Cartwheels Quilt

When I first sketched out this quilt, I planned on making a lap size quilt, but after I evaluated the leftover pieces and parts, I worked out a way to make twin size quilt. I am so glad I did! Fewer leftovers and a larger quilt to snuggle. Good all around!

To make this quilt you will need:

1 Strawberry Fields jelly roll
3 yards cream fabric for background (20167 13) {this is one of the fabrics in the line}
2/3 yard red polka dot for binding (20166 21)
3 3/4 yards for backing (20160 15)

All seam allowances are 1/4″ throughout.
1. Cut 9 strips 2 1/2″ x width of fabric from the binding fabric. Set 8 aside for the binding. The one remaining strip will be used for the quilt blocks.

2. Cut 43 strips 2 1/2″ x width of fabric from the background fabric. (There is only 1/2″ extra from this length, so cut carefully!)

3. Remove the one cream strip from the jelly roll and set aside to use for a background strip. Substitute in the extra binding strip in it’s place.

4. Pair the jelly roll strips with the background strips. Sew together in pairs. Iron seams open.

5. From each strip, cut into 9 4 1/2″ lengths. Cut one 2 1/2″ segment from the remaining part of the strip. Toss the selvage edges.

6. Set aside the 2 1/2″ segment and one of the 4 1/2″ segments from each strip. These will be used for borders and backing.

7. Take 4 of the 4 1/2″ segments and place them in the order shown in the photo.

Sew together to make one block. This will be an A block.

8. Take the 4 remaining 4 1/2″ segments and place them as shown in the photo. Sew together to make one block. This will be a B block.

***Please note, the blocks are a mirror image of each other.

9. Repeat until all 80 blocks are assembled. 40 A blocks and 40 B blocks.

10. Layout the blocks in a 8 x 10 array, alternating A and B blocks throughout. The blocks should form a secondary rectangle pattern when they are placed correctly.

11. Take a photo to see if the colors are distributed evenly. When you are pleased with the layout, sew the blocks together in rows, then sew the rows together.

12. At this point, if you want a lap quilt that measures 64″ x 80″, you could baste, quilt and bind as desired. But I wanted to use more of my fabric, so I added a bit to the length and made this quilt a twin size. Take background strips and piece them together to make a strip 2 1/2″ x 65″. Make 2.

13. Add one of these strips to the top of the quilt. Add one strip to the bottom of the quilt. Trim overhanging ends. Press well.

14. Take 8 segments that are 2 1/2″ wide and sew them end to end to make a long strip. Make 2.

16. Add one strip to the top of the quilt. Add one strip to the bottom of the quilt. Press.

The quilt top is finished!

17. Cut the backing fabric into 2 equal lengths (at least 68″ long).

18. Sew together 17 of the 4 1/2″ segments, side to side. This will form a strip of coins to add in the middle of the quilt back. This serves two purposes…it uses extra pieces from the quilt top, and it also breaks up the repeat of the fabric. This way you don’t have to worry about matching up the pattern when sewing the seam. Piece the backing using the coin strip in the middle with two large panels on either side. Press the seams well.

19. Baste, quilt and bind as desired. I stippled my quilt in cream thread.

One twin sized quilt that measures 64″ x 88″.

Amanda Jean
{Crazy Mom Quilts}

Topsy Turvy Quilt

Dec26

One layer cake – Lily and Will by Bunny Hill Designs

2 7/8 yards background fabric – Bella Solid in Snow

2/3 yard for binding – Posh Green Plaid

3 2/3 yards for backing – Cottontail Green

All seam allowances are 1/4″ throughout.

First, cut the background fabric into 40 strips that measure 2 1/2″ x width of fabric.

Next, choose 30 fabrics from the layer cake. Make sure that they contrast well with the background color.

Then, take one 10″ square and trim small slivers off each side of the block. (I used a dark fabric for the sample block for contrast purposes.) Don’t trim more than 1/2″-3/4″ off each side, or the block will become too small. Just a bit taken off each side is sufficient.

Cut two strips of background fabric approximately the height of the square.

Sew on to the block and press.

Trim off the excess ends of the strip so the ends are even with the rest of the block.

Cut two more strips of background fabric that are slightly wider than the block.

Sew and press.

Using a 12.5″ square, trim around all 4 sides of the block.

The block is finished.

Repeat above steps until all 30 blocks are made.

Layout the blocks in a pleasing arrangement. The layout is 5 blocks across and 6 rows down.

Sew blocks together in rows and then sew the rows together.

Baste, quilt and bind as desired.

Since I used a plaid binding, I cut the strips (2 1/4″) on the bias. A little fiddly, but well worth the final results.

One lap quilt that measures 60″ x 72″.

Amanda Jean
{crazymomquilts}

Figgy Pudding Quilt

Dec8

1 figgy pudding layer cake

1 3/4 yards of a focus fabric for the center panel

3/4 yard for binding
6 3/4 yards background fabric (this will be used for the backing as well)

batting and thread

First, cut your focus fabric. Trim off the selvage edges and square up the ends. The center panel measures 43″ x 63″.

From the background fabric, cut 2 pieces 4″ x 63″. Sew to the sides of your center panels, press your seams.
Cut 2 pieces of 4″ x 50″. Sew to the top and the bottom of your center panel. Trim any excess. (there should be about 1/2″ extra, depending on how exact your seam allowance is.) Press well.
The first border is complete.
Take 7 squares from the layer cake and cut each piece into 4 strips—each 2.5″ wide, for a total of 28 strips. These will be for the next border. Mix up the fabrics so they will be placed randomly around the quilt.
Join 6 strips of fabric end to end. Make 2.

Join 8 strips of fabric end to end. Make 2. Press all seams.

Attach these borders to the sides of the quilt first, centering them along the edge, cutting off the excess after sewing the border on.

Then attach the top and bottom borders, again centering them and then cutting off the excess.

Now, to finish off the quilt, cut 6″ strips for the final border. I cut two pieces 53″ x 6″ for my quilt, but you will want to measure your own quilt top at this point.

When you measure, measure in the center or your quilt, not at the outside edge. This will help prevent wavy borders. Each person’s seam allowances will cause these lengths to vary, that is why I’m recommending this method. My final two borders measured 6″ x 88″. Again, you will want to measure your own quilt at this point for the exact measurement that you will need. After attaching borders, press all seams and the top of your quilt is done! Easy enough, right?

I like to make a pieced backing for my quilts, so I added a little checkerboard to the top and the bottom of the quilt using more of the layer cake pieces. Of course you can skip this step and back the quilt with one fabric if you would like.

To make the pieced back, cut one piece 40″ x 68″ from the background fabric. This will be the center panel of the back.

Select 12 layer cake pieces and cut them into quarters to make 48 5″ squares. (You will have 2 extra.) Also, cut 44 5″ squares from the background color. Assemble them to make a checkerboard 3 blocks high and 15 blocks wide. Make 2.
Attach to the checkerboard strips to the top and the bottom of the center panel.
Cut two more pieces of background fabric 11″ x 68″. Attach to the top and the bottom of the checkerboard strips.

Press well and you are ready to baste your quilt.

I baste my quilts on a tile floor which has a built in grid. It makes it easier to center the front and back of the quilt while keeping everything fairly square. It’s especially helpful in cases like this where both the front and the back are pieced.

To quilt this, I did an all over meander in a sand colored thread.

Bind and enjoy!
Here’s the front, complete:

And the back.

A two sided Christmas quilt that measures 64″ x 88″. Large enough to use on a twin sized bed or perfect for snuggling on the couch.

by amandajean of crazymomquilts

A Sweet Baby Quilt

Sep8

4 Charm Packs-Sweet by Urban Chiks

1/2 yard fabric for binding

Batting that measures at least 47″ x 56″

2 2/3 yards of backing fabric

First, make your template. To do this, I used the cardboard that came in the back of the charm pack. How handy is that? Measure in one inch in from each side at the top and make a dot. Connect that dot to the lower corners and cut out your template.

Using your template, carefully cut out your blocks. You will be using all but 4 charms, so if you care to use those for a different project, set them aside now. You can cut up to 4 charms at a time-any more than that seems to compromise accuracy.

Chose any two blocks…

and prepare to sew them together. They will need to be offset the slightest bit, so when the seam is opened up, the blocks will form a straight line.

Press the seam open. Repeat making rows 13 blocks wide. Make 12 strips of 13.

Layout the rows and make sure they are in a pleasing arrangement. A digital photo really helps for this step.

Take the first two strips, line up the seams, pin at each intersection and sew.

Open up the seam and press.

Continue this until you have sewn all the rows together.

Trim the edges of the quilt square. (You could eliminate the trimming step and bind the angled edges, which would require bias binding.)

And your quilt top is complete.

Baste, quilt and bind.

For quilting, I echoed the seam lines on each side using the edge of my walking foot as a guide.

One sweet baby quilt that measures 45″ x 54″.
by amandajean of crazymomquilts

Stacked Coins Baby Quilt

Feb20

2 charm packs-Soiree by Lila Tueller
1 1/2 yards white fabric for sashing/borders
1/2 yard fabric for binding
1 1/2 yards of fabric for backing
batting that measures 44″ x 55″
quilting thread

please note: 1/4″ seams are used throughout this project.

Cut each charm in half. This will yield 144 “coins”. Each will measure 2.5″ x 5″. (You will use all but 12 coins for this quilt.)

Sew coins together. I found it very helpful to match the pinked edges with pinked edges and straight edges with straight edges when piecing.

Make 5 strips of coins. Each strip is made with 22 rectangles.

Cut 6 pieces of white fabric 3.5″ wide x 44 1/2″ long for the sashing.

If your seam allowances aren’t completely accurate, you may want to measure the length of your patchwork strips and cut the sashing to match.

Sew sashing to the coin strips. Press all seams toward the white.Cut 2 pieces 3.5″ x 41″ for the top and bottom of the quilt. Sew together and press well.

Your quilt top is done!

For the back…

I love adding a patchwork detail to the back of my quilts. It takes a bit more time, but it’s a nice way to tie in the design from the front to the back.

Join 22 coins together and press.