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Bryan House Quilts

Candy Corn Quilt {A Sizzix Halloween Tutorial}

finished quilts· Tutorial

Hi everyone, I’ve been sharing glimpses of my Candy Corn Quilt on Instagram and teases on my blog for weeks now. Today I’m showing you the finish AND the tutorial with you all. Yah! 

If you’ve been following along, you’ll know that I’ve been working with Sizzix for a few months. They send me a set amount of dies each month and I share a tutorial with you all on here on my blog and a second one over at Sizzix’s blog. I’ve had this quilt idea in my head from the get-go so I’m excited to finally have it finished on my couch and the tutorial to share with you all. 

Because October is my favorite. 
🙂 

Materials: 
3 1/2 Yards assorted Halloween Fabrics (I’m using Spellbound by Cotton and Steel)
2 1/2 Yards black fabric
1/2 Yards for binding
4 Yards for backing

Sizzix Materials: 
Bigz Pro 2 1/2” strip cutting die 
Big Shot Pro Machine
Bigz Pro 6 1/2” Right and Isosceles Triangle die

First you are going to start by cutting 2 1/2” strips by Width of Fabric (WOF) or selvage to selvage from the halloween fabrics. I sent my fabric through my Big Shot Pro Sizzix machine using my 2 1/2” strip cutting die to easily cut my strips. Cut a minimum of 39 strips. This will make 13 strip sets. Since I recommend cutting more than the minimum for this quilt, let’s say cut 45 strips to make 15 strip sets.

To cut the background triangles, first cut a minimum of 13 WOF 6 1/2” from the black background fabric. Let’s say cut 15 widths. These extra strips will account for any imperfections in the die cutting that may occur.

Next, using the Halloween fabric you are going to sew the 2 1/2” strips into groups of 3. For my strips I tried to keep the colors going from light to dark to mimic a candy corn. But this is your quilt; you do what you love. But, be sure to keep that seam allowance a very scant 1/4”. Muy importante.

(The triangle die we will be using is 6 1/2” wide so we want to ensure our strip sets are also going to be 6 1/2” wide. Hence the scant 1/4” seam.)

To finish off the strip sets, press the seams open or to one side. Do whichever you prefer. The strips sets will be 6 1/2” x WOF. Make at least 13 strip sets. I recommend making more strip sets to account for any potential cutting mistakes in the next step.

Super fancy organization system for strip sets. 
Once all the strip sets are pieced, you are going to use your Sizzix machine and triangle die to cut the candy corn and background triangles. 

Let’s start with the fun candy corn triangles first. I’m using the Bigz Pro 6 1/2” Right and Isosceles Triangle die but I’m only using the Isosceles portion of the die. One important thing to mention is that you want line up the top portion of the strip set up with the top of the triangle. This is especially important if your strip sets aren’t quite 6 1/2” wide as they should be in theory. 
(Sometimes I lose focus on keeping my seam allowances that scant 1/4”, ahem) 
Now, to maximize the number of candy corn triangles cut from each strip set, you are going to fold the strip set accordion style over the triangle die. Adjust the folded fabric accordingly and then do a final check to make sure the strip set is still lined up with the triangle point. 
Double check to make sure you have the fabric in the Sizzix sandwich – plastic plate on bottom, die blades up, fabric, and then plastic plate on top. Then send your fabric through the Sizzix machine. 

Then carefully remove the extra fabric on the sides. You may need to use scissors to cut them apart.

Then unfold that extra fabric and realign it on the die cutter and cut more triangles from the excess. 

And send the Sizzix sandwich through again. 
From each strip set I was able to cut 9 triangles. (The picture shows 10 triangles, but realistically it ends up being 9.) 
Using the Sizzix machine and the 6 1/2” isosceles triangle die, cut 114 black background triangles from the 6 1/2” strips of black background fabric.  
After cutting the candy corn triangles and background triangles, all in all you should have 114 candy corn triangles and 114 background triangles. 
Ok, now for the sewing!!! 
First set aside 6 candy corn triangles and 6 black background triangles. 
Next, we are going to make 108 pairs of triangles. Each pair will have 1 background triangle and 1 candy corn triangle.
Because we are working with irregular shapes, you will want to line up the match points. (Match points are where the seam line will intersect.) So with right sides together align the match points and pin as needed. Sew the pairs together. Make 108 pairs. Press seams open. 

Now, you will be sewing the pairs into rows. Each row has 9 pairs. I wanted my rows to have a random, scrappy look so I used the paper bag method. That’s where you throw all of your pairs into a paper bag and shake it all around like shake n’ bake. Then whichever pair you pull out is the pair you sew. Pretty high tech. 🙂 
So, sew 12 rows each with 9 pairs of triangles. Then press seams open. 
Finally, to complete the rows, you will sew one more triangle onto each row. To six rows, you will sew a black triangle onto the left side of the row. To six rows, you will sew a candy corn triangle to the right side of the row. 
For quilt top assembly, first lay out your rows on your design surface and play with the arrangement until satisfied. (I just made sure my purples are mints weren’t bunching together in one section.) Make sure all the candy corns are pointing up. 

Now we are going to sew the rows into pairs of rows. Get two rows and line up the points and get your pins ready (yah!).

With right sides together align and pin the rows together. Then sew the row together. Sew the 12 rows into 6 pairs of rows. Press seams open. 

Continue sewing assembling the quilt top by sewing the pairs of rows together. Press the seams open. 

To finish the quilt you can opt to keep the angle sides or you can square up the quilt top. I decided to square up my quilt top this time. 
Quilt and bind using your favorite method and enjoy! 

Thank you!!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Dorothy Finley says

    So I made "this" quilt in 2013 without your fancy cutting machine. It was called "Candy Corn", the pattern was by Lissa Alexander and it was in the Quilt Magazine. Strip piecing, 60 degree triangle
    acrylic ruler by Clearview, sew together—————easy peasy. Sometimes, I think you new "modern"
    quilters make things harder and more expensive than what they need to be.

    • rebeccabryan says

      Hi Dorothy,

      Yes, for sure you don't *need* a sizzix machine etc, to make a candy corn quilt. It should be noted though, that my triangles are not 60 degree or equilateral triangles. So the ruler you mention would yield a bit different look.

      Nothing revolutionary for sure.

      But this quilt and the die cutting system are all things I was and am excited to show. However I realize not all techniques and gadgets are suited to all people.

      Is your quilt out for the season? I bet it's lovely.

  2. The Joyful Quilter says

    What a FUN idea!! I recently purchased a triangle die, but never considered PIECING before using the cutter. It would work well for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge that I am participating in for single colors, too!