Puzzle Box

This stash-busting quilt comes alive with a variety of vibrant colors. Black prints balance the design and act as a connector between the two blocks.

SKILL LEVEL

Confident Beginner

FINISHED SIZES

Quilt Size: 70" x 70" Block Size: 12" x 12" Number of Blocks: 25

MATERIALS

• 1 yard black dot

• 1 yard total assorted black prints

• 27⁄ 8 yards total assorted white-with

black prints

• 31⁄ 8 yards total assorted bright prints • Backing to size

• Batting to size

• Basic sewing tools and supplies

PROJECT NOTES

Read all instructions before beginning this project.

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

Materials and cutting lists assume 40" of usable fabric width.

WOF – width of fabric

HST – half-square triangle

QST – quarter-square triangle

CUTTING

From black dot cut:

• 8 (2 ½ " x WOF) binding strips

• 7 (1 ½ " x WOF) strips, stitch short ends to short ends, then subcut into:

2 (1 ½ " x 60 ½ ") N and 2 (1 ½ " x 62 ½ ")

O border strips

From assorted black prints cut:

• 24 (37⁄ 8") G squares then cut once

diagonally

• 12 (1 ½ " x 25") strips; subcut each strip into 2 (1 ½ " x 6") L rectangles and 1 (1 ½ " x 12 ½ ") M rectangle

From assorted white-with-black prints cut:

• 50 (37⁄ 8") D squares then cut once

diagonally

• 64 (2 ½ " x 4 ½ ") Q rectangles

• 104 (23⁄ 8") C squares then cut once

diagonally

• 104 (2") B squares

• 48 (1 ½ " x 11") strips; subcut each strip into 1 (1 ½ " x 6") K rectangle and

1 (1 ½ " x 5") J rectangle

From assorted bright prints cut:

• 13 (7 ¼ ") F squares then cut twice

diagonally

• 13 (4 ¾ ") E squares

• 208 (2") A squares

• 68 (2 ½ " x 4 ½ ") P rectangles

• 48 (2" x 9") strips; subcut each strip into 1 (2" x 5") I rectangle and

1 (2" x 3 ½ ") H rectangle

COMPLETING THE BLOCKS

Block A

1. Join two A and two B squares to make a four-patch unit as shown in Figure 1. Make 52. 2. Sew two C triangles to adjacent sides of one A square as shown in Figure 2. Make 104 A-C units.

I enjoy combining two blocks to create exciting secondary designs that keep your eye moving around the quilt. The piano-key border adds more scrappy goodness and completes the design.” —Nancy Mahoney

3. Sew A-C units to the short sides of one F triangle to make a side unit as shown in Figure 3. Make 52 units measuring

61/2" x 31/2".

4. Referring to Figure 4, sew D triangles to opposite sides of one E square. Sew D triangles to the remaining sides to make one center unit measuring 61/2" square. Make 13.

5. Referring to Figure 5, lay out one center unit, four side units, and four fourpatch units in three rows of three. Sew the units into rows and join the rows to make one Block A block. Make 13.

Block B

1. Sew together one each D and G triangle as shown in Figure 6 to make a D-G unit. Make 48.

2. Noting orientation of the D-G unit, sew matching H and I rectangles to the side and bottom to make a D-G-H-I unit as shown in Figure 7. Make 48.

3. Referring to Figure 8, sew matching J and K rectangles to the side and bottom to make a corner unit measuring 6" square. Make 48.

4. Lay out four corner units, two matching L rectangles and one matching M rectangle in three rows as shown in Figure 9. Sew units and L strips into rows and then join the rows to make a Block B block. Make 12.

COMPLETING THE QUILT

1. Referring to the Assembly Diagram, lay out blocks into five rows of five blocks each, alternating the blocks as shown.

2. Sew the blocks into rows and join the rows to complete the quilt center. Press.

3. Sew N strips to the sides of the quilt center. Sew O strips to the top and bottom.

4. Join 16 P and 15 Q rectangles to make a side border. Make two. Sew to opposite sides of the quilt top.

5. Join 18 P and 17 Q rectangles to make the top border. Repeat to make the bottom border. Sew to the top and bottom of the quilt.

6. Layer, quilt as desired and bind referring to Quilting Basics. QW

Here’s a Tip

With a pieced border, you don't want to just cut it off to make it fit. If you need it a little longer, make several of the seam allowances a little smaller. If the border needs to be a little smaller, make several of the seam allowances a little bigger. Just remember to space out the seams you're redoing across the width of the border.