Hi, my name is Alison Tudor of Sew and Tell Quilts. Sunny Steps was inspired by Kate Spain’s Sunnyside line and my love of 3D and geometric designs. While this quilt looks great in these middle volume colors, it also looks great in solids and bold prints. Don’t let paper piecing scare you away from this pattern. This is a very simple paper piecing project. The only tricky part to this quilt is getting all the prints in the right place.
Come and visit me at sewandtellquilts.com any time.
- 3⅛ yards of Bella Solids white (9900-98)
- 1 fat quarter bundle of Sunnyside by Kate Spain
- ¾ yard of Sunnyside Prism Blaze for the middle border
- 2 yards of Sunnyside Skyward Sprig for the outer border and binding (or ½ yard of a different print if you choose to use a contrasting binding)
- 4¼ yards backing fabric
- 72″ x 72″ piece of batting
- Foundation pattern pieces (in Printer Friendly Version)
Pay close attention to the Quilt Layout Diagram as fabric placement is very important. You may choose to cut your strips slightly larger than indicated if you are new to foundation piecing. Make a test block before cutting all of your fabric.
Cutting Directions
Select 32 fat quarters from the bundle. Choose a good mix of light and dark prints.
From middle border fabric, cut 6 strips measuring 2½”” x WOF
From outer border fabric, cut 7 strips measuring 4½” x WOF
From the binding fabric, cut 7 strips measuring 2½” x WOF
Making the Blocks
This quilt looks complicated but consists of two simple blocks, A and B. Don’t let paper piecing scare you. This is an easy paper pieced project, good for a first time paper piecer.
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| Block A |
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| Block B |
Foundation patterns for Blocks A and B can be found in the Printer Friendly file at the bottom of this post.
- Make 32 copies of each of the paper-foundation pattern blocks and trim the pattern to a comfortable size, leaving at least 1/4˝ around the outside cutting line.
- Place a 11” x 3-1/4” rectangle right side up on the blank (unmarked) side of the pattern. Make sure the fabric covers the entire area by at least 1/4˝ on all sides and pin in place. Place a 11” x 2-3/4” white rectangle on top of the print rectangle, right sides together. With the marked side of the paper foundation up and the fabrics on the bottom, sew on the line between areas 1 and
- Fold the paper pattern back and trim the seam allowance to 1/4˝. Open the fabrics so that both pieces are right side up and press.
- Fold the paper back along the next seam line, between areas 2 and 3. Trim the fabric so that it extends 1/4˝ past the folded line. This trimming creates a straight edge upon which you can line up your next fabric piece, making the placement easier.
- Place a 4” x 2-1/2” corner rectangle on top of white piece and sew on the line between areas 2 and 3. Flip open the triangle and press.
- Repeat steps 4 and 5, adding white and print rectangles in numerical order until the pattern is completely covered with fabric pieces. Press the unit.
- Use a rotary cutter to trim away the excess fabric around the block, leaving a 1/4˝ seam allowance all around the outer sewing line. The block should measure 7” square.
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| Quilt Layout Diagram |
Make the Borders
Join the 1 1/2″ wide white strips end to end. Measure the length of the quilt, it should measure 56″, cut two strips to this length. Sew the strips to the sides of the quilt top. Measure the width of the quilt top, it should measure 58″. Cut two strips to this length. Sew the strips to the top and bottom of the quilt top for the inner border.
For middle border join 2 1/2″ wide strips end to end. Measure the length of the quilt, it should measure 58″. Cut two strips to this length. Sew the strips to the sides of the quilt top. Measure the width of the quilt top, it should measure 62″. Cut two strips to this length. Sew the strips to the top and bottom of the quilt top.
For the outer border join 4 1/2″ strips end to end. Measure the length of the quilt, it should measure 62″. Cut two strips to this length. Sew the strips to the sides of the quilt top. Measure the width of the quilt top, it should measure 70″. Cut two strips to this length. Sew the strips to the top and bottom of the quilt top to complete the borders.
Quilt Assembly
Lay out the blocks in 8 rows of 8 blocks each as shown in the quilt layout diagram. Join the blocks in rows and then join the rows. Add the 1 1/2” white inner border, the 2-1/2” middle border and the 4-1/2” outer border. Layer the quilt top with batting and backing; baste.
Quilt as desired. Detail in photo below shows how I quilted mine.
Piece binding strips end-to-end on the bias and press seams. Press in half lengthwise to create single-fold binding. Attach to quilt using your preferred binding method.
This was quilted with a stair-step straight-line pattern. Finished quilt measures 70″ x 70″
Alison Tudor
{www.sewandtellquilts.com}
modafabrics 