How to make a quilt with Jemima Flendt from Tied with a Ribbon

As part of this years' Quilting Expo, Spotlight has partnered with Jemima Flendt from Tied with a Ribbon to create this beautiful free quilt pattern. This Folk Floral quilt is the perfect quilt project for any quilters out there looking for a fun intermediate project. With easy to follow steps and everything you need listed down below, making your own quilt has never been easier! Jemima designs and creates quilts and sewing patterns for her label Tied With A Ribbon, which specialises in fun designs that pack a punch! She loves teaching quilting and sewing classes, so take the opportunity to learn some new skills from the best.

Here's what you'll need and how you'll do it:

Folk Floral Quilt Pattern

• Quilt Finished Size - 66½in x 66½in (1.7m x 1.7m)
• ¼inch seam allowance included
• Read all instructions before starting
• Fabric measurements based on fabric 42in/110cm wide (WOF - Width of Fabric)
• Skill Level - Intermediate

Materials

• 65cm Folk Floral
• 35cm Light Pink Homespun
• 35cm Grey Homespun
• 65cm Mustard Homespun
• 45m Rose Pink Homespun
• 2m White Homespun
• 50cm Binding fabric
• 2m Batting
• 4m Backing fabric or 2m Wideback fabric
• Rotary Cutter, ruler and mat (see detailed list below)
• General sewing supplies (see detailed list below)
• Sewing machine with ¼ inch and walking foot

Tools and Equipment

• 6½in x 24in Sew Easy Patchwork Ruler
• 6½in x 6½in Sew Easy Patchwork Ruler
• Prima Binding Ruler
• Glass Head Pins (Sew Easy)
• Quilt Tags - 3 assorted designs (Sew Easy)
• Vanishing Fine Line Fabric Marker (Sew Easy)
• Quilters Holding Clips (Sew Easy)
• 45mm Rotary Cutter (Sew Easy)
• Rotary Blade set (Sew Easy)
• Sew Easy 100% Cotton Thread
• Birch Double Sided Cutting Mat (43cm x 58cm)
• Sew Easy Wool Pressing Mat

Cutting Instructions

From the Folk Floral fabric cut:

2 - 6½in strips x WOF. Sub cut into 9 - 6½in squares.

3 - 3½in strips x WOF. Sub cut into 36 - 3½in squares.

From the Light Pink fabric cut:

6 - 2in strips x WOF. Sub cut into 36 - 2in x 6½in rectangles.

From the Grey fabric cut:

6 - 2in strips x WOF. Sub cut into 36 - 2in x 6½in rectangles.

From the Mustard fabric cut:

7 - 3¾in strips x WOF. Sub cut into 72 - 3¾in squares.

From the Rose Pink fabric cut:

9 - 3½in strips x WOF. Sub cut into 36 - 3½in squares and 36 - 3½in x 6½in rectangles.

6 - 3¾in strips x WOF. Sub cut into 36 - 3¾in x 6¾in rectangles.

From the LENGTH (cut along the selvedge) of the White Homespun cut:

6 - 3½in strips x Length of Fabric. Sub cut into 4 - 3½in x 60½in strips and 2 - 3½in x 66½in strips.

From the remaining WIDTH (cut selvedge to selvedge) of the White Homespun cut:

6 - 3½in x 18½in strips. (Sashing strips)

From the Binding fabric cut:

7 - 2½in strips x WOF.

Instructions

1. Cut out fabrics as per cutting instructions. To make 1 Folk Floral block you will need the following pieces.

1 - 6½in folk floral square

4 - 3½in folk floral squares

4 - 2in x 6½in light pink rectangles

4 - 2in x 6½in grey rectangles

8 - 3¾in mustard squares

4 - 3½in rose pink squares

4 - 3½in x 6½in rose pink rectangles

4 - 3¾in x 6¾in rose pink rectangles

2. Take the 4 - 2in x 6½in light pink rectangles and 4 - 2in x 6½in grey rectangles. With one of each, place these right sides together, pinning along the 6½in length. Sew this seam and press seam open to make a pair. Repeat with the other light pink and grey rectangles to make 4 pairs. Set these aside.

3. You are now going to make the Flying Geese. Take a 3¾in mustard fabric square and draw a diagonal line from corner to corner. Lay the square (right sides together) on the left-hand side of a rose pink fabric 3¾in x 6¾in rectangle. Pin in place and machine sew on the marked line. Trim away ¼in from sewn line and press mustard fabric outwards. Repeat for the right-hand side. Trim block to 3½in x 6½in.

This is a Flying Geese unit and you will need to repeat step 3, with the remaining 3¾in mustard squares and 3¾in x 6¾in rose pink rectangles to make 4 Flying Geese units in total.

4. Begin constructing the block by taking the 6½in folk floral square, 2 of the light pink/grey units and 2 flying geese units. Lay the pieces out in a row as below. Pin and sew the row together. Press the seams open.

5. Take the remaining blocks and arrange as shown. Pin and sew together the 3½in folk floral and rose pink squares. Press seam open. To the top of these squares, pin and sew the 3½in x 6½in rose pink rectangle, press seam open. Make sure to turn the 2^nd folk floral square to mirror the first side. Pin and sew together the flying geese unit and the pink/grey rectangle, press seam open. Repeat step 5 to make a second complete unit.

6. Take the three made rows, pin and sew together, pressing seams open. This is one complete folk floral block. You will need to repeat steps 1 - 6 to make 9 in total. Blocks should measure 18½in x 18½in (unfinished).

7. With your completed blocks you will now be adding your sashing. Take the 6 - 3½in x 18½in strips cut from the white homespun. Pin and sew 3 folk floral blocks together with these white sashing strips between the blocks. Press seams open. Repeat to make another 2 rows.

8. With 2 - 3½in x 60½in strips, pin and sew these between the sewn rows, together. Press seams open. You will now have a quilt centre put together. Pin and sew the 3½in x 60½in left and right hand border strips to the quilt. Press seams open. Pin and sew the 3½in x 66½in top and bottom border strips to your quilt, press seams open. Your quilt top is now finished.

Backing

Lay your backing fabric right side down and with masking tape, tape it in place. Then centre the batting and lay the quilt top right side up over the top. Smooth out the quilt top and pin the three layers together.

Quilting

Machine or hand quilt your quilt as desired. For those that would prefer their quilt finished professionally, Spotlight offers a Long Arm Machine Quilting service.

Binding

Take the binding strips and join them end-to-end. Press them in one direction. Then, press the entire strip in half lengthways with wrong sides facing. Start about half of the way along one side of the quilt, sew the binding strip to the right side of the quilt, mitering the corners (step 1 and 2 diagrams) as you go. Stop about 6in from where you started. Join the ends and cut off excess. Continue sewing the binding to the quilt top. Trim the batting and backing, fold over the binding and slip stitch into place along the back seam line.

Display your finished quilt by hanging it against a wall, or drape it over your bed or couch for a less formal look.

Inspired to make more? Check out Jemima's downloadable patterns for purchase here.

Spotlight's Quilting Expo runs from the 12th to the 30th of May 2022 - create and upload your own 12-inch quilted block to Instagram using #quiltwithspotlight for a chance to win a $500 Spotlight voucher!