LAURA BLYTHMAN QUILT & CUSHION

LEVEL: EASY

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

Squared Edges Quilt

• 1/3yd (30cm) each of 5 Laura Blythman Prints
• 5 Fat 1/4's of Solid fabrics (Dark Blue, Aqua, Pink, Orange, Yellow)
• 1/2 yd (45cm) Binding fabric
• 48in x 52in Batting
• 48in x 52in Backing fabric
• Machine sewing thread
• Rotary Cutter, ruler and mat
• General sewing supplies

Summer Stars Pillow

• 1/2 yd (45cm) Chambray or background fabric of your choice
• Fat 1/4 or 20cm each of 4 Laura Blythman Prints
• Fat 1/4 or 20cm each of 4 Solids (Aqua, Pink, Yellow, Purple)
• 6in (15cm) Binding
• 24in x 24in of Batting
• 1/2 yd (45cm) Backing fabric
• Machine sewing thread
• Erasable marking pen
• Rotary Cutter, ruler and mat
• General sewing supplies
• Size 20 Cushion Insert

Note: Read all pattern instructions before starting 1/4 inch seam allowance included.

SIZE

Quilt Size - 42 1/2 in x 54 1/2 in

Pillow Size - 20 1/2 in x 20 1/2 in

INSTRUCTIONS

SQUARED EDGES QUILT

CUTTING FABRIC

1. From each of 5 Patterned fabrics cut 13 - 5in x 5in squares.
2. From each of the 5 Solids fabrics cut 13 - 2in x 5in rectangles and 13 - 2in x 6 1/2 in rectangles.
3. From the binding fabric cut 6 - 2 1/2 in strips for the binding.

Step 1. Cut Fabrics as per cutting instructions.

Step 2. For each block, you will need one patterned fabric 5in square, 1 - 2in x 5in rectangle and 1 - 2in x 6 1/2 in rectangle. Before you begin you may like to layout the blocks and choose the coloured solids to match up with the prints so that you are happy with the colour placement before sewing. I matched each different print to a Solid fabric colour.

Step 3. To make each block take the patterned square and with right sides together place the 2in x 5in solids rectangle on the right side of the square, lining up the raw edges. Pin and sew in place. Press towards the solid fabric.

Step 4. Pin the same coloured 2in x 6 1/2 in solid fabric with right sides together across the top of the block. Pin in place and sew. Press towards the solid fabric. Repeat steps 3 and 4 to make up all the block units.

Step 5. Lay out your squares in a pattern so that you make 7 columns by 9 rows. Arrange the fabrics to create a diagonal placement of the same matching fabrics and solid prints as shown. (You will have 2 spare blocks leftover)

Step 6. Sew up the squares of your quilt using a 1/4in seam by sewing each of the 7 squares together the make a row. Press the seams in the same direction. Continue sewing each of the rows together pressing alternate rows in the same direction.

Step 7. Once you have sewn all the rows sew them together to complete your quilt top.

BACKING

Lay your backing fabric right side down, 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

I machined quilted the quilt in tramlines, 1/4 inch in from the side of the patterned fabrics. I used a white cotton thread to sew these tramlines.

BINDING

Take the binding strips and join them end to end. Press the seam open. 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, mitring the corners as you go. Stop about 6 inches from where you started. Join the ends and cut off excess. Continue sewing the binding to the quilt top. Trim the backing and batting, fold over the binding and slip stitch into place along the back seam line.

SUMMER STARS PILLOW

CUTTING FABRIC

1. From the Chambray, cut 16 - 3in x 3in squares and 16 - 3 1/2 in x 3 1/2 in squares
2. From each Print cut 4 - 3 1/2 in x 3 1/2 in squares
3. From each Solid fabric colour cut 4 - 3 1/2 in x 3 1/2 in squares
4. From the binding fabric cut 2 - 2 1/2 in strips for the binding
5. From the Backing Fabric cut 2 - 16 1/2 in x 20 1/2 in rectangles

Step 1. Cut Fabrics as per cutting instructions.

Step 2. To make 1 Star Block you will need the following - 4 Chambray 3in squares, 4 Chambray 3 1/2 in squares, 4 - 3 1/2 in fabrics squares from 1 print and 4 - 3 1/2 in fabrics from a solid fabric.

Step 3. To make the centre pinwheel block - draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the wrong side of 2 of the same 3.5in square prints using your erasable marker. Place a marked square on top of the solid print with right sides together. Pin to hold

Step 4. Sew down each side of the marked line using a 1/4in seam. Cut through the diagonal of the square on the marked line and press seam towards the darker fabric. Repeat for the other pair of squares.

Step 5. Trim these squares to 3in. This will make 4 HST (Half Square Triangles) units in total.

Step 6. To make the outside star points - take the 2 remaining squares from print 1, the 2 remaining squares from the solid print and the 4 - 3 1/2 in Chambray squares. Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on each of the fabric prints. Pair each up with a Chambray square and pin to hold.
Step 7. Sew down each side of the marked line using a 1/4in seam. Cut through the diagonal of the square on the marked line and press seam towards the chambray fabric. Repeat for the other 3 squares. This will make 8 - HST units in total.

Step 8. Layout the following fabrics to make the rows

Row 1 - Chambray 3in square, Solid/Chambray HST, Chambray/Print HST, Chambray 3in square.
Row 2 - Chambray/Print HST, Print/Solid HST, Print/Solid HST, Solid/Chambray HST.
Row 3 - Chambray/Solid HST, Solid/Print HST, Solid/Print HST, Print/Chambray HST.
Row 4 - Chambray 3in square, Print/Chambray HST, Chambray/Solid HST, Chambray 3in square. Arrange the star so that the same colour print matches up at the points.

Step 9. Sew each of the 4 squares in each row together pressing alternate rows in the opposite direction. This will mean that when you sew up each row the seams will "nest" and lay nice and flat. Press rows downwards. Your block will measure 10.5in (unfinished)

Step 10. Repeat steps 2-8 to make a total of 4 star blocks.

Step 11. Sew up the squares of your pillow by sewing each of the 2 Blocks together the make a row. Press the seams in the same direction. Sew each of the rows together pressing alternate rows in the same direction.

Step 12. Baste and Quilt your Pillow top - centre the pillow top over the batting, pin to baste then Machine quilt your pillow top. Trim Batting to size.

Step 13. To make the Envelope Back - take the backing rectangles, fold down the backing fabric 1/2 in down from the 20 1/2 in end. Press in place. Now turn over and pin this folded edge down 1in, pin and press in place. Machine stitch down both the folded edges to hold in place. Repeat this for the second backing piece. Take your completed cushion top and the completed back envelope panels.

Place the Front of your cushion down onto the bench (so you can see the wadding), place your first back panel on top of the wadding facing you, matching the raw edges of the side of your cushion front and the raw short edge of your backing. Then lay your second backing piece down along the opposite raw edge also so that the right side is facing you. Pin around the outside edges and sew these three layers together by sewing just in from the raw edges to hold in place to make it easier to sew on your binding.

Step 14. Take the binding strips and join them end to end. Press the seam open. Then press the entire strip in half lengthways with wrong sides facing. Start about half of the way along one side of the pillow, sew the binding strip to the right side of the pillow, mitring the corners as you go. Stop about 6in from where you started. Join the ends and cut off excess. Continue sewing the binding to the pillow top. Fold over the binding and slip stitch into place along the back-seam line.