Heike Pier « modafabrics

Hi my name is Heike Pier and this was my first time to make something from a layer cake! I thought it would be challenging to make a large project and I didn’t know how I could make something so large with 10” squares.

I named my quilt Little Have Grown as the little squares grew into a large quilt with the help of some black solid fabric.

1 layer cake – Twirl by Me and My Sisters Designs
4 1/2 yards of black solid
4 yards of backing fabric
70” x 76” of batting

Cutting Instructions:

Sort your layer cake into squares you will use for the centre of the blocks and squares you will cut into strips for the borders of the blocks.

You will need 9 squares for the centre of the blocks and the rest of the squares for the borders and binding. I selected all the squares with large motifs for the centre squares and small prints for the borders.

Cut the squares for the centre of the blocks into 4 squares 4 ½”.

Cut the remaining layer cake squares as follows:
Cut 27 of the squares into:

1 strip 2 ½” x 10”
2 strips 1” x 4 ½”
4 strips 1” x 5 ½”
2 strips 1” x 6 ½”

Cut 3 of the squares into:

1 strip 2 ½” x 10”
4 strips 1” x 4 ½”
6 strips 1” x 5 ½”
2 strips 1” x 6 ½”

Cut 3 of the squares into:

1 strip 2 ½” x 10”
2 strips 1” x 4 ½”
6 strips 1” x 5 ½”
4 strips 1” x 6 ½”

From the black solid cut:

20 squares 6 ½”
55 strips 2 ½” x 6 ½”
2 strips 4 ½” x 62 1/2” (*approx for top and bottom – measure your quilt)
2 strips 4 ½” x 60” (*approx for sides – measure your quilt)
strips 2 ½” x width of fabric for sashing (cut as needed)

Make the Blocks
Each block has 2 colour borders.

For the first border you will need 2 strips 1” x 4 1/2” and 2 strips 1” x 5 ½” from the same fabric.

For the second border you will need 2 strips 1” x 5 1/2” and 2 strips 1” x 6 ½” from the same fabric.

Distribute your centre squares and border strips until you are happy with the combinations. I tried to make sure at least one of the borders was the same colour as part of the centre square.

Sew the first border by sewing the 1” x 4 ½” strips to the top and bottom of one of the 4 ½” square and the 1” x 5 ½” strips to the sides of the square.

Sew the second border by sewing the 1” x 5 ½” strips to the top and bottom of one of the square and the 1” x 6 ½” strips to the sides of the square.

Repeat to make 36 blocks.

Add the Sashing
The blocks in the quilt are on point but are pieced in strips. To make the layout more interesting, and to make a larger quilt, intersperse the pieced blocks with black solid squares. You will need 9 black 6 ½” squares in addition to the 36 pieced blocks, to make the quilt.

Arrange your blocks and black squares into strips of 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 7, 5, 3, and 1 as shown.

Sew blocks into rows by sewing the black 2 ½” x 6 ½” strips between the blocks and at both ends of the row.

Cut the remaining black 6 ½” squares in half diagonally and sew to the end of each row.

Sew 2 black half square triangles to either side of a black 2 1/2″ x 6 1/2″ strip for the top left hand corner of the quilt.

Use the black 2 ½” x width of fabric strips to sash the rows. Let the end of the sashing hang over each row and be sure to line up the squares in the rows as shown.

Finishing
Square up the quilt top by trimming the edges of the sashing so the squares are on point.

Measure your quilt top along the top and sides. Add ½” to the measurement for the sides of the quilt for seam allowances and cut 2 black strips 4 ½” x this measurement.

Sew the side strips to the sides of the quilt top.

Add 8 ½” to the measurement for the top and bottom of the quilt to allow for seam allowances and the side borders and cut 2 black strips 4 ½” x this measurement.

Sew the top and bottom strips to the top and bottom of the quilt top.

Layer the quilt top, batting and backing fabric and baste in place. Quilt as desired. I like to hand quilt.
I quilted inside the centre of each square about ½” from the edge. I also quilted through the centre of each sashing strip and added decorative quilting in the black solid squares. I used a variegated thread that matched the colours in the layer cake.