CHRISTMAS BLACK METALLICS QUILT

Instructions

WOF: Width of Fabric

All seams are 1/4" unless otherwise stated

100% cotton fabric is used throughout

Step 1 - Preparation and cutting

From each of the 7 fabrics, cut 3 strips at 4 1/2" wide (WOF) and then crosscut each strip into 4, 4 1/2" x 8 1/2" rectangles, making a total of 12 rectangles from each fabric. This will give you a total of 84 rectangles. You will only need 71 rectangles for this quilt, so this gives you lots of variety to play with. And you could always make your quilt bigger if you desire, but be mindful of sizes of wadding and backing if you do.

For the binding, cut 5, 2 1/2" strips from the black dot Christmas fabric.

Take all the rectangles, and lay them out on a design wall or floor and then trying to avoid placing identical fabrics next to each other, lay out the rectangles, making sure your dark and light fabrics are evenly placed to create a pleasing effect.

Create a pattern of 13 rows, with the first row having 5 rectangles, the 2nd row having 6 rectangles and then alternating as before until you have the 13 rows. Bear in mind the 2nd rows with the 6 rectangles will be moved off centre to create the subway tile effect and will be trimmed after you have stitched them together.

Step 2 - Putting it all together

For each row, stitch the rectangles together along the short edge, remembering to sew with a 1/4" seam, and pressing the seams open as you finish each row. Continue this method until you have completed the 13 rows.

Next, take the first and second row and pin the row together, offsetting the second row so that the seam sits in the middle of the rectangle from the previous row, creating that subway tile look. Repeat for all the other rows, stitching them together in pairs. Next, trim the ends of those second rows, so that they become the same length as the first rows.

Now stitch all the rows together to make the whole quilt top.

Press to finish.

Step 3 - Backing and binding

When you are ready to quilt your Quilt, press the backing and quilt top so they are nice and flat, then create a quilt sandwich, with the back, wadding and front, pinned together using safety pins. Your quilt is then ready to machine quilt. Or alternatively, you could take it to your long-arm quilter to finish for you.

When your Quilt has been quilted, it is ready to put the binding on, so stitch all of the binding lengths together to create one long length. Fold the strip in half, wrong sides together, and press down the length of the binding. Stitch the binding to the front edge of the quilt using a 1/4" seam, mitring the corners as you go. Hand stitch the binding to the back of your Quilt. And lastly, don't forget to label and date your quilt.