JOYFUL NOSTALGIC QUILT

Instructions

WOF: Width of Fabric

All seams are 1/4" unless otherwise stated

100% cotton fabric is used throughout

Preparation and Cutting

Tip: Cut your borders from the Candy Cane and Harlequin print fabrics first.

From the Candy Cane fabric and cutting lengthways down the fabric, fussycut 4, 3 1/2" strips. Put these aside until all the feature blocks are constructed and sewn together.

When you are ready to attach the borders, check measure the quilt across the centre, before cutting the lengths of the border. We all have different seam allowances on our machines and it is wise to check measure first. If all accurate, crosscut 2 strips into 67" X 3 1/2" for the side borders and cut 2 into 63.5" X 3 1/2" for the top and bottom borders.

From remaining Candy Cane fabric, cut 6, 6 1/2" squares for the blocks.

From the Harlequin fabric (WOF) cut 8, 2 1/2" strips for the binding.

Now turn fabric lengthways and for the outer borders, cut 4, 6 1/2" strips down the length of the fabric. Place aside until centre feature blocks are all constructed and sewn together, then check measure your quilt, before cutting finally lengths of border.

If all accurate, cut 2 strips into 73" x 6 1/2" for the side borders, and cut 2 strips into 75.5" x 6 1/2" for the top and bottom borders.

From the remaining Harlequin fabric, cut 6, 6 1/2" squares for the blocks.

From each of the remaining 5 novelty print fabrics, cut 1, 6 1/2" strip. Crosscut into 6, 6 1/2" squares

You will need a total of 42 squares in total.

From the 6 solid fabrics, cut 7, 2 1/4" strips from each colour.

Crosscut each strip into 2, 6 1/2" x 2 1/4" and 2, 10" x 2 1/4" pieces.

Putting it all together

Taking a novelty feature block, stitch a 6 1/2" x 2 1/4" strip to both sides, press seam towards the strip. Next stitch a 10" x 2 1/4" strips to the top and bottom of block. Press seam toward the strip. Repeat for all 42 blocks, mixing your colours as you go.

Lay all your block out in a 6 x 7 grid until you are pleased with the colour layout, and then progress by stitching the blocks together in rows and then stitching the rows together to create the centre block panel. Press.

Tip: Check measure your quilt top across the middle both ways before cutting out the final measurements of the borders.

Cut the Candy Cane borders and attach the sides first, then check measure and cut the top and bottom borders and attach. Press seams towards the border.

Cut the Harlequin borders to the correct length for the sides and attach, then cut the borders for the top and bottom, and stitch those to the quilt. Press your quilt top nice and neat.

Backing and Binding

When you are ready to quilt your Quilt, cut the backing into 2 lengths of 2.5mts, trim off the selvedges on the centre edges and stitch together lengthways to create one large backing piece. 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. Stitch all of the binding lengths together to create one long length. Fold the strip in half, wrong size 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.