This Hectic Electic quilt is known in quilters’ circles as a scrap quilt. It's a marvellous way to use up fabric odds and ends from other projects.

And, if you’re one of those people who can’t resist buying a pretty piece, it’s also a great reason to raid your fabric stash.

Each block is made from a different feature fabric, and is then bordered with mainly black-print fabrics, which give the quilt its cohesion. While there are lots of pieces to cut, the sewing is all perfectly straightforward.

Here's how:

This quilt is created from 91 blocks, each made from a different feature fabric, bordered with mainly black- print fabrics (the odd-coloured one adds interest), and a brightly coloured square post in each corner. The lighter-coloured sashing is broken by posts at each corner. The quilt is finished without borders, and is double-bound.

Measurements 138 x 184cm

Gather your supplies

2m x 112cm (in total) of a variety of different feature fabrics, for blocks; 2.5m x 112cm in total of darker fabrics (block surrounds); 1.5m x 112cm in total of lighter fabrics (sashings); 0.7m x 112cm in total of different fabrics (posts); 4m x 112cm backing fabric; 2m quilt batting; 0.55m x 112cm fabric (binding); quilter’s rule; rotary cutter and mat; sewing thread; quilting thread

Instructions:

Diagram here

Cutting

For each block, cut 1 rectangle of feature fabric, 7½ x 4in; 2 border strips, each 4 x 1½in; 2 border strips, each 7½ x 1½in (cut all 4 border strips from the one fabric); 4 corner posts, each 1½ x 1½in (cut these from 4 different fabrics). From sashing fabrics, cut 78 sashing strips, each 1½ x 6in, and 84 sashing strips, each 1½ x 9½in. From post fabrics, cut 72 posts, each 1½in square.

Assembling blocks

Step 1 Stitch a 7½ x 1½in strip to top and bottom of a feature fabric rectangle (Diagram 1, opposite page) and press seams towards small borders.

Step 2 Take two 4 x 1½in strips and stitch a 1½in square to each end (Diagram 2). Press seams towards small borders.

Step 3 Stitch these units to each end of feature fabric unit (Diagram 3). Press seams towards small borders. This completes the block (Diagram 4), which should measure 9½ x 6in (including seam allowance). Make 91 blocks in total.

Sashing

Step 4 Lay out your completed blocks in 13 rows of 7 blocks (Diagram 5, opposite) and arrange them until you are happy with the placement, making sure you have an even mix of both colour and pattern. The quilt maker has grouped several of the sashing fabrics together but the placement of pattern is still quite random. It wouldn’t even matter if each of the sashings were different!

Step 5 Stitch blocks together into rows (7 per row) with a 6in vertical sashing strip between each block. Press the seams towards the sashing.

Step 6 Construct the 12 horizontal sashing rows by stitching 9½in sashing strips alternately together with 1½in posts (7 sashing strips and 6 posts per row). Press seams towards sashings.

Step 7 Stitch rows of blocks together with horizontal sashing strips in between (Diagram 5). This completes the quilt top.

Assembling quilt and quilting

Step 8 Cut and join backing fabric with a horizontal seam. Back should measure at least 3in (8cm) bigger on all sides than quilt top. Press seam allowance open. With wrong sides together, layer quilt top and backing fabric with batting in between. Smooth all creases and tucks and carefully baste layers together.

Step 9 Quilt as desired, by hand or machine. This quilt has been hand-quilted in various coloured threads, working intersecting diagonal lines from opposite corners of each feature-fabric rectangle, and outline-quilting each square formed by 4 posts in each corner. Trim backing and batting even with quilt top.

Binding

Step 10 Join 2½in binding strips into 1 continuous piece, about 342in (8.8m) in length. Press in half lengthwise and use to bind quilt. Label the back of quilt with your name, date and other relevant details.