Celebrate Baby

Half-square triangle pinwheels dance across this fun quilt. Its cotton-candy colors are perfect for a new baby.

MATERIALS

• 1/8 yard each 10 different pastelcolored prints • 1/4 yard yellow dot • 1/3 yard pink tonal • 1/2 yard green print • 1 yard white print • 11/3 yards yellow baby print • Backing to size • Batting to size • Thread • Basic sewing tools and supplies

CUTTING

From the 10 pastel-colored prints: • Cut 102 (33/ 8") squares. Separate out 23 matching sets of 2. Cut these in half on 1 diagonal to make 23 sets of 4 matching B triangles for pinwheels. Cut the remaining 56 squares in half on 1 diagonal to make 112 B triangles for borders. From yellow dot: • Cut 5 (11/2" by fabric width) strips. Trim 2 strips to 11/2" x 35" for G.

Set aside remaining 3 strips for F. From pink tonal: • Cut 4 (13/4" by fabric width) strips. Trim 2 strips to 13/4" x 351/2" for D and the remaining 2 strips to 13/4" x 28" for E. From green print: • Cut 5 (21/4" by fabric width)

binding strips. From white print: • Cut 2 (51/2" by fabric width) strips. Subcut strips into 12 (51/2")

C squares. • Cut 5 (33/ 8" by fabric width) strips. Subcut strips into 46 (33/ 8") squares. Cut each square in half on 1 diagonal to make 92 A triangles. From yellow baby print: • Cut 2 (4" x 45") H strips along length

of fabric. • Cut 2 (4" x 42") I strips along length

of fabric.

COMPLETING THE PINWHEEL BLOCKS

1. Select four same-fabric B triangles and four A triangles. 2. Sew A to B along the diagonal to make an A-B unit as shown in Figure 1; press seam toward B. Repeat to make four matching A-B units. 3. Join two A-B units to make an A-B row as shown in Figure 2; press seam toward the B side. Repeat to make two A-B rows.

4. Join the two A-B rows referring to the block drawing to complete one Pinwheel block; press seam to one side. 5. Repeat steps 1–4 to complete a total of 23 Pinwheel blocks.

COMPLETING THE QUILT

1. Join three Pinwheel blocks with two C squares to make an X row as shown in Figure 3; press seams toward C. Repeat to make five X rows. 2. Join four Pinwheel blocks with one C square to make a Y row, again referring to Figure 3; press seams toward C. Repeat to make two Y rows. 3. Join the X and Y rows to complete the pieced center, referring to the Placement Diagram for positioning.

4. Sew a D strip to opposite long sides and E strips to the top and bottom of the pieced center; press seams toward D and E strips.

5. Join two B triangles along the diagonal to make a B unit as shown in Figure 4; press seam to one side. Repeat to make a total of 56 B units.

6. Join 15 B units alternating the direction of the diagonal seams to make a side strip as shown in Figure 5; press seams in one direction. Repeat to make two side strips.

7. Sew a side strip to opposite sides of the pieced center, referring to the Placement Diagram for positioning of strips; press seams toward D strips.

8. Repeat steps 6 and 7 with 13 B units, and sew strips to the top and bottom of the pieced center; press seams toward E strips.

9. Join the F strips on the short ends with right sides together to make one long strip. Subcut strip into two 11/2" x 43" F strips.

10. Sew F strips to opposite long sides and G strips to the top and bottom of the pieced center; press seams toward F and G strips.

11. Sew H strips to opposite long sides and I strips to the top and bottom of the pieced center; press seams toward H and I strips to complete the pieced top.

12. Create a quilt sandwich referring to Quilting Basics on page 110. 13. Quilt as desired. 14. Bind edges referring to Quilting Basics on page 110 to finish. QW