Spring Picnic

It’s all done with Bow Tie blocks.

MATERIALS

• 24 assorted fat eighths* • 2/ 3 yard yellow/orange diagonal stripe* • 11/2 yards white solid* • 2 yards yellow floral* • Backing to size • Batting to size • Thread* • Basic sewing tools and supplies *Sundrops and Bella Solids from Moda; Iris Ultra quilting thread by Enmart used to make sample.

CUTTING

From each fat eighth: • Cut 2 each 61/2" A squares and 31/2" C squares. From yellow/orange diagonal stripe: • Cut 8 (21/4" by fabric width) binding strips. From white solid: • Cut 7 (61/2" by fabric width) strips. Subcut strips into 40 (61/2") B squares. From yellow floral: • Cut 9 (61/2" by fabric width) strips. Subcut 2 strips into 8 (61/2") D squares. Set aside 7 remaining strips for E/F borders.

COMPLETING THE BLOCKS

1. Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the wrong side of each C square.

2. Referring to Figure 1, place a C square right sides together on one corner of a B square; stitch on the marked line. Trim seam allowance to 1/4" and press C to the right side to complete one

3. Repeat step 2 with C and D squares to make eight C-D units as shown in Figure 2.

4. To complete one Bow Tie block, select two each same-fabric B-C units and A squares.

5. Sew an A square to a B-C unit to make a row as shown in Figure 3; press. Repeat to make a second row.

6. Join the rows to complete one Bow Tie block as shown in Figure 4; press.

7. Repeat steps 4–6 to complete a total of 16 Bow Tie blocks.

8. Repeat steps 4–6 with two A squares and one each B-C and C-D unit to complete eight Center Bow Tie blocks referring to Figure 5.