Sophia’s Garden
The perfect gift for a special young lady.
MATERIALS
• 2 (3" x 7") A pieces each of 4 orange prints • 2 (4" x 9") B pieces each of 4 orange prints • 2 (4" x 9") C pieces each of 4 purple prints • 2 (5" x 11") D pieces each of 4 pink/ red prints • 2 (6" x 13") E pieces each of 4 red/pink prints • 5/ 8 yard lime green solid • 5/ 8 yard magenta solid • 3/4 yard aqua solid • 7/ 8 yard yellow solid • 11/ 8 yards each lavender, lilac, light blue, medium blue and aqua solids • Backing to size • Batting to size • Thread • 11/2 yards 18"-wide fusible web • Basic sewing tools and supplies
CUTTING
Prepare templates for A/E petals and G/J centers using patterns given. Cut as directed on each piece. Prepare the F leaf pieces for fusible appliqué referring to Raw-Edge Fusible Appliqué on page 14. From lime green solid: • Cut 4 (11/2" by fabric width) strips. Subcut strips into 1 each size for stems: 11/2" x 121/2" K, 11/2" x 181/2" L, 11/2" x 24" M, 11/2" x 331/2" N and 11/2" x 371/2" O. From magenta solid: • Cut 7 (21/4" by fabric width) binding strips. From aqua solid: • Cut 7 (31/4" by fabric width) S/ T strips. From yellow solid: • Cut 7 (11/2" by fabric width) Q/R strips. From 5 solids: • Cut 3 (103/4" by fabric width) strips each fabric. Subcut strips into 9 (103/4") P squares from each fabric (45 total).
COMPLETING THE BACKGROUND BLOCKS
1. Layer five different-fabric P squares right side up in a single stack.
2. Make a diagonal cut on the left side and move the cut pieces aside as shown in Figure 1.
3. Make a second cut on the left bottom edge as shown in Figure 2; move aside.
4. Cut the remaining right section into three pieces as shown in Figure 3.
5. Mix the pieces up so that each separated square in the pile has one piece of each fabric as shown in Figure 4; number each piece from 1–5.
6. Select the pieces for one block. Sew the pieces back together in numerical order, again referring to Figure 4.
7. Press the stitched unit and trim to 91/2" x 91/2" to complete one Background block as shown in Figure 5.
8. Repeat steps 6 and 7 to make four more blocks.
9. Repeat steps 1–8 to complete a total of 45 Background blocks. Set aside three blocks for another project.
COMPLETING THE QUILT
Refer to the Assembly Diagram as needed to complete the quilt top.
1. Arrange and join six Background blocks to make a row; press. Repeat to make seven rows.
2. Join the rows to complete the pieced center.
3. Join four different A petal pieces to make an A unit as shown in Figure 6; press seams open. Repeat. Join the two units to complete one A petal unit as shown in Figure 7.
4. Repeat step 3 to make B, C, D and E petal units. Trim excess seam allowance on the A, B and C petal units as necessary to make smooth edges.
5. Cut pieces of fusible web and fuse randomly to the wrong side of each of the prepared petal units. Remove paper backing.
6. Cut 1" pieces of fusible web and fuse randomly to the wrong side of each K, L, M, N and O stem piece. Remove paper backing and fuse pieces to the quilt top with one end of each even with the bottom edge.
7. Arrange and fuse the F leaves, petal units and the G, H, I and J flower centers on and above the fused stems as desired.
8. Machine-stitch around edges of fused shapes using thread to match fabrics and your favorite machine-appliqué stitch.
9. Join the Q/R strips on the short ends to make one long strip; press. Subcut strip into two each 11/2" x 631/2" Q strips and 11/2" x 561/2" R strips.
10. Sew Q strips to opposite long sides and R strips to the top and bottom of the pieced center; press.
11. Join the S/T strips on the short ends to make one long strip; press. Subcut strip into two each 31/4" x 651/2" S strips and 31/4" x 62" T strips.
12. Sew S strips to opposite long sides and T strips to the top and bottom of the pieced center to complete the quilt top; press.
13. Create a quilt sandwich referring to Quilting Basics on page 94. 14. Quilt as desired. 15. Bind edges referring to Quilting Basics on page 94 to finish.