Break the Quilting Rules—Create Column Quilts
Take a recognizable tumbler quilt design and turn it on its side. Combine several sizes of tumbler shapes and presto, you have a modern quilt design that breaks most sewing rules. This week’s Sewing With Nancy features two traditional quilt designs that are sewn in columns, not rows. Plus the piecing is super-simple. This is the second episode of Quick Column Quilts. I hope you’ll enjoy creating your next quilt with the Grandmother’s One Patch Template, create hexagon designs with ease. Watch online at NancyZieman.com.
Tumbling Tumblers Quilt
The first quilt of this episode is called Tumbling Tumblers. Transform a design, traditional to modern, with a simple turn of the design.
- The tumbler template from the Trace ‘n Create Grandmother’s One Patch Template is used to create this quilt design. There are four sizes of tumbler shapes—4″, 6″, 8″, and 10″ in one template. All four sizes are traced on the fabric and then cut, using a ruler, rotary cutter, and mat.
- The tumbler shapes are stitched together using traditional quilting techniques.
- Multiple background colored tumbler shapes are sewn together to add negative space to the design. Negative space is the new buzz word in quilting, and it references the space around the quilt design, not the design itself, which forms an interesting or artistic look.
You can see how the rest of the quilt is created while watching the episode or see all the dimensions detailed in the book, Quick Column Quilts.
Hit and Miss Table Runner
At first glance, hexagon shapes cause many quilters to think, Oh no, the dreaded Y-seam! Not so with this speedy column quilt design. The hexagon shapes are created with two halves, eliminating the intersection of three seams, otherwise known as Y-seams. With this technique, faux hexagon halves are stitched in columns with relative speed and ease. Plus, the results are dramatic.
- The second template in the Grandmother’s One-Patch Template set, the faux hexagon, is used for this project.
- Only the 4″ shape is traced and cut from the fabric, including the end pieces. (Watch Nancy demo this online, it’s a lot easier to show this in action than to write about it!)
- Four fabrics are traced and cut from the faux hexagons, plus the background fabric, which again creates the negative space design element. This photo was taken during the design process. Notice the design sketch—elementary!
- The faux hexagons are sewn together with straight seams. No Y-seams in this column quilt project.
- Columns are created.
- Then, the columns are sewn together. That’s it—all straight seaming.
Full details, are in Quick Column Quilts Part Two.
Watch Quick Column Quilts (Part One, Part Two, and Part Three) on Sewing With Nancy online.
To watch Sewing With Nancy on your iPad, iPod Touch, or iPhone, download the app.
Show us What You’re Making! We love to hear from you, so whether you’ve tried one of Nancy’s Sewing Patterns, or you’re planning on stitching a project you’ve seen on Sewing With Nancy or on The Nancy Zieman Productions Blog, share your experiences and photos with us on Facebook or Instagram!
Happy Sewing!
Team Nancy Zieman
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Teresa Mahoney
It’s hard to choose, but I like the Tumbling Tumbler quilt the best. I like the use of modern piece placement.
Sherry Niles
Love the half hexi. No y seams. Ez!
Joey
Half Hexie
Carol P
I like the Tumbling Tumblers Quilt
Debra K Courtney
Tumbling Tumbers
peggy C
I like the tumbler quilt best.
Sandy
I love both quilts but find the hexagons particularly appealing. I’ve made a couple of traditional hexagon quilts but found them very slow-going. I can’t wait to do one with the half-hexis.
Susan
No Y seam…what a great concept! The half hexi is one l’d love to try.
Tammy Kazmierczak
I love the hexagonal quilt. The hexagons give the illusion of curves despite the columnar nature of the quilt. I am a sucker for curves. Even my garden has no straight line beds in it!
Ann Holland
I would love to try the tumbler quilt.
Linda E in AZ
Hit and Miss is very cool.
thanks!
Linda Phillip
half hexie
Carol Kirstein
I like the half-hexi, not only because of the easy way the hexagons are produced, but also because of the element of surprise of the halves without the matching part.
Joanne P.
The Tumbler quilt is my favorite…I like the varying sizes in the pattern.
Suzanne. Tetreault
I really like the Tumbler Quilt !
Jan Skilbeck
Love the Tumbling Tumblers!
Diane C
I like them all — it is hard to pick one
Caroline S
So Cool and creative!
Mary B
Hit and miss, hexagon is a shape I have not yet used in any quilt I have made to date. It’s on my bucket list!
Camille
I am a sucker for hexies. I like the large sizes in this table runner.
beth d.
the tumbler quilt is my favorite. hope to win this book
mary ann blazevich
The hexie quilt is great – lots of movement.
Linda
I am just about to do a Half Hexi quilt for a friend. This is a very timely presentation. The Hexi blocks are very intriguing, so I’d pick them as my favorite.
Thanks.
Savannagal
I really like the Tumbling Tumblers Quilt. It’s modern but doesn’t look too difficult to make.
Cindy Teta
Love the the hexie with the circle quilting
Judi Zrebiec
I watched all three episodes and the one I like best is the Wind Chime quilt. I’m new to quilting and would love to try that one or even the Tumbling Tumblers.
Debora Nipper
Love them both! I guess Tumbling Tumblers would be my pick if I have to choose…but don’t make choose!!!!
Anne Crabbs
I liked both the hexi and the tumbler. Thanks for sharing. I enjoy your information.Anne
Karen Patterson
I like them both but especially the half hexie The best! I also love your tutorials and ring binder books you print. I have your “Hot and Handy Projects book, your Handbag Sewing Techique with DVD,and Sew Simple Retangles an Squares with DVD.”These are great to read when you sit down in the evening to rest and they lay flat while I sew. I’m working on the 60 Minute Pot Holder in the “Hot and Handy Projects” book. There’s so many wonderful ideas in it! I can’t make things fast enough!
Thank you for all you teach me Nancy!!!
Chrissie
I love the Hit and Miss table runner! I was also so thrilled to meet you at Crystal Bridges last year when I was working there and you visited. I apologize but I was so awestruck I was speechless!
Debra
I’d love to try the hexagon runner- great without the Y seams! Would make a cute baby quilt if expanded too.
Jen
I think the hexie quilt is quite clever. I have a half hexie template and you have given me a new way to use it! Thanks!
Starla
Your tutorial makes hexagons seem possible!
theresa stillion
I am crazy about the tumbler quilt ,I even bought the template would love to have new book.
Rose
I like the Tumbling Tumblers and would love to win this book. Thank you.
Diane S.
I like the Hit and Miss Table Runner. It would be my first project from the book before attempting a large quilt.
Cynthia
Think I like the hexie one although the two sizes of the tumblers blocks makes for an interesting design. Both merit a second look!
Helen Stewart
I like the hexie runner which would make a pretty baby quilt in a larger size!
Jan F.
I like the tumblers best. It’s another great way to use the Grandmothers One-Patch templates I already have. Would love to win the book. Thanks Nancy!
Mom C
I keep saying I need to make a hexi quilt and this could do it for me. I love the design and I’d want to copy the quilting too. Thanks.
Becky Payne
I am in love with the faux hexagon quilt. It looks super hard all put together, but in reality, it is a cinch to make!
Nancy E Johnson
I love the tumbler quilt ad would so love to win this book.
Karen B.
I love the look of the hexagons and half hexagons. The quilting is beautiful too. Would love to make this one.
Tina
I like the Hit and Miss table runner.
Lorri
Tumbling blocks are great.
Linda Napiantek
My favorite is the Hit and Miss. I would love to work the hexagons with straight seams. Amazing!!!
Marty
Already planned to make Tumbling Tumblers but no must add Gram’s One-Patch as well because of the easy hexi method!
Christine
The Hit and Miss Table Runner is my favorite. I would definitely like to use the pattern to make a quilt.
AS
Half Hexie
AS
I’d like to try the Half Hexie
Patty N.
I like the Tumbling Tumbler quilt. I think you can really change the look by the choice of solids or prints.
Jenn
I like the look of the tumbling blocks quilt.
Chris Reeske
I like the tumbler
Anne H
I like the tumbler.
Barbara
Really like the Hexie table runner.
Melody Lutz
Hit and Miss is very modern and cool!
Pat O.
I choose the Hit and Miss table runner.
Cindy Schultz
Gosh, just a hard question. I think I like the Hit and Miss table runner. The hexagons look pretty easy to make. I do like the Tumbling Tumblers also, such a hard decision.
Lillian K
I REALLY LIKE THE “HIT AND MISS QUILT”. IT IS UNIQUE AND THE METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION LOOKS EASY. I TEND TO SHY AWAY FROM THOSE “Y” SEAMS.
Ursula M
The tumbler it is.
Lynn
The Hot and Miss is very nice. I think our grandmothers and greet grandmothers would enjoy the new versions of their quilts.
Cassy L.
Can’t make up my mind. I would like to make both!
ella ruth
Although the hexi quilt is one that makes you take a second look, I like the tumbler. I have a tumbler ruler that will fit on a charm and not a clue as what to do with it. Thank you Nancy for sharing. Love watching your show.: )
Bonnye
I like the hit and miss tumbler table runner.
JulieG-AZ
I love the idea of half-hexis. Making that with the template would be do-able for me. As much as I like the hexagon, I would never tackle it the traditional way.
Bonnie
The Hit and Miss Table Runner is my favorite. No Y-seams! Thanks for sharing this great technique.
Renea
I really like both the quilt and the tablerunner. Thanks for the wonderful giveaway.
Debbie J
Love both, but if I had to choose just one it would be the table runner.
Karen
Like the Tumbling Tumbler best.
Barbara
I really like the faux hexagons in the Hit and Miss table runnerc and can’t wait to try it for myself.
margaret
the tumbler – hands down
Mary Faught
I like the hexie table runner it has a modern look.
Vickie Snyder
I like the Tumbling Tumbler quilt, making it in colors from my stash. Two of my three daughters like modern looking quilts, and Tumbling Tumblers would enhance their living space.
Linda Phillip
I liked the hit and miss table runner. The quilting took it to the next level.
Kim
I like the tumbling tumblers quilt the best.
Kathleen Bruckner
I was immediately drawn to the “hit and Miss” table runner…love anything hexie!
Julie Thompson
I was immediately drawn to the Tumbling Tumblers Quilt. I really like how you used background fabric to create the negative space to make the tumblers seem more random rather than a straight row of tumblers. Neat effect! Thanks for your creativity!