Magnolias for Christmas

This simple wall hanging is all about the fabric choices. Pick a gorgeous collection and watch it come together.

MATERIALS

• 6" square red tonal* • 5 coordinating holiday print and tonal fat quarters for fabrics 2, 3, 7, 8 and 9* • 1 fat quarter green tonal* • 3/ 8 yard each 3 black coordinating

holiday prints for fabrics 1, 5 and 6* • 3/ 8 yard red/cream print for fabric 4* • 1/2 yard black solid • 5/ 8 yard cream tonal* • Backing to size • Batting to size* • Batting scraps for magnolia pieces • Thread • Template material • Basic sewing tools and supplies

*Magnolia Metallics fabric collection from Moda; Heirloom Cotton batting from Hobbs used to make sample.

CUTTING

Prepare templates for the small leaf, large leaf/petal and circle pieces using patterns given. Cut pieces as per patterns and assemble as per instructions.

From coordinating fat quarters:

Refer to Figure 1 for fabric positioning by number. • Cut 3 (41/2" x 20") strips fabric 2. Subcut strips into 9 (41/2") fabric 2 squares. • Cut 3 (41/2" x 20") strips fabric 3. Subcut strips into 11 (41/2") fabric

3 squares. • Cut 3 (41/2" x 20") strips fabric 7. Subcut strips into 10 (41/2") fabric

7 squares. • Cut 1 (41/2" x 20") strip fabric 8. Subcut strip into 4 (41/2") fabric

8 squares. • Cut 2 (41/2" x 20") strips fabric 9. Subcut strips into 7 (41/2") fabric

9 squares.

From black coordinating holiday prints:

• Cut 2 (41/2" by fabric width) strips each fabrics 1, 5 and 6. Subcut fabric 1 strips into 14 (41/2") fabric 1 squares. Subcut fabric 5 strips into 15 (41/2") fabric 5 squares. Subcut fabric 6 strips into 13 (41/2") fabric 6 squares.

From red/cream print:

• Cut 2 (41/2" by fabric width) strips fabric 4. Subcut strips into 13 (41/2") fabric 4 squares.

From black solid:

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

COMPLETING THE QUILT

1. Referring to Figure 1, arrange the numbered fabric squares in 12 rows of eight squares each, placing samenumbered fabrics in diagonal rows.

2. Join the squares in rows as arranged; press. Join the rows to complete the pieced top; press.

3. Create a quilt sandwich referring to Quilting Basics on page 94. 4. Quilt as desired. 5. Bind edges referring to Quilting Basics on page 94 to finish.

MAKING THE MAGNOLIA FLOWER

1. Layer two large cream tonal petals right sides together with a large batting petal on top. Stitch around curved pointed edges, leaving the straight end open as shown in Figure 2.

2. Trim batting close to seam. Turn the stitched unit right side out and press edges flat.

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 to make a total of five each large and small cream tonal petals and three large green tonal leaves.

4. Fold the red tonal circle in half and in half again with right side out to make a quarter-circle as shown in Figure 3; press.

5. Fold each of the three cream tonal circles in half right side out and insert a half-circle of batting into each referring to Figure 4.

6. Using a running stitch and knotted thread, gather the curved side on one half-circle unit as shown in Figure 5; do not cut the thread.

7. Insert the raw edges of the folded red quarter-circle onto the gathered edge of the gathered half-circle as shown in Figure 6. Tack the gathered edge of the cream unit together with the raw edges of the red quarter-circle and then pull one cream edge over the other cream edge to enclose the red quarter-circle to complete the center unit using the same thread used to gather the half-circle unit again referring to Figure 6.

8. Repeat step 6 with the remaining cream half-circle units, folding them around the center unit and tacking edges together to complete the flower center as shown in Figure 7.

9. Using a running stitch with knotted thread, gather the open edge of one small petal onto the thread; repeat with all small petals without cutting the thread to make a small-petal circle as shown in Figure 8.

10. Sew the flower center to the center of the small-petal circle, spacing the petals evenly around the flower center.

11. Repeat steps 9 and 10 to complete and attach the large petals to the back of the small-petal circle to complete the magnolia flower.

12. Pin the completed flower on the right side of the completed quilt as desired. Tuck the prepared leaf pieces under the magnolia flower as desired and pin to hold in place.

13. Hand-stitch the edges of each large petal in place around the edges. Tack the tip of each leaf in place to secure to finish.