O’er the Ramparts

Take an antique quilt pattern and make it “new” with updated fabrics that still keep this striking design timeless.

“Standing as I do, with my hand upon this staff, and under the folds of the American flag, I ask you to stand by me so long as I stand by it.” —Abraham Lincoln

SKILL LEVEL

Confident Beginner

FINISHED SIZES

Quilt Size: 68" x 68"

Block Size: 6" x 6" and 13" x 13"

Number of Blocks: 36 and 4

Star

6" x 6" Finished Block Make 36

Inner Border Corner

13" x 13" Finished Block Make 4

MATERIALS

• 21/2 yards white-with- gray dot*

• 3/4 yard each 7 blue prints*

• 1/4 yard each 7 red prints*

• 1 yard white print*

• Backing to size

• Batting to size*

• Thread

• Basic sewing tools and supplies

*American Gathering by Primitive Gatherings for Moda Fabrics and Tuscany silk batting from Hobbs used to make sample.

PROJECT NOTES

Read all instructions before beginning this project.

Label fabrics and pieces as they are cut.

Stitch right sides together using a 1/4" seam allowance unless otherwise specified.

Materials and cutting lists assume 40" of usable fabric width for yardage. WOF – width of fabric

The original quilt is in the possession of Colonial Williamsburg. This quilt was made between 1861 and 1863, but the maker is unknown. The original quilt has only 34 star blocks, more than likely representing the number of states in the union during that time. —Wendy Sheppard

CUTTING From white-with-gray dot cut:

• 292 (11/2") Z squares

• 36 (21/2") B squares

• 4 (11/2" x 21/2") F strips

• 4 (11/2" x 31/2") G strips

• 4 (11/2" x 41/2") H strips

• 4 (11/2" x 51/2") I strips

• 4 (11/2" x 61/2") J strips

• 4 (11/2" x 71/2") K strips

• 4 (11/2" x 81/2") L strips

• 4 (11/2" x 91/2") M strips

• 4 (11/2" x 101/2") N strips

• 4 (11/2" x 111/2") O strips

• 4 (11/2" x 121/2") P strips

• 4 (11/2" x 131/2") Q strips

• 24 (11/2" x WOF) AA strips

From blue #1 print cut:

• 28 (11/2") A squares

• 28 (11/2" x 21/2") C rectangles

• 12 (11/2" x 41/2") D strips

• 4 (11/2" x 51/2") S strips

• 16 (11/2" x 61/2") E strips

• 4 (11/2" x 111/2") X strips

• 4 (11/2" x 121/2") Y strips

From blue #2 print cut:

• 24 (11/2") A squares

• 24 (11/2" x 21/2") C rectangles • 4 (11/2" x 31/2") R strips

• 16 (11/2" x 41/2") D strips

• 12 (11/2" x 61/2") E strips

From blue #3 print cut:

• 24 (11/2") A squares

• 24 (11/2" x 21/2") C rectangles

• 12 (11/2" x 41/2") D strips

• 12 (11/2" x 61/2") E strips

• 4 (11/2" x 71/2") T strips

• 4 (11/2" x 81/2") U strips

From each blue #4, #5 & #6 print cut:

• 24 (11/2") A squares (total 72)

• 24 (11/2" x 21/2") C rectangles (total 72)

• 12 (11/2" x 41/2") D strips (total 36)

• 12 (11/2" x 61/2") E strips (total 36)

From blue #7 print cut:

• 4 (11/2" x 91/2") V strips

• 4 (11/2" x 101/2") W strips

• 8 (21/4" x WOF) binding strips

From each red print cut:

• 4 (11/2" x WOF) BB strips (total 28)

From white print cut:

• 8 (31/2" x WOF) strips, stitch short ends to short ends, then subcut into:

2 (31/2" x 621/2") CC and 2 (31/2" x 681/2") DD border strips

COMPLETING THE STAR BLOCKS

Set aside four each of the following pieces for the Inner Border Corner blocks: Z and blue #1 A squares, blue #1 C rectangles, and blue #1 E and blue #2 D strips.

1. Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the wrong side of the remaining Z squares.

2. To make one Star block, select one B square and eight marked Z squares; from matching fabric, select four each A squares and C rectangles, and two each D and E strips.

3. Referring to Figure 1, pin a Z square on the left end of a C rectangle, noting direction of the diagonal line. Sew on the drawn line, trim seam to 1/4" and press. Repeat on the opposite end of C to complete one flying geese unit. Make four.

4. Referring to Figure 2, arrange one B square, four flying geese units and four A squares as shown; sew together and press to complete a star unit.

5. Referring to the Star block diagram, sew a D strip to each side of the star unit and an E strip to the top and bottom to complete a Star block.

6. Repeat steps 2–5 to make 36 Star blocks.

COMPLETING THE INNER BORDER CORNER BLOCKS

Use pieces set aside at the beginning of Completing the Star Blocks to make Corner blocks. Press toward the blue strips in the following steps.

1. Referring to Figure 3, sew an A square onto the right side of a Z square and a C rectangle to the top.

2. Referring to Figure 4, sew an F strip to the right of the step 1 unit and a G strip to the top.

3. Refer to the Inner Border Corner block diagram for the remaining steps. Sew an R strip to the right of the step 2 unit and a D strip to the top.

4. Sew an H strip to the right of the step 3 unit and an I strip to the top.

5. Sew an S strip to the right of the step 4 unit and an E strip to the top.

6. Sew a J strip to the right of the step 5 unit and a K strip to the top.

7. Sew a T strip to the right of the step 6 unit and a U strip to the top.

8. Sew an L strip to the right of the step 7 unit and an M strip to the top.

9. Sew a V strip to the right of the step 8 unit and a W strip to the top.

10. Sew an N strip to the right of the step 9 unit and an O strip to the top.

11. Sew an X strip to the right of the step 10 unit and a Y strip to the top.

12. Sew a P strip to the right of the step 11 unit and a Q strip to the top to complete one Inner Border Corner block.

13. Repeat steps 1–12 to make four blocks.

COMPLETING THE INNER BORDER STRIP SETS

1. Referring to Figure 5, arrange six AA strips and seven different BB strips as shown and sew together to make a strip set. Press seams toward BB. Make four inner border strips sets.

2. Trim each strip set to 361/2" x 131/2".

COMPLETING THE QUILT

1. Referring to the Assembly Diagram, arrange the Star blocks into six rows of six blocks each. Sew the blocks into rows and then sew the rows together to complete the quilt center.

2. Sew an inner border strip set to opposite sides of the quilt center.

3. Sew an Inner Border Corner block to each end of the remaining inner border strip sets. Be mindful of the orientation of the Corner blocks. Then sew the pieced inner borders to the top and bottom of the quilt center.

4. Sew a CC border strip to opposite sides of the quilt center and a DD border strip to the top and bottom to complete the quilt top.

5. Layer, quilt as desired and bind the quilt referring to Quilting Basics.