Sweet Spring Vibes

Create a plaid design with 5" squares.

MATERIALS

• 8 (5") precut squares each of 5 light solids: yellow, pink, blue, green and purple*

• 8 (5") precut squares each of 5 dark solids: yellow, pink, blue, green and purple*

• 11/ 8 yards light blue solid*

• Backing to size

• Batting to size

• Thread

• Basic sewing tools and supplies

*Bella Solids from Moda used to make sample.

PROJECT NOTE

Usable fabric width for yardage must be at least 41" for cutting instructions given.

CUTTING

From each light & dark solid: • Cut 2 squares into 2 each 1"x 5" A strips and 4"x 5" B strips (10 each light A and B strips total and 10 each dark A and B strips total).

• Cut 2 squares into 2 each 11/2" x5" C strips and 31/2" x5" D strips (10 each light C and D strips total and 10 each dark C and D strips total).

• Cut 2 squares into 2 each 2"x 5" E strips and 3"x 5" F strips (10 each light E and F strips total and 10 each dark E and F strips total).

• Cut 2 squares into 4 (21/2" x5") G strips

(20 each light and dark G strips total). From light blue solid:

• Cut 4 (41/4" by fabric width) strips. Trim strips to make 2 each 41/4" x 401/2" H strips and 41/4" x 40" I strips.

• Cut 5 (21/4" by fabric width) binding strips.

COMPLETING THE PIECED UNITS

1. Select one each A and B strip of a light and dark of the same color, for example, light pink A and dark pink B. Sew together on a 5" edge to complete a unit 1 as shown in Figure 1; press. Repeat with dark A and light B strips of the same color to make a reverse unit 1, again referring to Figure 1.

2. Repeat step 1 to complete a total of two each unit 1’s, and reverse unit 1’s of each color. Press the seams on alternate strips in opposite directions so that the seams will nest together. This may mean re-pressing some strips when piecing the quilt center.

3. Select one each C and D strip of a light and dark of the same color, for example, light purple C and dark purple D. Sew together to complete a unit 2 as shown in Figure 2; press. Repeat with dark C and light D strips of the same color to make a reverse unit 2, again referring to Figure 2.

4. Repeat to make a total of two each unit 2’s and reverse unit 2’s of each color.

5. Select one each E and F strip of a light and dark of the same color, for example, light blue E and dark blue F. Sew together to complete a unit 3 as shown in Figure 3; press. Repeat with dark E and light F strips of the same color to make a reverse unit 3, again referring to Figure 3. 6. Repeat to make a total of two each unit 3’s and reverse unit 3’s of each color.

7. Select one G each of a light and dark color, for example, light yellow G and dark yellow G. Sew together to complete unit 4 as shown in Figure 4; press. Repeat to make four unit 4’s of each color.

COMPLETING THE QUILT

1. Select all the pink units and reverse pink units, and arrange and join in two rows of eight units each as shown in Figure 5. Note: The rows should measure 5" x 321/2" when finished.

2. Repeat step 1 with remaining units and reverse units to make two rows of each color.

3. Select one yellow row and cut into one each 1½" x 32½" and 3½" x 32½" strip as shown in Figure 6.

4. Cut the second yellow row to make two 2½" x 32½" strips, again referring to Figure 6.

5. For the remaining rows, cut one row of each color into 1½" x 32½" and 3½" x 32½" strips as shown in Figure 7. Cut the second row of each color into 2" x 32½" and 3" x 32½" strips.

6. Arrange and join the strips referring to Figure 8 to complete the pieced center; press.

7. Sew an H strip to opposite long sides and I strips to the top and bottom of the pieced center; press.

8. Create a quilt sandwich referring to Quilting Basics on page 94. 9. Quilt as desired.

10. Bind edges referring to Quilting Basics on page 94 to finish.