Friends & Family

Simple appliqué over a strip-pieced background makes a beautiful quilt that can also be used as a family tree or signature quilt.

MATERIALS

• 1 fat quarter light brown batik • 3/8 yard each 4 light aqua batiks • 3/8 yard green batik • 5/8 yard dark brown batik • 7/8 yard medium aqua batik • 11/3 yards charcoal batik • 15/8 yards gray/brown batik • 37/8 yards backing • Batting 58" x 66" • Thread • 11/4 yards 18"-wide fusible web • Spray starch • Basic sewing tools and supplies

CUTTING

From light brown batik: • Cut leaf shapes as per pattern. From the 4 light aqua batiks: • Cut 2 (21/2" by fabric width) strips each fabric. Randomly subcut into 1 each of the following strips: 21/2" x 37" B, 21/2" x 36" C, 21/2" x 28" E, 21/2" x 24" F, 21/2" x 20" G, 21/2" x 16" H, 21/2" x 4" K1, 21/2" x 10" M1 and 21/2" x 14" O1. • Cut 3 (21/2" by fabric width) strips total.

Subcut into 3 (21/2" x 40") A1 strips. • Cut 1 (21/2" by fabric width) strip each fabric. Randomly subcut into 2 each of the following: 21/2" x6" L, 21/2" x 12" N and 21/2" x 16" P, 21/2" x 18" Q1 and 3 (21/2" x 8") J. From green batik: • Cut 4 (21/2" by fabric width) strips. Subcut into 1 each of the following strips: 21/2" x 40" A2, 21/2" x 32" D, 21/2" x 12" I, 21/2" x 14" O2, 21/2" x 18" Q2 and 21/2" x 10" M2. Subcut into 2 (21/2" x 4") K2 pieces. From dark brown batik: • See instructions for cutting bias stems. • Cut leaf shapes as per pattern. From medium aqua batik: • Cut 4 (21/2" by fabric width) U strips. • Cut 5 (21/2" by fabric width) V/W strips. From charcoal batik: • Cut 3 (61/2" by fabric width) strips. Subcut into 36 (21/2" x 61/2")

R rectangles. • Cut 6 (21/2" by fabric width) T strips. • Cut leaf shapes as per pattern. From gray/brown batik: • Cut 2 (21/2" by fabric width) S strips. • Cut 5 (41/2" by fabric width) X strips. • Cut 6 (21/4" by fabric width)

binding strips. • Cut leaf shapes as per pattern.

COMPLETING THE CENTER PANEL

1. Arrange and join the A–K pieces to make a Z1 strip section as shown in Figure 1, offsetting A1 and A2 pieces 2" and centering the remaining pieces; press.

2. Arrange and join pieces indicated in Figure 2 to make a Z2 strip section, aligning one short end of each strip; press. 3. Join the Z1 and Z2 strip sections as shown in Figure 3; press. 7. 4. Trim the strip section to 261/2" x 341/2" as shown in Figure 4.

5. Apply spray starch to bias edges or staystitch 1/8" from edges to stabilize and keep bias edges from stretching.

6. Cut one corner of the dark brown batik at a 45-degree angle as shown in Figure 5.

Cut and apply a4" x 30" strip of fusible web to the wrong side of the angled edge of the strip; trim excess at edges.

8. To make stem pieces, cut six or seven 1/2"-wide bias strips from the fused section referring to Figure 6. Do not remove paper at this time. 9. Prepare leaf shapes for your favorite method of appliqué referring to Raw-Edge Fusible Appliqué on page 88 or to the Quilting Basics on page 110.

10. Lay the pieced section on a large ironing surface. Using a fabric marking pencil, sketch stem lines onto the background referring to Figure 7 and project photo for guidance.

11. When satisfied with sketch, remove paper backings and place one bias stem strip on the section and beginning at the bottom edge, iron the strip in place, curving the strip as you press. If you need longer pieces, overlap strips slightly and trim excess as necessary. Repeat with all stem strips. 12. Blanket-stitch edges of stem pieces. 13. Arrange, fuse and blanketstitch all leaf shapes in place on the stems as desired to complete the pieced center.

COMPLETING THE BOX BLOCKS

1. Sew an S strip between two T strips to make an S-T strip set; press. Repeat to make two S-T strip sets. 2. Subcut the S-T strip sets into 18 (21/2" x 61/2") S-T units referring to Figure 8.

3. To complete one Box block, sew an R rectangle to opposite sides of an S-T unit as shown in Figure 9; press. Repeat to make a total of 18 Box blocks.

COMPLETING THE QUILT

1. Sew a U strip to opposite sides of a T strip to make a T-U strip set; press. Repeat to make a second T-U strip set.

2. Subcut the T-U strip sets into 18 (21/2" x 61/2") T-U units referring to Figure 10.

3. Join four Box blocks with five T-U units to make a side strip referring to the Assembly Diagram; press. Repeat to make a second side strip.

4. Sew the side strips to opposite sides of the pieced center.

5. Join five Box blocks with four T-U units to make the top strip referring to the Assembly Diagram. Repeat to make the bottom strip. Sew these strips to the top and bottom of the pieced center.

6. Join the V/W strips to make a long strip. Subcut into two 21/2" x 461/2" V strips and two 21/2" x 421/2" W strips. Sew V then W strips to the pieced center referring to the Assembly Diagram.

7. Join the X strips to make a long strip. Subcut into four 41/2" x 501/2" X strips. Sew a strip to opposite sides and then to the top and bottom of the pieced center to complete the quilt top; press.

8. Create a quilt sandwich referring to Quilting Basics on page 110. 9. Quilt as desired.

10. Bind referring to Quilting Basics on page 110 to finish.