Tumbling Spools Friendship Quilt

Tumbling Spools Friendship Quilt
Finished Size: 38″ x 38″

Hi, I’m Cindy from Hyacinth Quilt Designs. When I saw Sweetwater’s line “Make Life…” I knew it would be the perfect fabric for a spool and friendship quilt. The border is made of signature blocks, giving you an area for your quilting friends to sign their names.

1 Charm Pack “Make Life…” 5420 PP
1 yard Moda Bella Solid Bleached White 9900 97
1/2 Yard Moda Bella Solid Brown 9900 125
1/4 yard Moda Bella Solid Green 9900 73
1/8 yard Moda Bella Solid Blue 9900 137
1/8 yard Moda Bella Solid Gold 9900 81
1/8 yard Moda Bella Solid Red 9900 140
1 yard Print for Border and Binding 5422-12
1 1/4 yards for Backing
42″ x 42″ piece of batting

Cutting
1. Choose 23 Charm Squares (I eliminated the lighter colors). Cut each one in half in both directions to get 4 squares 2 1/2″ x 2 1/2″. You will need 89 – so set 3 aside.

2. From the white, cut:

2 strips 2 1/2″ – cut into 50 rectangles 1 1/2″ x 2 1/2″
4 strips 1 1/2″ – cut into 100 squares 1 1/2″ x 1 1/2″
3 strips 3 1/2″ – cut into 32 squares 3 1/2″ x 3 1/2″
4 strips 1 1/2″ – cut into 2 border 1 1/2″ x 20 1/2″ and 2 borders 1 1/2″ x 22 1/2″

3. From EACH of the green, gold, red, blue and brown solids cut:

2 strips 1 1/2″ – cut into 10 rectangles 1 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ (50 total)

4. From the remaining brown solid, cut 8 strips 1 1/2″, then cut these into:

2 borders 1 1/2″ x 22 1/2″
2 borders 1 1/2″ x 24 1/2″
2 borders 1 1/2″ x 30 1/2″
2 borders 1 1/2″ x 32 1/2″

5. From the remaining green solid, cut:

4 squares 3 1/2 ” x 3 1/2″

6. From the border print, cut:

4 strips 3 1/2″, cut into 2 borders 3 1/2″ x 32 1/2″ and 2 borders 3 1/2″ x 38 1/2″
4 strips 2 1/2″ for binding

Piecing the Quilt

7. Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of 4 white 1 1/2″ squares.

8. Place one square on each end of 2 matching 1 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ solid rectangles. Make sure your lines are going in the right direction! Sew on the drawn lines.

9. Press the seam allowances toward the white squares and trim the bottom 2 layers.

10. Sew a 1 1/2″ x 2 1/2″ white rectangle to opposite sides of a print 2 1/2″ square. Press the seam allowances toward the print square.

11. Sew the units from steps 9 and 10 together to complete the block. Press the seam allowances toward the center square. Repeat and make 25 Spool blocks

12. Sew the Spool blocks together in 5 rows of 5 blocks each, turning every other block as pictured. Press the seam allowances in each row in alternate directions. Sew the rows together to complete the center.

13. Sew the 1 1/2″ x 20 1/2″ white borders to opposite sides of the quilt; press. Sew the 1 1/2″ x 22 1/2″ to the remaining two sides; press. Repeat with the 1 1/2″ x 22 1/2″ brown borders and the 1 1/2″ x 24 1/2″ brown borders.

14. Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of 2 print 2 1/2″ squares.

15. Place a marked square on opposite corners of a 3 1/2″ white square. Be sure your lines are going in the right direction! Sew on the line.

16. Press one seam allowance toward the print and one seam allowance toward the white. Trim the bottom 2 layers. Repeat to make 32 Signature blocks.

17. Sew 8 Signature blocks in a row – alternating the direction as shown and turning your blocks so that adjoining seams are going in the opposite direction; press. Make 4 rows.

18. Sew a green 3 1/2″ square to opposite ends of two of the rows from step 17.

19. Sew the two rows without the green squares to opposite sides of the quilt; press. Add the Signature block rows with the green squares to the remining two sides; press.