The first “Bugs in a Jar” quilt I made was for Chad and it was many years ago. I don’t even think I have a picture of it any more. The blocks are so simple to make. Here are the measurements I’m using for my current “food in jars” blocks:
For each block:
Bug/Food Fabric:
- 1 – 4-1/2″ x 6-1/2″ rectangle
Gray (Lid) Fabric:
- 1 – 1-1/2″ x 2-1/2″ rectangle
Black Fabric:
- 4 – 1-1/2″ squares
- 2 – 1-1/2″ x 6-1/2″ rectangles
- 2 – 2-1/2″ squares
- 1 – 1-1/2″ x 2-1/2″ rectangle
Jar Block
Start with the 4-1/2″ x 6-1/2″ bug/food fabric rectangle and sew a 1-1/2″ black square to each corner. Draw a diagonal line across the square, or wing it and sew diagonally. Flip the corner, then sew the 1-1/2″ x 6-1/2″ black rectangles to each side.
Sew the 1-1/2″ x 2-1/2″ black and gray rectangles together lengthwise. Add a 2-1/2″ square to each side and sew to the top of the previous unit and that’s it!
Since these blocks finish at 6″ x 8″, it takes a lot of blocks to make a decent sized quilt.
Jar Quilt
Way back when I first became familiar with jar quilts, there was a “perfume bottle” swap where we used pretty, glassy looking fabrics and a narrow “cap” and made perfume bottles so you’re limited by your imagination!
In the drawing above, you can see that some of the jars are shorter and those are made by cutting the bug fabric and side rectangles shorter, then compensating by adding a piece of black fabric to the top of the jar.
Missy says
I’m participating in a block exchange for this quilt, I need to get busy and get it my blocks made!
Denise ~ justquiltin says
I have a large wall hanging in the “tops to be quilted” pile with perfume bottle swap blocks on it. I’m not going to count how many years it’s been sitting in there. LOL Should pull that out and finish it off…….
Angie says
I’m really enjoying your Jar quilt, and seeing all the fabrics you have for the “jars”. I made several Jar quilts years ago for the grandchildren. The fabrics were so fun!
Sue S says
I made jars full of bugs for one of my grandkids, I think the pattern I bought was called Bugs Escaping or something. It had a couple of jars on their sides with the lids off and the bugs out on the shelf. It was fun to make. I’ve been saving ‘food’ fabrics for a while to make a ‘pantry’ quilt. I just might have enough to quilt along with you!
Susan says
I made a ship in a bottle wall hanging from a jar pattern and a border print. It was so cute! Love jar quilts. There are more in my future someday.
Anita says
Very cute! Love the perfume bottle idea.