CUDDLE UP
A wrap around flannel binding make this quilt by Nicole Calver a quick, cosy finish!
NOTES
Seam allowances are ¼in, unless otherwise noted. RST = right sides together. WOF = width of fabric. HST = half-square triangle. QST = quarter-square triangle.
FABRICS USED
Fabric A, B and C are all Kaffe Fassett shot cottons. Two of the print fabrics are from Anna Maria Horner’s Dowry collection, whilst the other is by Cotton+Steel. The backing fabric is an Anna Maria Horner flannel from her Folksy Flannel collection.
CUTTING OUT
1
From Fabric A cut two (2) 11½in squares and eight (8) 10½in squares.
2
From Fabric B cut six (6) 11½in squares and one (1) 10½in squares.
3
From Fabric C cut eight (8) 11½in squares.
4
From each of the 8½in print fabric squares cut one (1) 8in diameter circle.
MAKING THE BLOCKS
5
Pair six Fabric B 11½in squares with 11½in Fabric C squares, RST.
6
Pair the remaining 11½in Fabric C squares with the 11½in Fabric A squares, RST.
7
Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the back of one side of each pair. Sew a quarter inch on either side of the drawn line then cut on the drawn line to yield two HSTs per pair. Press seams toward Fabric C.
You should have twelve (12) Fabric B/C HSTs and four (4) Fabric A/C HSTs.
8
Place two Fabric B/C HSTs right sides together. Make sure the opposite fabrics are facing each other (B facing C and C facing B). Draw a diagonal line crossing over the HST seam. Sew ¼in from either side of this line, and cut on the line. Press each unit open for two QST blocks (Fig a).
Repeat this process with another pair of Fabric B/C HSTs for a total of four (4) QSTs.
9
Trim all HSTs and QSTs to 10½in square. When trimming, make sure to align the seams with the 45-degree line on your ruler. Also, make sure the two seams of the QSTs remain in the centre.
ASSEMBLING THE QUILT
10
Arrange your 10½in squares of Fabrics A and B, HSTs and QSTs in five rows of five blocks as shown in the final quilt.
11
Sew all the blocks in each row together, pressing the seams in alternate directions by rows. Then sew all the rows together, nesting the seams. Press the seams to one side.
QUILTING AND BINDING
12
Cut your backing fabric in half and sew along the length. Make a quilt sandwich, taking time to centre the layers. You will need your backing to be at least 3in larger than the quilt on all four sides. Baste.
13
Quilt as desired. We’ve hand quilted with a twelve weight Aurifil thread. If machine quilting, do not quilt past the edge of the quilt top, as we will be using the backing to make a cheater’s binding.
14
Lay the quilt top face down. Pin the backing so it stays out of the way, then flip the quilt over so it’s now face up. Trim the batting so it’s a in larger than the quilt top, all the way around (Fig b).
15
Unpin the backing and lay out flat, with the quilt top face up. Trim the backing fabric so it’s 2in from the quilt top all the way around (Fig c).
16
Working one corner at a time, fold the backing corner in so the diagonal edge of the backing is touching the tip of the batting corner (Fig d), press well.
Unfold the corner and refold so the tip of the backing is now touching the line that was just pressed (Fig e), press again. Refold again on the first line but keep the corner tucked. Repeat on all four corners.
15
Fold the edges up 1in all the way around the quilt, so the edges meet the batting. Then fold the edges 1in under again, press and pin or clip in place (Fig f).
Hand stitch the binding in place to finish. We used the same thread we quilted with to give a bold border.
Don’t forget to also add a few small slip stitches at the corners to hold the mitres in place (Fig g).
ADDING APPLIQUÉ CIRCLES
16
Take one print fabric 8in circle and place RST on a piece of muslin. Sew around the edge of the circle. Decrease the stitch length on your machine to make it easier to sew a nice smooth curve. Trim off the excess muslin and clip notches all around the edge, as shown (Fig h).
17
Pull the muslin away from the print fabric and clip a hole for turning. Turn right side out and press. You may find you need to roll the edges with your fingers to make sure none of the muslin shows.
18
Position the circles on the quilt as shown, baste and then slip stitch around the edges to hold in place. Add hand or machine quilting to decorate the circles, as desired.