RETRO BLOOMS
Dive into the past with Drunkard's Path blocks sewn up in Mid-century shades
Dive into the past with Drunkard’s Path units in Mid-century shades
IF YOU'RE USING DIRECTIONAL FABRICS, THINK AHEAD AND CUT YOUR CURVES CAREFULLY!
NOTES
■ Seam allowances are ¼in, unless otherwise noted.
■ Press fabrics well before cutting.
■ Press seams to the side, unless otherwise instructed.
■ WOF = width of fabric.
■ WST = wrong sides together.
■ Templates include seam allowances, where necessary.
■ For templates, see p89.
■ Fabrics supplied by FIGO Fabrics (figofabrics.com)
FABRICS USED
All fabrics are from the Mountain Meadow collection by Pippa Shaw for FIGO Fabrics.
CUTTING OUT
1
From each of the four coloured fabrics cut:
■ Twelve (12) pieces using the Small Curve template.
■ Four (4) 2¾in squares.
2
From the background fabric cut:
■ Forty eight (48) pieces using the Small Arc template.
■ Two (2) 1in x 18½in strips.
■ Two (2) 1in x 19½in strips.
3
From the backing fabric cut:
■ Two (2) 19½in x 15in pieces.
4
From the binding fabric cut:
■ Three (3) 2½in x WOF strips.
PIECING THE CUSHION FRONT
5
Take one background fabric arc and one coloured fabric curve and crease the centre of each of the shapes. Place the arc on top of the curve, carefully matching the creases and ends, and pin in place. Ease along the curve and pin together between these points.
6
With the arc shape on top, sew the pieces together along the curved edge. Work slowly to avoid stretching, removing each of the pins as you go. Press the seam inwards, towards the darker fabric.
7
Repeat steps 5– 6 to piece the remaining coloured curves and background arcs to
make twelve units in each colour. Square up to 2¾in square, if necessary (Fig 1).
8
Take three curves and one 2¾in square and position as you would a four-patch. Sew two of the curve units together, matching seams, then sew the remaining two units together. Join the two rows together to complete the four-patch (Fig 2).
9
Repeat step 8 with all of your curves and squares, to yield four four-patch units for each flower.
10
Join the four-patch units for each flower together in two rows of two, matching the seams. Sew the rows together to complete each flower block (Fig 3).
11
Sew the flower blocks together, once again as you would a four-patch (Fig 4). Join the background fabric 1in x 18½in strips to either side of the cushion top and press seams inwards. Sew the remaining 1in x 19½in strips to the top and bottom and press the cushion top.
QUILTING AND FINISHING
12
Make a quilt sandwich by placing the lining fabric right side down, the batting on top, then place the cushion top centrally and right side up. Baste the layers together using your preferred method. 13
Quilt as desired. Lorna quilted straight lines vertically across the cushion top, roughly ½in apart. Trim off the excess batting and backing fabric and square up the cushion top.
14
Press under one long edge of a backing piece. Fold over and press again, then topstitch in place. Repeat with the second backing piece. Place your cushion front right side down, then lay one back piece on top, WST, with the hem in the centre. Lay the second one on top, so the hemmed edges overlap in the middle. Pin and sew all the way around all four edges, backstitching at the start and the end.
15
Sew the binding strips end-to-end using diagonal seams. Press seams open. Fold in half lengthways, WST, and press.
16
Sew the binding to the right side of the cushion front, creating a neat mitre at each corner. Fold the binding over to the back and hand stitch in place to finish.
LARGE CURVES ARE GREAT FOR NEWBIE QUILTERS LOOKING TO TRY A NEW TECHNIQUE
CUTTING OUT
1
From the print fabric cut:
■ Twelve (12) pieces using the Large Curve template.
■ Four (4) 5in squares.
2
From the background fabric cut:
■ Twelve (12) pieces using the Large Arc template.
■ Two (2) 1in x 18½in strips.
■ Two (2) 1in x 19½in strips.
3
From the backing fabric cut:
■ Two (2) 19½in x 15in pieces.
4
From the binding fabric cut:
■ Three (3) 2½in x WOF strips.
PIECING THE CUSHION FRONT
5
Follow steps 5–11 of the small flower cushion instructions to make one large flower for the cushion front, trimming the curved units to 5in square.
QUILTING AND FINISHING
6
Make a quilt sandwich by placing the lining fabric right side down, the batting on top, then place the cushion top centrally and right side up. Baste the layers together using your preferred method.
7
Quilt as desired. Lorna quilted curved lines inside the flower, mirroring the shapes of the Drunkard’s Path blocks. Trim off the excess batting and backing fabric and square up the cushion top.
8
Follow steps 14–16 of the small flower cushion instructions to complete the large flower cushion.