pm

    Very cool idea. I’ve been thinking about what to do with my quickly growing box of scraps and this just might be the idea I’ve been needing. thanks.

  14. heather at brown robin says

    August 28, 2011 at 1:55 pm

    Fun, Katie! Thanks for explaining that so well. Love your outcome… it’s beautiful.

  15. Tinsel Fairy says

    December 29, 2012 at 12:52 pm

    i HAVE been wanting to know how to do this for years and years, thank you * bends down and kisses her feet* xxxxx

  16. Julie B. says

    July 7, 2013 at 4:42 pm

    I love the quilting on this one. Can you tell me how this is done continuously? I can’t seem to figure out the pattern of the quilting.

    • sewkatiedid says

      July 8, 2013 at 2:25 pm

      Hi Julie,

      The pattern is called Baptist Fan. I did it on a long arm, so unfortunately I’m not much help via home machine. Happy Hunting!

    • Sarah says

      November 22, 2013 at 10:45 pm

      Did you ever find a Baptist Fan tutorial? This is one I’ve pinned to try in the future. http://www.dontcallmebetsy.com/2012/03/tutorial-fmq-baptist-fans.html?showComment=1332018896102#c4498182576152249810

      • sewkatiedid says

        November 24, 2013 at 11:30 am

        I’m spoiled and just get to use my friend’s long arm that has boards for it. Thanks for thinking of me!

  17. Sarah says

    November 22, 2013 at 10:41 pm

    I’m using this to make a quilt for a new baby boy. It’s a great scrap buster.
    http://www.sistergiggles.com/blog/2013/11/22/oh-the-weather-outside-is-frightful/

    • sewkatiedid says

      November 24, 2013 at 11:31 am

      Your’s is so bright and sunny!

  18. jessica says

    December 27, 2013 at 6:25 am

    Just the bit of scrappy sunshine that I was hunting! Thanks!

  19. Judy says

    May 5, 2014 at 8:31 pm

    It takes about 5 yards of fabric for a full size quilt. So you can pick as many different prints as you want, total of 5 yards.

  20. Mary D says

    August 14, 2014 at 2:47 am

    I guess I may have missed the “explanation” of magic numbers. Is there a concept behind this theory?

    • sewkatiedid says

      August 14, 2014 at 2:34 pm

      If you look through the whole post there is a tutorial;)

    • momnquilter says

      October 14, 2014 at 11:46 pm

      I think the concept is: choose a basic/starting unit size (hers is finished 2″), then double it for the 2nd size (add seam allowance, hence 4.5″), then triple it for the 3rd size (6.5″) Make sense? So you could use: 1″ (1.5), 2″ (2.5), 3″ (3.5) for a finished 6″ block; 3″ (3.5), 6″ (6.5), & 9″ (9.5) for a finished 18″ block; or any set of x, 2x, 3x + seam allowances. To determine what size base unit to use, choose the size of your finished block, divide it by 2, then divide that number by 3. (This would not work well for a 10″ block.) This method would be great to make a themed fat quarter quilt rather than a scrap quilt.

  21. Teje says

    October 10, 2014 at 2:36 am

    Hi Katie! This looks so fun, beautiful and great way to use scraps! Thank you for inspiration and tuto! x Teje

  22. noduh88232 says

    October 14, 2014 at 7:06 pm

    I am going to try this. I have loads of scraps which I can now do something with. Thank you for keeping me going.

  23. Shelby says

    November 10, 2014 at 8:51 pm

    This is awesome! I started cutting my scraps up tonight. Do you know how many large squares are on your quilt? I could try and count but thought you may just know:)

  24. Susan says

    November 30, 2014 at 6:28 pm

    I use this method on tshirt quilts as well, only a bit larger as 12.5, 8.5, 4.5 etc, as the graphics on stshirts very in size…

  25. josie says

    December 10, 2014 at 7:58 pm

    just saw this and love it! I have tons of scraps as I mainly make scrappy quilts. a friend also saves all of hers for me for variety. gotta do this one!

  26. Annette Loft says

    February 8, 2015 at 12:09 am

    LovE it, I now know where my scraps are going

  27. gossamerkc says

    June 19, 2015 at 7:19 pm

    What a GREAT idea! I’m programs chair of my quilt chapter of the AZ Quilters Guild. I’m hoping to share this with my group if that’s ok? I’m new to the Pinterest world…

    • sewkatiedid says

      June 22, 2015 at 10:38 am

      Of course;)

  28. applegiuice says

    July 27, 2015 at 5:20 am

    Oh it’s so homie 🙂 very cute! I think in italy, where I live, that kind of style is not very popular… but I love it!!

  29. Linda Clark says

    February 10, 2016 at 10:42 pm

    I do charity quilts. I think this will be real handy and maybe use quilt as you go. Thanks.

    • sewkatiedid says

      February 11, 2016 at 1:43 pm

      Great idea. I teach pouch classes like that;)

  30. jodierichelle says

    March 3, 2016 at 6:02 pm

    Wow – perfect timing for me that you referred to this – My daughter wants a quilt for her 25th birthday at the end of March: Grays and whites. And I have no idea what I am doing. This sounds like a plan!

Trackbacks

  1. Anna’s 18th Birthday Quilt | With Arms Open Wide says:
    October 4, 2013 at 1:04 pm

    […] Fancy, Chicopee and several ds Quilts fabrics form Joann’s, with the intention of making a Magic Numbers Quilt for. So with nine days before her birthday, I decided that I would surprise her with a quilt. A […]

  2. Zig or Zag? | Sleepy Owl Studio says:
    April 1, 2015 at 9:01 am

    […] It was the last thing I grabbed when I went out the door Sunday for open sew at Island Quilter, and the only thing I worked on. I pieced the center, and now I’m working on building it out to size with low volume fabrics in a variation of Katie’s Magic Numbers tutorial. […]

  3. W.i.P. Wednesday – Mama Love Quilts says:
    February 6, 2016 at 11:49 am

    […] So for example, I’m working with blocks that will finish at 8″ so my magic numbers are 1, 2, 4, and 8. If I sew squares or rectangles with different combinations of dimensions of 1″, 2″ and 4″ (adding an extra 1/2″ for seam allowances), they will give me blocks that finish at 8″. It’s a great way to use up scraps, which is what I’m doing with some AMH Folksy Flannel and Loulouthi flannel leftovers. For more on magic numbers, check out Sew Katie Did.  […]

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