Bali Pop Tutorial

IMG_0588, originally uploaded by 2ndAveStI have been crazy excited by the Hoffman Bali Pops that I scored from Sample Spree at Quilt Market. So this Holiday weekend I spent some time designing and making a quick quilt with one.

The New Bali Pops come in 6 colors Kiwiberry, Mulberry, Strawberry, Sherbert, Mint chip and Butterscotch. I am using a Butterscotch Bali Pop.
Each Bali Pop has 40 2.5 inch wide strip that are width of fabric. Basically they are Hoffmans Batik answer to moda's Jellyrolls.

I set decided to make 35 blocks in a 5x7 grid each block will finish at 8 inches. I set aside 5 strips. We will see 4 of them later, but you may decide to make all 40 or some subset for a smaller top.

Lay out either a strip or a few strips that are folded in half. your first cut is a selvage edge clean up. Trim off selvage -- Measure and cut at 8.5 inches. this will give 2 pieces.


Measure and cut at 4.5 inches and again at 4.5 inches.


You should have 6 pieces, or 3 pairs, total per strip and you will easily get one block
per strip. Two pieces that measure 8.5 x2.5 and four pieces that measure 4.5x2.5

This brings me to Jelly Cakes, Fat quarters, and Sweet 16 rolls---
For a Jelly Cake (by that I mean a combo jelly roll/layer cake set) you will get 2 block/sets per color ; from the layer cake piece cut -- Two 4.5" x 8.5" pieces and from your jellyroll strip cut --Eight 4.5" x 2.5" wide pieces.
For a Fat Quarter : Cut 2 strips that are 22" x 2.5" and one that is 22" x 4.5"
from each 2.5" wide strip cut four 4.5" x2.5" pieces.
from the 4.5 " wide strip cut 2 4.5" x 8.5" pieces. There are several ways to cut these peices from a Fat Quarter, if you only want one block from the FQ - you can get all the pieces from one 4.5 " x 22" wide strip.
Sweet Sixteen- (9"x11") cut into two pieces that measure 4.5"x11" - cut one half to 4.5x8.5
cut the other into four pieces that measure 4.5x2.5
confused yet??



Arrange your stacks of fabric like photo. The pieces around the outside we will call the "surrounds" and the stack in the middle we will call the "center". Take a couple off the top of "center" stack and tuck them under to the bottom.


Take "center" stack and one stack of "surrounds" over to sewing machine.

How do I keep them organized? Funny you should ask. Put stack of "surrounds" down by machine--- then, sort of, fan out "center" stack.
I have black thread in my bobbin and tan thread in the needle of my machine (see photo below). I always sew the "surround" on top. Use any thread combo you choose, just make sure that they are 2 different colors or shades of same color.
When I iron or get them out of order I can just look on the back and see what is the "surround" material.


Press and then sew other 2 stacks of "surrounds" to the top and bottom of your "center".



Now here you have a decision to make: sew same long "surrounds" together or sew different long "surrounds" together. here is a photo of same long surrounds.


Here is a photo of differnt Long "surrounds" ... I chose to have same "surrounds" together.


Sew pairs of long "surrounds" together and press.
You now have 2 stacks of blocklets; long "surrounds" and "center" edge. You will be sewing your "center" edge blocklets to your long "surround" blocklets.



I made my blocks in 3 smaller batches, finishing 12 or so at a time and then working with another set until finished. I found this works best for me. Less opportunity for confusion.



Here is my finished top:


I quilted it with verigated thread


This is the back. I used all the left over bits and 6 fat quarters to fashion a pieced back. I don't normally do this but it was easy and fun.


and bound it with a soft yellow that I thought was "butterscotch"y.