Big Scraps Quilt Block (Beginner Friendly Big Quilt Block)

This is a super easy and quick large quilt block.

It is 20.5″ x 20.5″ square and is perfect for using up leftover fabric – whether we are talking about bigger bits of scrap fabric or taking on a major stash-busting exercise to free up space in your sewing room!

There are no points to match so this block is definitely beginner-friendly.

I made this block as part of the Scrap Blocks Quilt Along I did on my YouTube channel. You can sign up for all the free scrap block ideas for this 8 week quilt along here.

Big Scraps Quilt Block – Fabric Requirements

These are the fabric requirements for (1) 20.5″ quilt block.

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It is absolutely fine to have your background and accent fabrics be ‘scrappy’ – meaning your background fabric could be several shades/prints of one color rather than feeling you have to use the exact same fabric for each section.

• (3) 7.5″ x 4″ Rectangles (2 should be accent fabric; 1 background fabric)
• (2) 9″ x 7.5″ Accent Fabric
• (1) 14″ x 7.5″ Accent Fabric
• (2) 20.5″ x 4″ Background Fabric

For my block – the various pink fabrics were my accent fabrics and the navy blue was my background fabric.

How to Make the Big Scraps Quilt Block

This block goes together very quickly and can be easily chain-pieced, but I am going to explain it one section at a time to make it clearer. Once you get the idea you can speed it up even faster by batch sewing if you are making lots.

There is also a video tutorial at the end of this post if you prefer to follow along that way.

Step 1: Cutting & Fabric Choices

This block is meant as a scrap buster for leftover bits and pieces so my best advice is to choose a range of colors to pull from if you are making many of these blocks to make a whole quilt.

I would suggest using one ‘color’ for the background fabric but this can be made up of different prints and fabrics that are all in the same color family. Then you can decide how many accent fabrics you would like.

One thing to think about is what direction you want to orient your blocks in your quilt and to pay attention to any directional fabrics with that in mind.

This is a great block for big prints that you can’t bear to cut into small bits and is also good for those directional fabrics as long as you give that part some thought!

Step 2: Piecing Section 1

Section 1 is the section that has the two medium-sized accent rectangles and the one smaller background rectangle.

Take one of your 9″ x 7.5″ accent rectangles and the one 7.5″ x 4″ background rectangle.

Place right sides together at the narrow edge of the larger rectangle. Sew with a quarter-inch seam.

Then repeat with the other 9″ x 7.5″ rectangle so that the smaller background rectangle is in the middle sewn to either one of the accent pieces.

Press.

Step 2: Piecing Section 2

Section 2 is the section with the larger accent rectangle and two small accent rectangles.

Take the 14″ x 7.5″ accent rectangle and sew the two smaller 7.5″ x 4″ rectangles to either end. Again with your quarter-inch seam.

Press.

Step 3: Joining the Block

The long background strips of 20.5″ x 4″ are exactly the length of our finished block, while the other two block sections finish slightly larger (to avoid odd measurements while cutting!).

So you have two options:

1. Cut your background strips longer (same length as your finished block sections)
2. Fold your background strips and block sections in half lengthwise and make a crease mark. Then line up the crease marks when joining. That way you will trim off an equal amount of the excess fabric on either end when trimming up.

I used option 2 but do whatever makes sense for you.

Take your background strips and sew right sides together along the right edge of both block sections.

Then sew those two sections together.

If you are using option 2 above and folding then use that crease mark to line up sections 1 & 2 when joining.

If needed watch the video tutorial below.

Step 4: Trimming the Block

I used my favorite 20.5″ quilting ruler to trim up my block but this is totally optional.

I lined up the central background strip on the 10″ line and made sure the smaller background strip was on a straight line as well, then trimmed all the way around.

Big Scraps Quilt Block Video Tutorial

Finished Big Scraps Quilt Block

I think this big quilt block is a great way to use a variety of different fabrics in a scrappy but cohesive way.

Printable Cheat Sheet: Big Scraps Quilt Block

Find the other Scrap Blocks Quilt Along Videos

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• Or browse all my quilt block tutorials.