RING OF ROSES

Crisp piecing and punchy shades combine to create rows of mesmerising circles in this cheerful rainbow design

Crisp piecing and punchy shades combine to create rows of circles in this cheerful rainbow design

NOTES

■ Seam allowances are ¼in, unless otherwise noted.

■ Press seams open, unless otherwise instructed.

■ RST = right sides together.

■ WOF = width of fabric.

■ Starch and press all fabrics well before cutting.

■ Quilted by Kaitlyn Howel (knotandthreaddesign.com)

■ Fabric supplied by Robert Kaufman (robertkaufman.com)

FABRICS USED

■ All solids are Kona Cotton Solids by Robert Kaufman, including White for the background fabric.

■ Backing fabric is Cactus Star Diamond from the Palm Canyon collection by Violet Craft for Robert Kaufman.

■ Binding fabric is Panache Stripe in Black by Rebecca Bryan for Robert Kaufman.

CUTTING OUT

1

From each coloured fabric cut:

■ One (1) 3½in x WOF strip.

2

From the background fabric cut:

■ Two (2) 7in x WOF strips.

■ Two (2) 13in x WOF strips. Subcut into nine (9) 13in x 7in rectangles.

■ Eighteen (18) 2in x WOF strips. Subcut twelve (12) of the 2in x WOF strips into seventy two (72) 2in x 6½in rectangles.

■ Two (2) 6½in x WOF strips. Subcut into nine (9) 6½in squares.

3

From the binding fabric cut:

■ Seven (7) 2½in x WOF strips.

MIRROR THE CIRCULAR SHAPED BLOCKS WITH A SIMPLE CURVY QUILTING PATTERN

PIECING THE A UNITS

4

Divide your coloured fabric into two groups, with four colours in each: Group A and Group B.

5

Sew one coloured fabric strip from Group A to one 7in x WOF background fabric strip along the long edges. Sew a second coloured fabric strip from Group A to the other side of the white strip and firmly press.

6

Repeat steps 4 and 5 with the remaining coloured fabric strips from Group A, and the remaining 7in x WOF background fabric strip. Cut each of your two strip sets into nine 3 in x 13in rectangles (Fig 1).

7

Sew one of each of the pieced rectangles to either side of a 13in x 7in background fabric rectangle along the long edges and press. Cut the unit horizontally and vertically in the centre to make a total of nine pieced units, each

6 in square (Fig 2).

8

Repeat step 7 with the remaining units to make nine 6 in squares for each Group A colour.

PIECING THE B UNITS

9

Sew a 2in x WOF background fabric strip to either side of each coloured fabric strip from Group B along the long edges. Cut each strip set into nine 3 in x 6 in units (Fig 3).

10

Sew a 2in x 6 in background fabric rectangle to either side of one of the units from the previous step (Fig 4). Repeat with the remaining Group B units, to make nine pieced units of each colour.

ASSEMBLING THE QUILT TOP

11

Take one of each A units and B units and a background 6 in square. Arrange in three rows of three, paying close attention to the placement of the coloured squares. Sew in rows together to make one block (Fig 5). Repeat to make a total of nine blocks.

12

Arrange the blocks into three rows of three. Then sew the blocks into rows, and join the rows together.

13

Take the remaining six background

2in x WOF strips and join them end-to-end with straight seams. Subcut into four 2in x 58in strips. Join one 2in x

58in background fabric strip to each side of the quilt and trim the excess. Join the two remaining 2in x 58in strips to the top and bottom and trim the excess to complete the quilt top (Fig 6).

QUILTING AND FINISHING

14

Cut the backing fabric in half across the width. Remove the selvedges and sew the two pieces together using a in seam. Press the seam open.

15

Press the quilt top and backing well. Make a quilt sandwich by placing the backing fabric right side down, the batting on top, then place the quilt top centrally and right side up. Baste the layers together using your preferred method.

16

Quilt as desired. Mariana quilted a circular freemotion design to echo the circular shaped blocks. Trim off the excess batting and backing fabric and square up the quilt.

17

Sew the binding strips together end-to-end using diagonal seams. Press the seams open. Fold in half lengthways, wrong sides together, and press.

18

Sew the binding to the right side of the quilt, creating a neat mitre at each corner. Fold the binding over to the back of the quilt and hand stitch in place around the edge to finish.