I first posted about the Postage Stamp Quilt in March 2011- knowing it would be a VERY long term project. It is a hand stitched quilt top of 1″ squares.
After spending some time (OK, too much time) reviewing Postage Stamp Quilts on the web, the initial design has been revised.
Postage Stamp Quilt by Madam Quilter
One of the reviewed designs is shown in the photo to the right. It is by Madam Quilter. The play of light and dark add interest, but my squares are scraps of all colors.
This one below is more scrappy, but even with the brown diagonals illustrates how overly busy (but still beautiful) a scrappy quilt composed of very small pieces can be.
Scrappy Postage Stamp Quilt
Scrappy Quilt is posted at http://www.fratkin.com/teri/vintage-quilts. There are a few other Postage Stamp Quilts posted there as well.
Postage Stamp Quilt by Cara at http://www.flickr.com/photos/37360130@N07/4634190878/
When I came across this quilt on Cara’s Flikr site at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/37360130@N07/4634190878/. I knew I had found the design I had been Google-searching for.
She indicates it a twin size quilt made by her husband’s grandmother.
There are additional photos of this breathtaking heritage quilt on her flikr site.
This Postage Stamp sections in Cara’s quilt are 5 squares by 6 squares. I revised that to an even 5 squares by 5 squares (each square being 1″). That would create a 5″ square of muslin for accent quilting – but that quilting is a LONG way into the future.
Six 5 by 5 Postage Stamp sections – these are ironed.
I have twenty hand-sewn 5 square by 5 square blocks completed. The small size is easy to manage and a block can be completed during a TV show or two.
Randomizing the squares in each block is more difficult than it should be. I have to fight the tendency to use coordinating colors.
I am also trying not to duplicate any fabrics within each 25-square blocks.
Detail showing fabrics used for squares
To add a bit of extra fun, some of the 1″ squares are fussy cut. The sun face in the detail to the right was fussy cut.
Some of the other fabrics in the detail are vintage fabrics from my grandmother’s Stash. In the left most column, the top and bottom squares are made with fabric from her stash. So are the lower two squares in the right side column.
The fun hands fabric at the base of the middle column was in a bag marked “Free” at a fabric store I visited with a friend while traveling last summer! I was able to cut two squares from the tiny free scrap! (Destashification Projects rarely include new fabric purchases, but free fabric is always welcomed!)
More blocks – these have not been ironed!
Hand-stitching has its benefits – portable, able to watch TV while completing, precision when stitching small pieces, etc., but I had forgotten how difficult it was to iron all those hand stitched seams!
Before and After Ironing
Before and after ironing photo illustrates that ironing the squares can really heat up ones fingertips!
This block includes a fussy cut Kitty Face and fussy cut flower.
As 80 or so pieced blocks will be required for the finished quilt, this will continue to be long term project for quite some time.
This project is using up those little scraps in The Stash – 1 square inch at a time!
The Destashification Project 
This is going to be one incredible quilt. I totally understand the satisfaction in sewing by hand, especially the portable aspect. You have almost convinced me to start one! … ALMOST, I said! 😉
Put all your little pieces in a bag and really give it some good shakes! Then pull out your pieces without looking and see if that doesn’t help randomize your piecing. I too tend to organize my pieces without even realizing it!
Great idea! Thanks!
I was led to this post from pinterest. I love your little 25-patch blocks. (Are they cut at 1″ and end as 1/2″ squares, or are they cut at 1 1/2″ and end as 1″ squares?) I especially like the idea of alternating the scrappy blocks with plain light squares. It gives the eye a place to rest after having devoured all the scraps in a block. I haven’t looked yet whether you’ve posted progress photos but I will.
I just recently finished a small 4-patch stitched from 1 1/2″ blocks (when cut) and realized the challenge of pressing those little blocks, especially when more are stitched together.
Thanks for sharing these great photos. I hope you’ve made progress on (or maybe finished) this quilt.
The squares are cut from 1.5″ and sewn to be 1″ square.
As the blocks are hand stitched, ironing is not really an issue. But my oft steamed fingertips feel your pain!
Did you hand cut all 1 1/2 squares or use rotary cutter?
I cut them by hand. Easy to do as I draw the seam lines and then just trim approx. 1/4″ away.
Mindless TV watching activity.