Basic Math Quilt

I’ve been a big fan of Brigitte Heitland’s work since I first stumbled across it.  I was thrilled to see her first fabric line, Juggling Summer, and I just love the great colors and prints.  The sort of distressed-looking prints pair so well with the log-cabin inspired prints and the fantastic blenders.  And the colors are the perfect shades of green, purple, orange and turquoise along with black, grey and cream.  I had to have it!

This quilt is called Basic Math because I came up with the idea while I was working on another project.  I didn’t want to switch projects to try out the idea, but I couldn’t stop thinking about whether it would work or not.  I kept saying to myself “Of course it will work, it’s just basic math.”


One layer cake of Juggling Summer
1/2 yard of binding fabric  (I used 1503-30 in purple)

For the back:
1 yard each of 1501 and 1505 in avocado
3/4 yard each of 1502 and 1503 in avocado

Batting:  60″ x 66″

Cutting:

1.        Select 40 squares from the layer cake.

2.       Cut each square 6½” from the left edge and 6½” from the lower edge.  My 6½” ruler is perfect for this!
3.       From the binding fabric, cut 6 2½” strips.

Block Construction:
1.        Your cutting should have resulted in:
·         40 3½” squares
·         80 3½” x 6½” rectangles
·         40 6½” squares

2.       Set the 6½” squares aside for now.  These are the A blocks.
3.       Choosing fabrics at random, sew two of the 3½” x 6½”  rectangles together to make 40 6½”  B/C blocks.
4.       Again, choosing randomly, sew four of the 3½” squares together to make 10 6½” D blocks.
5.       I pressed my blocks to the darker fabric, re-pressing as needed when I put the quilt top together.

Putting the quilt top together:
1.        Separate your B/C blocks into a group of 19 blocks (B) and a group of 21 blocks (C).  In the quilt layout, B blocks are set with the center seam horizontally; C blocks are set with the center seam vertically.

2.       Lay the blocks out according to the diagram.

3.  Sew the blocks together into rows.
4.  Sew the rows together to complete the quilt top.
5.  Press the quilt top.

Back:
1.  From one of the one yard pieces, cut a 36″ x 30″ piece. (Piece W)
2.  From the other one yard piece, cut a 36″ square. (Piece X)
3.  From one of the 3/4 yard pieces, cut a 30″ x 24″ piece. (Piece Y)
4.  From the other 3/4 yard piece, cut a 36″ x 24″ piece. (Piece Z)
5.  Sew Pieces W and X together along the 36″ sides.
6.   Sew Pieces Y and Z together along the 24″ sides.
7.   Matching these seams, sew the two back pieces together. 

Finishing:
1. Layer the quilt top with the backing and batting.
2. Quilt as desired.  My version of Basic Math is quilted in a 3″ grid through the middle of the blocks.
3. Bind with binding strips.

One Basic Math quilt 54″ x 60″

Debbie Grifka
{www.eschhousequilts.com}

Neighbor Girl Quilt

Hello from Jo and Kelli at Jo’s Country Junction. We had a great fun designing and creating this full sized quilt using Zen Chic’s, Juggling Summer, fabric line. The quilt is destined to be a gift for our neighbor girl who is my daughter’s best friend, Regan. She is the sweetest gal you could know.
Good news, too… There is a giveaway of a Juggling Summer Fat Quarter bundle happening on my blog so follow this link and check it out.

Fat Quarter Bundle of Zen Chic

5 1/4 Yards Black Accent Fabric 1503 25
2 3/4 Yards Cream Fabric 1503 27
6 Yards Backing Fabric for Backing and Border

The cutting instructions make use of an Easy Angle Ruler.  If you aren’t familiar with using the ruler.  Here is a tutorial to help you.

Cutting Instructions:
From the black accent fabric:
Cut 10 ~ 1 1/2″ strips.  Sub cut into 272 1 1/2″ squares.
Cut 28 ~ 2 1/2″ strips.  Sub cut into 360 triangles using a Companion Angle Ruler.
Cut 8 ~ 4″ strips for the border.

From the cream fabric:
Cut 30 ~ 2 1/2″ strips.  Sub cut into 720 triangles using an Easy Angle Ruler
Cut 10 ~ 1 1/2″ strips.  Sub cut into 78 ~ 1 1/2″ X 4 1/2″ rectangles.  Sub cut 8 ~ 2 1/2″ x 1 1/2″ rectangles.  Sub cut 4 ~ 1 1/2″ squares.

From the fat quarter bundle:
Set aside the creamy fabrics and the black fabric that matches the accent color.

From the remaining fat quarters:
Cut each fat quarter into 2 1/2″ strips.  Layer two of the pieces wrong sides together.  THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.  The blocks need mirror image pieces and the best way to get them is to have your fabric wrong sides together when you cut.

Using the companion angle ruler cut triangles.

Again layer two pieces on top of each other.  Using a companion angle ruler cut off the corner.  After the corner is cut off, position a ruler on the pieces as shown lining the ruler up on the two inch line.  Cut.

Continue cutting.

Each block needs four of the companion angle triangles and four of the parallelograms.  You will also need eight white triangles.

You can get five blocks from each fat quarter.  You will need a total of 90 blocks all together.

Sewing these blocks together is a little tricky.

When sewing the parallelograms, pieces need to be placed as shown.

Start by making the inner *56* blocks.  (The outer blocks are just a little different)

Sew the pieces together in strips as shown.

  

Sew the strips together to create the block.

Make 56 of them.

Now we need to make the *16* side blocks.

Make strips as you did before.  But this time, you will need to create the small black edge triangle pieces on each strip.  To do that, lay a black square on the corner.  Sew on the diagonal.

Trim and press open.

Create the shown strips.

Sew the strips together to create the block.

Next we need the top and bottom blocks.  There are *14* of them.

Create using the same methods adding two black triangles to the blocks as shown.

Next we need the corner blocks.  Create them using the same methods.  You need *2* like this.

You need *2* like this.

Lay the quilt out making sure to keep the inner blocks in the inside, the top and side blocks in place and the corner blocks in place.  Sew in rows.  Then sew the rows together to create the inner quilt top.

Time to make the inner border.  It is made using the 1 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ cream pieces and the 1 1/2″ x 1 1/2″ black squares.

Create 78 of these.  Sew them together in strip sets.  2 sets of 17 each and 2 sets of 19 each.

Using the 2 1/2″ x 1 1/2″ cream rectangles and the 1 1/2″ black squares create 4 of these and 4 of these.

Add one to each end of the border strips using the diagram below as a guide.  Make sure to match your seams.

Attach the long inner border pieces to the quilt.

Sew the cream 1 1/2″ squares to the remaining inner border strips.  Attach the strips to the quilt.

Sew the outer border pieces together.  Add the outer borders.

Cut the backing piece in half.  Seam the two pieces to create a backing.

Sandwich the top, batting and backing.  Quilt as desired.  Bind by cutting 2 1/2″ strips from the leftover backing fabric.  Bind.

Grab a good book, a cup of coffee and cozy in with this gorgeous quilt! Measures approximately 83″ x 91″

Jo and Kelli Kramer
{joscountryjunction.com}

120-Minute Gift: Zen Tote

8 strips from your favorite jelly roll (or 24 12” sections of jelly roll strips if you prefer a scrappier look)
½ yard of fabric for lining
Wooden handles
Fusible or sew-in interfacing
¼” steam-a-seam double-sided fusible tape

Step 1. Select 8 strips for your tote exterior panels. Cut each Jelly roll strip into three 11.5 ” segments. If you prefer a scrappier look for your tote, select 24 different 11.5” segments of 2.5” strips.

Step 2. From each 11.5” segment cut one 6.5” rectangle and two 2.5” squares.

Step 3. Arrange your tote exteriors. Create the plus sign layout by overlapping the squares as shown and alternating squares and rectangles across columns.

Step 4. Continue to build your layout until you have a square made from 8 columns. As you get to the top and bottom of your columns, you may have pieces of rectangles that extend beyond your panel and will require trimming. Once you have an arrangement you are happy with, sew together the patchwork to make the exterior panels.

Step 5. Line the exterior panels with fusible or sew in interfacing and trim to 16.5” square. Next cut two 16.5” squares from your lining fabric. Shape both exterior and interior panels by rounding the bottom corners and narrowing the top 6” of the square to fit the width of your wooden handles.

Step 6. Use your double sided fusible tape to fold down a ¼” seam along the 6” which you narrowed to accommodate the wooden handles for the left and right side of all panel pieces.

Step 7. Sew the exterior panels, right sides together beginning from the bottom of the narrowed seam on one end and ending at the bottom of the narrowed seam at the other end. Leave the top 6” of the panel which you’ve folded over with fusible tape open. Repeat this step with the interior panels right sides together.

Step 8. Turn the exterior of the tote right side out and place the lining inside. Align the seams which have been fused together and topstitch all around to secure the lining to the exterior of the bag.

 
Step 9. Bring the top of the bag through the opening of your wooden handles about 1” and fold the raw edge under about ¼”. Machine or hand sew in place to complete your tote.

The perfect tote to give or keep for yourself!

Vanesa @ New Nest
{www.newnestdesigns.com}

30-Minute Gift: Business Card or Mini Wallet

 Hi! This is Kim with Lily Patch Quilts. I am sew happy to be back with another quick and fun tutorial just in time for holiday gift giving.

2 coordinating fat quarters 

1/8 yard heavy weight fusible interfacing

2 – 1/2″-5/8″sets of heavy duty snaps

Snap setting tools 

Marking tool

Medium size spool of thread (rounding corners)

Cut 2  – 4 1/2″ x 7 1/2″ from each fat quarter (2 lining, 2 outer wallet)

Cut – 4 – 4 1/2″x 7 1/2″ heavy weight interfacing 

Step 1

Iron interfacings to the wrong sides of all fabric pieces. Take the spool of thread and place at the corner where your flap will be. Mark around one side of the spool and cut on the marked line to create a rounded corner.

Here are the lining and outer pieces with the flap trimmed.

Step 2

Take the outer wallet piece with the straight side, use the socket and place a mark 1″ from the straight edge. Punch or cut out the hole. Assemble the socket and cap post according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Hammer  until the stud and post is in place. I used the tools that came with the snap plus a craft hammer. Make sure to place the snaps on a really hard surface like hardwood or tile.

Step 3

Place the lining and outer piece right sides together. 

Sew all the way around, leaving an opening large enough to turn. Clip corners.

Step 4

Turn right side out. Press to remove wrinkles. Make sure the opening is pressed even with the side seams.

Step 5

Mark a line 2 1/2″ from the straight edge.

Fold the straight edge up to form a pocket. Pin and sew around 3 sides, starting at the bottom corner and sewing around the flap to the opposite corner.

Step 6

Fold the flap down and press to make an indention on the flap. Mark a hole in the center of the indentation, cut or punch out the hole. 

Insert the socket and cap into the flap. Following the manufacturer’s instructions. Hammer the socket and cap until it’s in place. Press the flap area avoiding the snap to help the flap to lay flat.

 

Your business card/mini wallet is finished. 

This will make 2 business card or mini wallet. I called this a business card/mini wallet because it’s so versatile. It will hold money, business cards or gift cards. This will make a great stocking stuffer.

I would love to have you post your business card/mini wallet in the MBS’ flickr group and Lily Patch Quilts flickr group.

Kim Sherrod

{Lily Patch Quilts}

Juggling Charms Quilt

Hi, We’re Connie and Mary from Country Threads Quilt Shop.  We are new to Moda Bake Shop, but we certainly are not new to Moda Precuts. We’ve written 2 books using Charm Packs: Country Threads Goes to Charm School and Back to Charm School.  Here’s a quick, easy throw we made with Charms. You can WIN a kit for this quilt by signing up on our blog, “Chicken Scratch“.

1 Charm Pack

7/8 yard solid for blocks green background blocks
5/8 yard for sashing and border
1/8 yard for black cornerstones
3/8 yard for binding
3 yards for baking

To cut the quilt, pick 36 charms to use for the blocks. 
Pick 2 charms for cornerstones. Cut 4 2-1/2″ x 2-1/2″ squares from each.  Continue cutting as follows.

  Piece        Color         Cutting
   1            Charms       36 squares, trim to 4-1/2″ x 4-1/2″
   2            Solid           36 rectangles, 2-1/2″ x 4-1/2″
   3            Solid           36 rectangles, 2-1/2″ x 6-1/2″
   4            Solid           12 rectangles, 2-1/2″ x 12-1/2″
   5           Charm           4 squares, 2-1/2″ x 2-1/2″
   6           Charm           4 squares, 2-1/2″ x 2-1/2″
   7           Solid             4 rectangles, 2-1/2″ x 40-1/2″

Sewing Instructions:

1.  Sew Piece #2 to Piece #1 to create Unit 1

2.  Sew Piece #3 to Unit 1 to create block..
 
3.  Repeat steps 1 and 2 to make 36 blocks. 
4.  Sew 4 blocks together, as shown making 9 sets.

5.  Sew sashing strips to the blocks.

6.  Referring to the quilt layout diagram, assemble quilt top.

6.  Piece together the backing.
7.  Layer quilt top, batting and backing.
8.  Quilt as desired.
9.  Cut 5 strips for binding, 2-1/4″ x 44″ each.

10.  Bind quilt.

Makes a 44″ x 44″ quilt.

It looks like Telly and Faye love the quilt.  We hope you do too!

Country Threads has been a full service quilt shop in a chicken coop on a farm in North Central Iowa for almost 30 years. A kit for this fun quilt is available for $38.95 at the shop or online at www.countrythreads.com.

Mary Etherington and Connie Tesene
{www.countrythreads.com}