Thursday, August 10, 2017

Test Tubes Quilt Tutorial

Supernova Test Tubes Quilt Tutorial by Heidi Staples of Fabric Mutt

Way back in January when I saw the first pictures of Supernova by Rae Ritchie for Dear Stella Fabrics, I knew it would make the perfect quilt for my youngest daughter. It's been only a year or so since Mouse decided that she wants to be a scientist when she grows up. Looking forward to her science lessons in school, doing experiments with her Daddy, and trips to the Witte Museum in San Antonio make her even more excited about it. But when I showed her this fabric and told her I was going to make a science quilt for her bed, she was over the moon.

Supernova Test Tubes Quilt Tutorial by Heidi Staples of Fabric Mutt

The Test Tubes Quilt is one of the most beginner friendly quilt patterns I've ever designed. These blocks come together like lightning, and the result is both modern and colorful. Dear Stella Basics paired with prints from the Supernova collection gave me a full spectrum of colors to work with for the "liquids" in the test tubes.

Supernova Test Tubes Quilt Tutorial by Heidi Staples of Fabric Mutt

For the quilting, I used a wavy stitch setting on my machine. It reminds me of DNA strands, and it made the quilting process go so quickly. The binding is a fantastic solar system print which gives little pops of color on a navy background.

Supernova Test Tubes Quilt Tutorial by Heidi Staples of Fabric Mutt

I backed the quilt in this lab print full of wonderful scientific illustrations. There are so many great details in this collection.

Just in case you'd like to make a Test Tubes Quilt for a future (or current!) scientist of your own, here's a simple tutorial...

Test Tubes Quilt Tutorial
Finished size: 45 x 69”

Fabric
For
Cutting
1 yard White Night Sky
Tube A
Tube B
Tube C
Tube D
Tube E
Tube F
Tube G
Tube H
Tube I
Tube J
1 rectangle 4.5 x 12.5”
1 rectangle 4.5 x 8.5”
1 rectangle 4.5 x 15.5”
1 rectangle 4.5 x 5.5”
1 rectangle 4.5 x 19.5”
1 rectangle 4.5 x 12.5”
1 rectangle 4.5 x 9.5”
1 rectangle 4.5 x 5.5”
1 rectangle 4.5 x 11.5”
1 rectangle 4.5 x 8.5”
.25 yard Cranberry Scallop Dot
Tube A
1 rectangle 4.5 x 16.5”
.25 yard Coral Triangle Dot
Tube B
1 rectangle 4.5 x 20.5”
.25 yard Eggshell Scallop Dot
Tube C
1 rectangle 4.5 x 13.5
.25 yard Solar Spectacles
Tube D
1 rectangle 4.5 x 23.5”
.25 yard Corn Scallop Dot
Tube E
1 rectangle 4.5 x 9.5”
.25 yard Celery Scallop Dot
Tube F
1 rectangle 4.5 x 16.5”
.25 yard Lawn Pencils
Tube G
1 rectangle 4.5 x 19.5”
.25 yard Pine Scallop Dot
Tube H
1 rectangle 4.5 x 23.5”
.25 yard Opal Scallop Dot
Tube I
1 rectangle 4.5 x 17.5”
.25 yard Navy Chalkboard
Tube J
1 rectangle 4.5 x 20.5”
1.5 yard Nickel Scallop Dot
Lower corners of tubes
Background between tubes
Horizontal background strips
20 squares 1.75 x 1.75”
12 rectangles 4.5 x 28.5
3 rectangles 4.5 x 44.5”
Batting
Quilt batting
1 rectangle 51 x 75”
4.25 yards Yucca Laboratory
Quilt backing
1 rectangle WOF x 75”
1 rectangle WOF x 11” (piece together to make 1 rectangle approximately 55 x 75”)
.75 yard Navy Supernova
Binding
6 strips 2 1/4 x WOF

Notes:
All seams are a quarter of an inch.
Press seams open or toward the darker fabric.
RST = right sides together

Supernova Test Tubes Quilt Tutorial by Heidi Staples of Fabric Mutt

Pair up the white and colored pieces for each test tube block according to their letters. Sew them together along the lower 4.5” edge for the white piece and the upper 4.5” edge for the colored piece.

Supernova Test Tubes Quilt Tutorial by Heidi Staples of Fabric Mutt

Take one test tube block and 2 of the 1.75 x 1.75” gray background squares. Place the squares RST in the lower colored corners of the block and use a pencil to draw a line on the wrong side of the fabric that goes from the upper outer corner of each square to the lower inner corner of each square. Stitch on that line, trim off a 1/4” seam, and press open. Repeat with the remaining test tube blocks and squares.

Supernova Test Tubes Quilt Tutorial by Heidi Staples of Fabric Mutt

Arrange the test tube blocks into two rows according to the diagram above. Sew a 4.5 x 28.5” gray background strip between each of the test tubes and at either end of each row. You should end up with 2 pieced rows that measure approximately 28.5 x 52.5”.

Supernova Test Tubes Quilt Tutorial by Heidi Staples of Fabric Mutt

Sew a 4.5 x 52.5” gray background strip above the upper test tube block unit, between the two units, and below the lower unit, creating the quilt top.

Quilt, back, and bind the quilt as desired.

Supernova Test Tubes Quilt Tutorial by Heidi Staples of Fabric Mutt

If you make one of these, be sure to use the hashtag #testtubesquilt and tag me @fabricmutt!

Happy sewing, my friends!

5 comments:

  1. Very creative and so simple to make. Thanks for sharing your pattern. Since she knows she wants to be a scientist, does she have any idea what she might be interested in specifically? I hope she discovers something unique with her inquisitive mind.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am a Med Tech that worked in a hospital lab for 25 years and recently retired. During medical laboratory week, in April, we would have a silent auction to help fund funeral flowers etc. for our coworkers. This quilt is absolutely perfect for that. Next January I'll have to get busy and make this for the raffle. Thank you so very much, I'm very excited about it!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Super cute quilt for a budding scientist. :D

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is such a great quilt design, Heidi!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. This is so stinkin’ cute. You have inspired me to finally make one. I have been wanting to make a quilt for the longest time but just couldn’t find the perfect idea…until now! I can’t wait for this weekend to get started 🙂 I’ll post a picture once it’s done.

    Zia
    You won't believe this instant healing testimonies

    ReplyDelete

Aren't you the sweetest for leaving a comment! Due to all the ads that bombard this section, I have to moderate everything first, but look for your comment to post in a day or two. Thanks so much for writing!

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