Color Therapy Throw

Simple Nine-Patch blocks, each constructed in a different color with white in the center, will give you endless options for layout. Add some appliqué, and you have a treasure.

MATERIALS

• Assorted scraps: yellow, orange, red, pink, blue, turquoise, purple, green and leaf green • Assorted 21/4" by 10"–20" scrap

strips to total 240" for binding • 1/3 yard green dot • 21/3 yards white tonal • 37/8 yards backing • Batting 66" x 66" • Thread • Sizes 8, 12 and 16 assorted colors

pearl cotton • 1 yard lightweight nonwoven

interfacing • 1/2"-wide bias pressing bar • Geometry compass • Template material • Pinking shears • Basic sewing tools and supplies

CUTTING

Template located on page 65. From assorted scraps: • Cut 24 (3") A squares each assorted yellow, orange, red, pink, blue, turquoise and leaf green scraps to total 168 A squares. • Cut 16 (3") A squares each from assorted purple and green scraps to total 32 additional A squares. • Cut 16 (11/2") C squares total from

assorted scraps. • Cut appliqué pieces as per pattern and

instructions. From green dot: • Cut 15/8"-wide bias strips from green dot to total four 24" strips when joined for vines.

From white tonal:

• Cut 2 strips each along the length of the fabric 81/2" x 42" for E and 81/2" x 581/2" for F. • Cut 3 (3" by the remaining fabric width) strips.

Subcut strips into 24 (3") B squares. • Cut 3 (8" by the remaining fabric width) strips. Subcut strips into 40 (11/2" x8") D sashing strips and 1 (5") B square to total 25 B squares.

COMPLETING THE NINE- PATCH BLOCKS

1. Select one B square and eight A squares from one color family.

2. Arrange and join the A and B squares in rows referring to Figure 1; press.

3. Join the rows to complete one Nine-Patch block referring to Figure 2; press. 4. Repeat steps 1–3 to make a total of 25 Nine-Patch blocks.

COMPLETING THE PIECED TOP

1. Arrange and join five Nine-Patch blocks with four D strips to make a block row; press seams toward D. Repeat to make a total of five block rows.

2. Join five D strips with four C squares to make a sashing row; press seams toward D. Repeat to make a total of four sashing rows.

3. Join the sashing rows with the block rows to complete the pieced center; press seams toward sashing rows.

4. Sew E strips to the top and bottom, and F strips to opposite sides of the pieced center; press seams toward strips.

COMPLETING THE APPLIQUÉ

1. Join green dot bias strips as necessary to make four 15/8" x 24" strips.

2. Fold each bias strip in half wrong sides together along the length and stitch with a scant 1/4" seam; trim seam to 1/8".

3. Insert bias pressing bar inside one stitched bias strip and press with seam centered on one side to make a vine strip referring to Figure 3. Repeat with each strip to make a total of four vine strips.

4. In bottom right corner, starting 91/4" in from right side and 3" up from the bottom, pin and stitch one vine strip in a gentle curve along the E border strip as shown in Figure 4.

5. Repeat step 4 with a second vine strip starting 101/4" up from the bottom and 3" in from the right side, referring to Figure 5. 6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 with a second set of vine strips on the top left corner of the pieced center. 7. To prepare circle flowers, use a compass to draw circle shapes on the template material in the following sizes: 11/4", 11/2", 21/2", 31/2" and 5". Cut out templates on drawn lines.

8. Choose fabric scraps for flower centers and flowers. Using prepared templates, trace the following sizes onto the wrong sides of the chosen scraps (do not cut out): two 5" flowers with two each 11/4" and 21/2" centers, 10 (31/2") flowers with 10 (11/2" centers), and four 21/2" flowers with four 11/4" centers.

9. Pin a marked scrap piece right sides together with the lightweight interfacing and stitch on the traced circle line all around as shown in Figure 6.

10. Cut out circle close to, but not through, the stitching line using pinking shears.

11. Repeat steps 9 and 10 with remaining traced circles.

12. Cut a slash in the interfacing side only and turn each circle right side out through the slash; press edges smooth and flat.

13. Pin the flower centers to the flowers referring to step 8 for size combinations; hand-stitch in place.

14. Prepare 20 leaf shapes in the same manner as for flowers using pattern provided.

15. Arrange and hand-stitch the flowers and leaf shapes on the previously stitched vine strips to complete the throw top as shown in Figure 7.

COMPLETING THE THROW

1. Sandwich the batting between the pieced top and a prepared backing piece; pin or baste layers together to hold. Quilt flower shapes and centers of blocks using larger quilting stitches and pearl cotton in various colors to match blocks or scraps. Quilt vein lines in leaves referring to leaf pattern.

2. When quilting is complete, trim batting and backing fabric even with raw edges of the pieced top.

3. Join binding strips on the short ends to make a 250"-long strip; press seams open. Fold the binding strip with wrong sides together along length; press.

4. Sew binding to the edges, mitering corners and overlapping ends. Fold binding to the back side and stitch in place to finish.