Use Color and Contrast to Sew a Unique (And Easy) Bento Box Quilt
What's a Bento Box Quilt?
There are many ways to assemble a Bento Box quilt block, but for this Bento Box pattern, we'll assemble each corner of the block separately, a simple method that will help you create a variety of quilt layouts when you mix and match the corners.
Bento Box quilts are made from easy quilt blocks that make use of color and contrast to create a unique look when blocks are sewn together.
One block is shown above, but the design truly emerges when blocks are joined to create a quilt (see examples on pages five and six of this pattern).
Watch for an alternative strip-pieced assembly method that's a good choice for themed/orderly quilts -- I'll add a link to the pattern when it's ready.
Bento Box quilt blocks are easy to sew once you have a understanding of the contrast layout. I do suggest that you work with three fabrics for your first few Bento blocks. After you're familiar with the design, sew with additional fabrics if you like.
More Bento Box Quilt Patterns
If you're a new quilter, color and contrast might seem a bit confusing at first. Two of my tutorials can help answer your questions.
The Bento Box block finishes at 12" x 12" and is made from 2-1/2" wide strips of fabric cut in different lengths. Reduce cutting chores by using jelly rolls (coordinated packs of fabric made up of 2-1/2" wide strips cut from selvage to selvage).
Compare Prices of jelly roll packs.
Sew with a quarter inch seam allowance.
Don't forget -- it's easy to print or save my quilt patterns.
Cutting for One Bento Box Quilt Block
Choose three fabrics: one light, one a darker cool (such as the blue) and one a darker warm (represented by the magenta). Scratch through my color choices and pencil-in your own colors.
Light Fabric
Blue Fabric
Magenta Fabric
Sew Magenta Corners for the Bento Box Quilt Block
Sew the First Two Corners of the Bento Box Quilt Block
Sew Blue Corners for the Bento Box Quilt Block
Sew the Remaining Two Corners of the Bento Box Quilt Block
Assemble the Bento Box Quilt Block
It's Time to Assemble the Bento Box Quilt Block
Optional Assembly Method
I you are making a scrap quilt, you might prefer to arrange block corners on a design wall or other flat surface before joining any of the units.
That method allows more layout flexibility for the finished quilt.
Faith Hall's Bento Box Quilt
Example of a Bento Box Quilt
A Bento Box quilt made by a Facebook group member, Faith Hall.
Close Up of a Portion of a Bento Box Quilt
Another Facebook group member, France Powers Gilmour, made this Bento Box quilt.
Use this schematic as a cutting reference to Bento Box patch sizes.
All squares are cut 2-1/2" x 2-1/2", and it's perfectly fine to sew them one patch at a time rather than assemble strip sets.
About Bento Box Quilts
There are many ways to assemble a Bento Box quilt block, but for this Bento Box pattern, we'll assemble each corner of the block separately, a simple method that will help you create a variety of quilt layouts when you mix and match the corners.
Bento Box quilts are made from easy quilt blocks that make use of color and contrast to create a unique look when blocks are sewn together.
One block is shown above, but the design truly emerges when blocks are joined to create a quilt (see examples on pages five and six of this pattern).
Watch for an alternative strip-pieced assembly method that's a good choice for themed/orderly quilts -- I'll add a link to the pattern when it's ready.
Bento Box quilt blocks are easy to sew once you have a understanding of the contrast layout. I do suggest that you work with three fabrics for your first few Bento blocks. After you're familiar with the design, sew with additional fabrics if you like.
More Bento Box Quilt Patterns
If you're a new quilter, color and contrast might seem a bit confusing at first. Two of my tutorials can help answer your questions.
The Bento Box block finishes at 12" x 12" and is made from 2-1/2" wide strips of fabric cut in different lengths. Reduce cutting chores by using jelly rolls (coordinated packs of fabric made up of 2-1/2" wide strips cut from selvage to selvage).
Compare Prices of jelly roll packs.
Sew with a quarter inch seam allowance.
Don't forget -- it's easy to print or save my quilt patterns.
Cutting for One Bento Box Quilt Block
Choose three fabrics: one light, one a darker cool (such as the blue) and one a darker warm (represented by the magenta). Scratch through my color choices and pencil-in your own colors.
Light Fabric
- (2) 2-1/2" x 5-1/4" strips (for strip piecing)
- (4) 2-1/2" x 4-1/2" strips
- (2) 2-1/2" x 6-1/2" strips
Blue Fabric
- (1) 2-1/2" x 5-1/4" strip (for strip piecing)
- (2) 2-1/2" x 4-1/2" strips
- (2) 2-1/2" x 6-1/2" strips
Magenta Fabric
- (1) 2-1/2" x 5-1/4" strip (for strip piecing)
- (2) 2-1/2" x 4-1/2" strips
Sew Magenta Corners for the Bento Box Quilt Block
Sew the First Two Corners of the Bento Box Quilt Block
- Sew a 2-1/2" x 5-1/4" light strip lengthwise to a magenta strip of the same size. Press seam allowance towards the magenta strip.
- Square up one end of the strip set and cut (2) 2-1/2" segments, starting at the squared up end. Figure 1.
- Grab one Figure 1 segment and a 2-1/2" x 4-1/2" magenta rectangle. Sew the magenta strip to the top of the segment, taking care to align the magenta portion of the 2-color segment to the left as shown, Figures 2 and 3.
- Press seam allowance towards the magenta rectangle.
- Align a 2-1/2" x 4-1/2" light strip vertically to the left of the Figure 3 unit (see Figure 4). Connect the two and press the seam allowance towards the magenta areas.
- Sew a 2-1/2" x 6-1/2" light strip to the top of the partially complete patchwork, Figures 5 and 6. Press seam allowance towards the magenta areas.
- You now have one block corner that measures 6-1/2" x 6-1/2".
- Make a second identical block corner.
- Once you're comfortable with the assembly process, use chain piecing to sew patchwork in assembly-line fashion.
Sew Blue Corners for the Bento Box Quilt Block
Sew the Remaining Two Corners of the Bento Box Quilt Block
- Sew another strip set, but this time pair the 2-1/2" x 5-1/4" blue and light strips. Square up one end of the set and cut two 2-1/2" segments. Figure 7.
- Sew a 2-1/2" x 4-1/2" light rectangle to the top of a Figure 7 segment, orienting the blue portion of the segment in the lower left as shown in Figures 8 and 9. Press seam allowance towards the blue/light segment.
- Sew a 2-1/2" x 4-1/2" blue rectangle to the right of the segment as shown in Figure 10. Press seam allowance towards the blue rectangle.
- Sew a 2-1/2" x 6-1/2" blue bar to the top of the almost-complete unit and press seam allowance towards the new bar. The unit should measure 6-1/2" x 6-1/2".
- Sew one more blue/light block corner.
Assemble the Bento Box Quilt Block
It's Time to Assemble the Bento Box Quilt Block
- Arrange block corners into two horizontal rows as shown, left.
- Sew the two corners in each row together.
- Press new seam allowances in adjoining rows in opposite directions and join the rows. The quilt block should measure 12-1/2" x 12-1/2".
Optional Assembly Method
I you are making a scrap quilt, you might prefer to arrange block corners on a design wall or other flat surface before joining any of the units.
That method allows more layout flexibility for the finished quilt.
Faith Hall's Bento Box Quilt
Example of a Bento Box Quilt
A Bento Box quilt made by a Facebook group member, Faith Hall.
Close Up of a Portion of a Bento Box Quilt
Another Facebook group member, France Powers Gilmour, made this Bento Box quilt.
Use this schematic as a cutting reference to Bento Box patch sizes.
All squares are cut 2-1/2" x 2-1/2", and it's perfectly fine to sew them one patch at a time rather than assemble strip sets.
Source...