Desktop Sampler Quilt Tutorial

This December marks five years since I started Fabric Mutt.

It's been the most amazing journey. I've learned new techniques, sewed projects for friends and family, made items for blog tours and sample sewing. I wrote a book called Sew Organized for the Busy Girl, which thankfully is still helping people find the time to be creative. I was even able to visit Quilt Market not once but twice. This summer I had my biggest challenge yet, for those of you who haven't heard the news already, as I signed a contract to be a fabric designer for Penny Rose Fabrics. I am so thrilled to be taking this next step! With my first collection, Five & Dime, coming out next July, I know there are more adventures yet to come.

To celebrate this wonderful occasion, I've been working on a special Christmas present for all of you. My Hashtag fabric telephone mini quilt was a hit in the Riley Blake booth at Quilt Market this fall, and I had planned to release the tutorial for the block. When I sat down to write out the directions, though, I found myself sketching a whole mini quilt full of retro inspired office supplies. I know I'm not the only girl who loves the stationery aisle at the store or filling a planner full of activities (and stickers and page flags and colorful doodles), so I thought this would make the perfect gift for all of you lovely friends who have encouraged and supported me through the years. It seemed like it would be such a fun project to sew over Christmas break with the fresh start of a new year ahead of us.

The wonderful thing about this mini quilt is that you can make the whole thing or just use one of the blocks to decorate a pouch or some other small object. Cut the measurements in half to use a block for a cute little pincushion. Double or triple the measurements, and you could use the block on a book bag or a pillow. (Wouldn't a telephone pillow be adorable on a teenage girl's bed?!) Quadruple the measurements, and you'll have the right size for lap quilt. (I'm hoping to make one of those myself this year!) If you use any of the blocks from this quilt or make the entire quilt at any size, please share pictures on Instagram or online; I would love to see what you're making! Just be sure to tag me @fabricmutt and use the hashtag #desktopsampler.

I couldn't have made it these last five years without you, sweet friends. You've give me more joy in this journey than I could have ever found in it alone. Thank you with all my heart.

The Desktop Sampler Quilt

By Heidi Staples

Finished Size: 14 1/4 x 16 1/4”

This quilt is made entirely with scraps, so even though many of the fabric requirements call for a charm square, in most cases you can get by with less. The more prints you use, the more interesting this quilt will be.

Pattern Notes

• All seams are 1/4” unless otherwise stated.
• RST = right sides together
• Press seams open or toward the darker fabric.
• 
  

The Page Flags, Pens & Ruler Block

Fabric	For	Cutting
Green fashion print, charm square	Page flag #1	1 rectangle, 1 1/2 x 2 1/2” 2 squares, 1 x 1”
Dark aqua text print, charm square	Page flag #2	1 rectangle, 1 1/2 x 2 1/2” 2 squares, 1 x 1”
Aqua popcorn print, charm square	Page flag #3	1 rectangle, 1 1/2 x 2 1/2” 2 squares, 1 x 1”
Lavender geometric print, charm square	Pen #1	1 strip, 3/4 x 3”
Purple geometric print, mini charm square	Pen #1	1 strip, 3/4 x 2”
Red text print, charm square	Pen #2	1 strip, 3/4 x 3”
Dark red text print, mini charm square	Pen #2	1 strip, 3/4 x 2”
Peach crosshatch print, charm square	Pen #3	1 strip, 3/4 x 3”
Orange diamond print, mini charm square	Pen #3	1 strip, 3/4 x 2”
Yellow text print, charm square	Pen #4	1 strip, 3/4 x 3”
Dark yellow dot print, mini charm square	Pen #4	1 strip, 3/4 x 2”
Yellow ruler print, 10” square	Ruler	1 rectangle, 1 1/2 x 6 1/2"
Cream pindot print, fat eighth	Page flags background Background between flags Background between pens Background sashing	3 rectangles, 1 x 1 1/2” 2 strips, 1 x 3” 3 strips, 1 x 4 1/2” 1 strip, 1 1/2 x 4 1/2” 1 strip, 1 1/2 x 6 1/2”

Make the Page Flags

1. Place a 1” page flag square RST on the left side of a 1 x 1 1/2” background rectangle. Sew a diagonal line from the lower left corner of the square to the upper right corner as shown in the photo above. Trim the seam to 1/4” and press open.

2. Repeat with the other 1” flag square on the right side of the rectangle to make a single flying geese unit.

3. Sew the flying geese unit to the lower short edge of the coordinating 1 1/2 x 2 1/2” page flag rectangle.  

4. Repeat steps 1- 3 with the pieces for the other two page flags.

5. Arrange in a row from left to right: page flag, 1 x 3” background strip, page flag, background strip, page flag. Sew them together.

Make the Pens

1. Arrange your pen pieces in a column as shown in the photo above. Sew the right short end of the pen piece to the left short end of the cap piece.

2. Place the 1 1/2 x 4 1/2” background strips between the pens and sew them all together.

Finish the Block

1. Sew the 1 1/2 x 6 1/2” background strip to the right long side of the ruler piece.

2. Sew the 1 1/2 x 4 1/2” background strip between the lower edge of the page flags unit and the upper edge of the pen unit.

3. Sew the right edge of the ruler unit to the left edge of the page flags & pens unit.

The Clock Radio

Fabric	For	Cutting
Peach astronomy print, fat eighth	Clock main	1 strip, 1 x 2” 1 strip, 1 x 3” 3 strips, 1 x 4” 2 strips, 1 x 6 1/2”
Orange grid print, charm square	Speaker	1 square, 3 x 3”
Black star print, mini charm square	Knobs	2 squares, 1 x 1”
Cream text print, charm square	Clock dial	1 rectangle, 2 1/2 x 4”
Cream pindot print, charm square	Clock corners	4 squares, 1 x 1”

1. Sew the 1 x 3” clock main strip to the lower 3” edge of the speaker square.

2. Sew the 1 x 2” clock body strip between the two 1” knob squares. Sew this unit to the lower 3” edge of the speaker unit.

3. Sew a 1 x 4” clock body strip to the right long edge of the clock dial rectangle. Then sew the speaker and knobs unit to the right side of that strip.

4. Sew the remaining 1 x 4” clock body strips to the right and left 4” edges of the clock radio unit, and then sew the 1 x 6 1/2” strips to the upper and lower edges of the unit.

5. Place a 1” background square in one corner of the clock radio unit, RST, and sew diagonally across the square (NOT the diagonal that cuts across the square from the corner of the unit). Trim the seam to 1/4” and press open. Repeat with the other 3 squares in the rest of the corners.

6. Embroider the clock handles onto the dial by hand or machine.

The Tape Dispenser & Eraser

Fabric	For	Cutting
Yellow dot print, charm square	Tape roll	1 square, 1 1/2 x 1 1/2” 1 rectangle, 1 x 1 1/2”
Aqua geometric print, 10” square	Tape dispenser	1 rectangle, 1 1/2 x 2 1/2” 1 strip, 1 x 1 1/2” 1 rectangle, 1 1/2 x 4 1/2”
Dark pink text print, mini charm square	Eraser main	1 rectangle, 1 1/2 x 2”
Light pink crosshatch print, mini charm square	Eraser shadow	1 strip 1 x 1 1/2”
Cream pindot print, charm square	Background	1 square, 1 x 1” 1 square, 1 1/2 x 1 1/2” 1 rectangle, 1 1/2 x 2 1/2”

Make the Tape Dispenser

1. Place the tape roll 1 1/2” square on the left side of the the 1 1/2 x 2 1/2” tape dispenser rectangle, RST, as shown in the photo above. Sew diagonally from the lower left corner to the upper right corner of the square. Trim the seam to 1/4” and press open.

2. Place the background 1” square at the top of the tape roll 1 x 1/2” rectangle, RST, as shown in the photo above. Sew diagonally from the lower left corner to the upper right corner of the square. Trim the seam to 1/4” and press open.

3. Sew the left side of step 1’s unit to the right side of step 2’s unit as shown in the photo above.

4. Sew the background 1 1/2” square to the left side of the unit and then sew the 1 x 1 1/2” tape dispenser rectangle to the left side of that.

5. Sew the 1 1/2 x 4 1/2” strip to the lower edge of the unit.

Finish the Block

1. Make the eraser by sewing the small pink rectangle to the lower short end of the dark pink rectangle as shown in the photo above.

2. Sew the 1 1/2 x 2 1/2” background rectangle to the left side of the tape dispenser unit, and then sew the eraser unit to the left side of that.

The Planner

Fabric	For	Cutting
Striped text print, charm square	Label	1 rectangle, 2 1/2 x 3”
Green sprig print, 10” square	Cover	4 squares, 1 x 1” 2 rectangles, 1 1/2 x 2 1/2” 1 rectangle, 1 1/2 x 5” 1 rectangle, 4 1/2 x 5”
Dark green X print, 10” square	Spine	1 strip, 1 x 7 1/2”
6 colored text print scraps, at least 1 x 1 1/2”	Tabs	1 rectangle each, 1 x 1 1/2”
Cream pindot print, mini charm square	Background	2 squares, 1 x 1”

1. Place a green sprig 1” square RST in each corner of the label rectangle. Sew diagonally across the square as shown in the photo above. Trim the seam to 1/4” and press open.

2. Sew the green 1 1/2 x 2 1/2” rectangles to the right and left edges of the label unit.

3. Sew the green 1 1/2 x 5” rectangle to the upper edge of the label unit. Sew the green 4 1/2 x 5” rectangle to the lower edge of the label unit.

4. Sew the dark green 1 x 7 1/2” strip to the left edge of the planner unit.

5. Line up in a row from left to right: 1” background square, 6 tab rectangles (1” ends touching), 1” background square. Sew these together in a row as shown in the photo above.

6. Sew the tabs unit to the right edge of the planner unit.

The Stapler

Fabric	For	Cutting
Red print, 10” square	Handle Base	1 rectangle, 1 1/4 x 6” 1 strip, 3/4 x 6”
Grey print, charm square	Carrier	1 strip, 1 x 4 3/4”
Black print, mini charm square	Anvil	1 square, 1 1/2 x 1 1/2”
Cream pindot print, 10” square	Background	1 square, 1 1/4 x 1 1/4” 1 rectangle, 3/4 x 1” 1 strip, 1 x 5”

1. Place the 1 1/4” background square in the left corner of the 1 1/4 x 6” stapler rectangle. Sew diagonally from the lower left corner to the upper right corner. Trim the seam to 1/4” and press open.

2. Sew the 3/4 x 1” background rectangle to the right 3/4” edge of the carrier strip. Sew the 1 x 5” background strip to the lower edge of this unit and then sew the anvil 1 1/2” square to the left edge of this unit.

3. Sew the lower long edge of step #1’s unit to the upper long edge of step #2’s unit. Sew the 3/4 x 6” base strip to the lower long edge of that unit to finish the block.

The Telephone

Fabric	For	Cutting
Blue floral print, 10” square	Receiver	2 squares, 2 x 2” 1 strip, 1 x 3”
Dark blue bow print, 10” square	Base	2 squares, 1 x 1” 1 strip, 1 x 3” 1 strip, 1 x 2” 2 rectangles, 2 x 2 1/2” 4 squares, 1 x 1”
White number print, mini charm square	Dial	1 square, 2 x 2”
Cream pindot print, 10” square	Background	1 strip, 1 x 2” 4 squares, 1 1/2 x 1 1/2” 2 strips, 1 x 2 1/2”

1. Sew a base 1” square to each short end of the 1 x 2” background strip. Sew the receiver 1 x 3” strip to the upper edge of that unit and the base 1 x 3” strip to the lower edge.

2. Place a background 1 1/2” square in the upper left corner of a receiver 2” square, RST. Sew a diagonal line from the lower left corner to the upper right corner of the square, trim the seam to 1/4” and press open. Repeat with the other 1 1/2” background square and the other 2” receiver square, but this time in the upper right corner, reversing the diagonal line as well (see photo above). Sew the first square to the left side of the unit in step #1, and sew the second square to the right side of the unit.

3. Place a 1” base square in a corner of the 2” dial square, RST. Sew a diagonal line across the square (NOT the diagonal that cuts across the square from the corner of the dial square), trim the seam to 1/4”, and press open. Repeat with the other 3 base squares.

4. Sew the 1 x 2” base strip to the lower edge of the dial unit.

5. Place a 1 1/2 x 1 1/2” background square RST in the upper left hand corner of a 2 x 2 1/2” base rectangle. Sew diagonally from the lower left corner to the upper right corner, trim the seam to 1/4”, and press open. Repeat with the other background square and base rectangle, this time placing the square in the upper right hand corner and sewing diagonally from the lower right corner to the upper left corner on the other square. Sew these to the left and right edges of the dial unit as shown in the photo above, forming the base unit.

6. Sew a 1 x 2 1/2” background strip to the left and right edges of the base unit.

7. Sew the lower edge of the receiver unit to the upper edge of the base unit

Finish the Quilt

Fabric	For	Cutting
Cream pindot print, 1/4 yard	Sashing	2 rectangles, 1 1/2 x 6 1/2” 2 rectangles, 1 1/2 x 6” 1 rectangle, 1 1/2 x 15” 2 rectangles, 1 1/4 x 15 2 rectangles, 1 1/4 x 14 1/2
Batting, fat quarter	Quilting	1 rectangle, 16 x 18”
Typewriter print, fat quarter	Backing	1 rectangle, 16 x 18”
Geometric print, 1/4 yard	Binding	2 strips, 2 1/4 x width of fabric

Note: The instructions below are for traditionally piecing together the quilt top, and then you may quilt and bind the quilt as desired (see general yardage and cutting measurements above for that). I decided to construct my quilt top slightly differently, using quilt-as-you-go methods -- you’ll notice the batting in the background and quilting lines on my quilt top in the photos below. Feel free to use whatever method works best for you!

1. Sew a 1 1/2 x 6 1/2” sashing strip between the Pen, Ruler & Page Flags Block and the Clock Radio Block. Then sew a 1 1/2 x 6 1/2” sashing strip between the Clock Radio Block and the Eraser & Tape Dispenser Block.

3. Sew a 1 1/2 x 15” sashing strip to the left of the 3 block unit that you’ve assembled so far.

4. Sew a 1 1/2 x 6” sashing strip between the Telephone Block and the Stapler Block. Then sew a 1 1/2 x 6” sashing strip between the Stapler Block and the Planner Block.

5. Sew the unit that you assembled in step #4 to the other half of the quilt as shown in the photo above.

6. Sew a 1 1/4 x 15” sashing strip to the left and right edges of the quilt. Sew a 1 1/4 x 14 1/2” sashing strip to the upper and lower edges of the quilt.

7. Quilt and bind as desired.