Tiny Bubbles

This cute block with fish that have dimensional prairie-point fins is sure to make everyone smile at your next summer gathering.

MATERIALS

• Scraps salmon, black and white solids* • 1 fat eighth blue solid for bubbles* • 1 fat eighth each for fish: dark gray print, teal-with-white dots, light blue print, yellow print, salmon print and blue/teal plaid* • 1/ 3 yard white/peach diagonal plaid* • 2/ 3 yard white print* • Thread • Template material • 1/4 yard 17"-wide fusible web* • Basic sewing tools and supplies

CUTTING

Prepare appliqué pieces for fusible appliqué using patterns given and referring to Raw-Edge Fusible Appliqué on page 12.

From each fat eighth for fish:

• Cut 2 (2" x 31/2") A rectangles. • Cut 1 each 11/2" x 31/2" B rectangle, 11/2" x 21/2"

C rectangle and 3" I square. • Cut 4 (11/2") D squares.

From white/peach diagonal plaid:

• Cut 3 (21/4" by fabric width) binding strips. From white print: • Cut 1 (121/2" by fabric width) strip. Subcut strip into 1 (121/2") L square. Trim remainder of strip into 1 (21/2" x 271/2") strip and 1 (91/2" x 271/2") strip. Cut the 21/2" strip into 12 (11/2" x 21/2") E rectangles. Cut the 91/2" strip into 12 (11/2" x 91/2") J strips. • Cut 2 (31/2" by fabric width) strips. Subcut strips into 6 (31/2" x 51/2") K rectangles, 6 (21/2" x 31/2") G rectangles, 6 (11/2" x 31/2") H rectangles and 12 (11/2") F squares.

COMPLETING THE BLOCKS

1. With wrong sides together, fold an I square in half to measure 1½" x 3"; press. 2. Referring to Figure 1, place the rectangle on a flat surface with the folded side at the top. Fold each top corner until the corners meet at the bottom center; press to complete one prairie point. 3. Repeat step 1 with all I squares to make a total of six I prairie points. 4. To complete one Fish block, select from one fabric one each B and C rectangle, two A rectangles and four D squares. Select one contrasting prairie point, two each E rectangles, F squares and J strips, and one each H and G rectangle. 5. Baste the prairie point with left end ¼" from the upper left corner of one long edge on the right side of one A rectangle with the open-fold edge right side up and raw edges even as shown in Figure 2.

*Goat Island fabric collection by Susan Emory for Michael Miller Fabrics; Barely There fusible web by Swirly Girls Design; 55484 small circle die from AccuQuilt used to make sample.

6. Place the second A right sides together with the basted A unit; stitch along prairie point edge. Press open with seam toward single-layer A to complete the A unit as shown in Figure 3.

7. Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the wrong side of each D and F square.

8. Referring to Figure 4, place a D square right sides together on one end of an E rectangle, stitch on the marked line, trim seam to ¼" and press D to the right side.

9. Repeat step 8 with a second D square on the remaining end of E to complete one D-E unit as shown in Figure 5; press.

10. Repeat steps 8 and 9 to complete a second D-E unit.

11. Repeat steps 8 and 9 with F squares and the B rectangle to complete one B-F unit as shown in Figure 6. 12. Join the two D-E units with C to complete the tail unit as shown in Figure 7; press.

13. Sew the tail unit to the left end and the B-F unit to the right end of the A unit to complete the right-facing fish unit as shown in Figure 8; press.

14. Sew H to the left end and G to the right end of the right-facing fish unit; press. Add a J strip to opposite long sides to complete one Right-Facing Fish block as shown in Figure 9; press.

15. Repeat steps 4–14 to complete a total of four Right-Facing Fish blocks.

16. Repeat step 4–14 to complete a total of two Left-Facing Fish blocks, switching placement of the B-F and tail units and the G and H pieces as shown in the block drawing.

17. Arrange, fuse and stitch the lips and eye pieces to each block referring to RawEdge Fusible Appliqué on page 12 and to the block drawings for positioning.

COMPLETING THE RUNNER

Refer to the Assembly Diagram for all construction steps and for bubble placement.

1. Sew a K rectangle to the tail end of each Left- and Right-Facing Fish block; press.

2. Sew a Left-Facing Fish block between two Right-Facing Fish blocks to make an end unit; press. Repeat to make a second end unit.

3. Join the end units with the L square to complete the pieced top; press.

4. Arrange, fuse and stitch the bubble circles to the pieced top referring to Raw-Edge Fusible Appliqué on page 12 to complete the runner top.

5. Create a quilt sandwich referring to Quilting Basics on page 94. 6. Quilt as desired. 7. Bind edges referring to Quilting Basics on page 94 to finish.