DAISY CHAIN

Bring the outdoors inside with a ditsy Dresden quilt that provides the perfect backdrop for playtime and picnics

Bring the outdoors inside with a ditsy Dresden quilt that provides the perfect backdrop for picnics

NOTES

■ Seam allowances are ¼in, unless otherwise noted.

■ Press seams to one side, unless otherwise instructed.

■ Templates include seam allowances, where necessary.

■ For templates see page 89.

■ RST = right sides together.

■ Bleached white batting supplied by Hobbs Bonded Fibres (hobbsbatting.com)

■ Daisy Chain fabric by Annabel Wrigley supplied by Windham Fabrics (windhamfabrics.com)

FABRICS USED

■ Prints are from the Daisy Chain collection by Annabel Wrigley for Windham Fabrics.

■ White fabric is a Kona Cotton Solid by Robert Kaufman.

CUTTING OUT

1

From each of eight (8) of the print fabric fat quarters cut:

■ One (1) 12½in square.

■ Eight (8) pieces using the Dresden template. 2

From the remaining print fabric fat quarter cut:

■ Sixteen (16) pieces using the Circle template.

■ Seven (7) pieces using the Dresden template.

USE STRAIGHT LINE QUILTING TO ADD STABILITY BEFORE HAND STITCHING SWEET DETAILS

3

From each of the print fabric fat eighths cut:

■ Seven (7) pieces using the Dresden template.

4

From the white fabric cut:

■ Eight (8) 12½in squares.

■ Five (5) 2½in x WOF strips for the binding.

5

From the interfacing cut:

■ Eight (8) 12½in squares.

PIECING THE DRESDEN BLOCKS

6

Take twelve contrasting Dresden pieces and arrange in a circle. Place two pieces RST, sew along one edge and press the seam to one side (Fig A). Repeat, sewing all the pieces into pairs. Join the pairs in sets of four (Fig B), then join into a circle. Press all the seams in the same direction to complete one Dresden flower (Figs C and D).

7

Place the Dresden circle RST with one interfacing square, so the sticky side of the interfacing is facing away from the fabric. Pin in place and stitch ¼in all the way around the edge. Trim the excess interfacing, leaving a ¼in seam allowance.

8

Clip the seams all the way around and in between each petal at ¼in intervals. Cut a slit in the centre of the interfacing,

taking care not to snip the fans (Fig E). Turn the Dresden right side out and carefully smooth out all the curves. Press (Fig F). Repeat steps 6– 8 to make a total of eight Dresden flowers. You will have three Dresden pieces left over.

ASSEMBLING THE QUILT TOP

9

Fold a white 12½in square into quarters to find the centre point. Carefully centre a Dresden flower and hold in place using basting spray. Topstitch around the petals 1/8in from the edge (Fig G). Repeat for each Dresden flower.

10

Take two of your print circle pieces and place RST. Sew around the edge using a ¼in seam and clip at ¼in intervals. Snip a slit for turning in the centre, being careful to only cut one layer (Fig H). Turn right side out and smooth the curves. Press.

11

Adhere the circle to the centre of the Dresden flower using a basting spray. Topstitch around the outer edge (Fig I). Repeat steps 10–11 to complete all your Dresden flower blocks.

12

Arrange the Dresden blocks and your eight print 12½in squares in four rows of four, referring to the photography for placement. If you’re using directional prints, ensure these are all facing the same way. Sew the blocks into rows, then sew the rows together to complete the quilt top.

QUILTING AND FINISHING

13

Cut the backing fabric in half across the width. Remove the selvedges and sew the two pieces together using a ½in seam. Press the seam open.

14

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.

15

Quilt as desired. Sarah machine quilted diagonal lines across the patterned sections and added hand quilted detail around the Dresden flowers. Trim off the excess batting and backing fabric and square up the quilt.

16

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

17

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 to finish.