SUN SOAKED
Combine solid strips into tumbling Courthouse Steps blocks to make a colourful quilt with plenty of movement
Combine solid strips into tumbling Courthouse Steps blocks for a colourful quilt design by Jenn Nevitt that has plenty of movement
WE LOVE THESE COLOUR BLOCK CONTRASTS! HAVE FUN PICKING OUT SOLIDS FROM YOUR STASH
NOTES
■ Seam allowances are ¼in, unless otherwise noted.
■ Press seams away from the centre of the units, unless otherwise instructed.
■ RST = right sides together.
■ WOF = width of fabric.
■ WST = wrong sides together.
■ Fabric supplied by Moda Fabrics (modafabrics.com)
FABRICS USED
Solid fabrics are all from the Bella Cotton Solids collection by Moda:
■ Fabric A – Apricot.
■ Fabric B – Acid Green.
■ Fabric C – Pale Pink.
■ Fabric D – Ruby Ice.
CUTTING OUT
1
From Fabric A cut eighty (80) 1½in x WOF strips. Subcut into two hundred and eighty-eight (288) 4½in x 1½in rectangles and two hundred and eighty-eight (288)
6½in x 1½in rectangles.
2
From Fabric B cut twenty-five (25)
1½in x WOF strips. Subcut into one hundred and forty-four (144) 2½in x 1½in rectangles and one hundred and forty-four
(144) 4½in x 1½in rectangles.
3
From Fabric C cut twenty-five (25)
1½in x WOF strips. Subcut into one hundred and forty-four (144) 2½in x 1½in rectangles and one hundred and forty-four
(144) 4½in x 1½in rectangles.
4
From Fabric D cut nine (9) 2½in x WOF strips. Subcut into one hundred and forty-four (144) 2½in squares.
5
From binding fabric cut eight (8)
2 in x WOF strips.
PIECING THE BLOCKS
6
Take the following:
■ Two (2) 4 in x 1 in Fabric A rectangles.
■ Two (2) 6 in x 1 in Fabric A rectangles.
■ One (1) 2 in x 1 in Fabric B rectangle.
■ One (1) 4 in x 1 in Fabric B rectangle.
■ One (1) 2 in x 1 in Fabric C rectangle.
■ One (1) 4 in x 1 in Fabric C rectangle.
■ One (1) 2 in Fabric D square.
7
Take the 2 in Fabric D square. Join the 2 in x 1 in Fabric C rectangle to one side and the 2 in x 1 in Fabric B rectangle to the other side (Fig 1).
8
With the Fabric C rectangle on the right-hand side, sew one Fabric C
4 in x 1 in rectangle to the bottom of the unit, then sew one Fabric B 4 in x in rectangle to the top (Fig 2).
9
Sew one Fabric A 4 x 1 in rectangle to each side of the unit, then sew the
6 in x 1 in Fabric A rectangles to the top and bottom to complete one block (Fig 3).
10
Repeat steps 6–9 to make a total of one hundred and forty-four blocks.
ASSEMBLING THE QUILT
11
Arrange the blocks into twelve rows of twelve blocks each, orientating them as shown in the photo.
12
Join blocks into rows, then join the rows to complete the quilt top, pressing seams open.
QUILTING AND FINISHING
13
Cut the backing fabric in half across the width. Remove the selvedges and re-join the pieces with a in seam. Press the seam open.
14
Press the quilt top and backing well. Make a quilt sandwich by placing the backing fabric right side down, the batting on top, then the quilt top right side up. Baste using your preferred method.
15
Quilt as desired. Jenn quilted straight diagonal lines approx 1in apart.
16
Trim off the excess batting and backing fabric and square up the quilt.
17
Join the binding strips together end-to-end using diagonal seams. Press the seams open and trim away the dog ears, then fold in half lengthwise, WST, and press.
18
Sew the binding to the front of the quilt, folding a mitre at each corner, then fold it over to the back of the quilt and hand stitch it in place to finish.