*Updated - please see amended information for pattern at the bottom of this post!*
Hello friends and thank you for stopping by the blog today! As long promised, I am finally releasing the Braided Rug Quilt pattern to you!
I was inspired by the memories of the handmade braided quilted rugs that I saw at my grandma's house. They were textured and homey, made from the most beautiful little scraps of fabric (at least in my memory). I wanted to have something in my house that echoed that scrappy beauty without having to braid an actual rug!
The quilt top of this first version came together in a weekend, and then was hand quilted over a few days as I travelled with my husband. You can see in the photo above that each colour makes a concentric circle around the centre row, but multiple fabrics are used for each colour, imitating the hints and peeks of fabric that you would get in a true braided rug.
I hadn't really had any plan when I started this version - it was just a for fun project, so when it became apparent that other people loved it too, I decided to make another version to find the economies of making it quickly, and another version was needed.
Auditioning fabrics for version 2:
After thinking through the math and construction methods, I realized that by changing the strip size slightly (the original version uses 2.25" strips), this would be the perfect pattern to use up orphan and leftover binding strips and jellyroll strips if the pieces started as 2.5" instead. Boom! Done! Sustainability win!
I actually don't have a stash of jelly rolls or orphan binding strips, but this coordinated neutral palette seemed like the perfect way to try out the 2.5" strips.
I also had the bright idea to make a throw size version of these colours... but after working on this version for two weeks of my spare time, I decided that it actually just wanted to be a table runner after all. LOL!
The construction method of this Braided Rug Quilt is pretty simple, but I'm not sure that I was perfect at communicating the simplicity of this in the pattern. Let me explain.
At first glance, you can tell that this pattern's layout would be easily achieved by cutting out individual squares and laying them out in the desired size. BUT!! There is a simpler way than piecing all of those tiny squares together!
Instead, the strips are gathered, making sure there is enough length in each colourway of strips (remember, these can be scrappy, so the several strips of the same colour but different print are perfect for one of the circles). First, you cut a few squares off of the strip that will be the outermost colour, and then strip piece the second colour strip to the first. After cutting off a few pieces from that double strip, you strip piece colour three on to that.... working your way towards the middle colour. The pattern has diagrams, so don't worry if you can't visualize this.
After you've sewn together the strips and cut the required number of pieces from them, you're ready to stagger those strips into this perfect wall hanging or table runner.
These wovens were a little bit extra fussy to work with, but so, so worth the result!
Once you've finished the top, since this quilt is such a small project, this is the perfect opportunity to practice hand quilting.
With the first version, I hand quilted with a purple Aurifil 12wt thread. It seemed to accent each piece and bring out the detail of the prints and wovens.
The second quilt top was done just as Piece Fabric Co. received a brand new product - Trailhead Yarn 8wt thread!
This new thread was such a beautiful addition to the soft, neutral version of the Braided Rug Quilt. I used several colours in smoky blues and greens to add in even more texture.
I have a few more versions bouncing around my head. I'll do my best to make them and show them off when I have a spare weekend again! :)
And now, the reason you came. Let me share this pattern with you!
*Please note that the chart in step 5 for the Table Runner has an error. Column 6 (number of strips to cut with 6 pieces) only needs 20 strips cut (not 24). Sorry!!*
Will you make this quick little project? If so, I'd love to see it! Please tag your Instagram photos with @piecefabricco and #braidedrugquilt. I can't wait to see the little bits of fabric you choose to make yours version from!