Crafts : Quilting : Apple Basket Quilt : Home & Garden Television

Apple Basket quilt

Instructions provided courtesy of guests Diana McClun and Laura Nownes.

Materials:

book: Q is for Quilt by Laura Nownes and Diana McClun
fabric - measurements below
rotary cutter and mat
fusible web
templates
quilting notions

Square-in-a-Square block

Steps:

Square-in-a-square
Finished block size is nine inches. The following yardage makes four blocks: 1/8 yard center fabric for the center square, 1/4 yard light fabric for rectangle strips, 3/4 yard of dark fabric for rectangle strips

Cutting

Cut one 3-1/2-inch strip from the center fabric. Then cut strip into four 3-1/2-inch squares to construct 3-1/2-inch center blocks.
Cut three 1-1/2-inch strips from the light fabric strip.

Figure A

Cut six 1-1/2-inch strips from the dark fabric strips (figure A).

Figure B

With the right sides together, sew the center squares to a dark strip (figure B). This is a simple variation of the traditional Log Cabin block.

Press the seams first on the wrong side (to set the stitches), then on the right side in the direction of the dark strip.

Figure C

Cut the new units apart. The new units should measure 3-1/2" x 4-1/2" (figure C). Trim.

Figure D

Place new units onto another dark strip (opposite side of center square), right sides together, and sew (figure D). Stitch multiple units together.

Press the seams first on the wrong side, then on the right side in the direction toward the strips.

Figure E

Cut the units apart (figure E). The new units should measure 3-1/2" x 5-1/2" Trim.

Figure F

With the right sides together, place the units onto a dark strip and sew (figure F).

Figure G

Press the seam away from the center square as before and cut the units apart. The new units should measure 4-1/2" x 5-1/2" (figure G). Trim. (three sides completed at this point)

Figure H

With the right sides together, place the units onto a dark strip and sew (figure H).

Figure I

Press the strip away from the center and cut the units apart. The new units should measure 5-1/2" x 5-1/2" (figure I). Trim.

Repeat Steps l through 10, to add the light and then the remaining dark strips. The completed blocks should measure 9-1/2 inches square.

Background and base
To make the background and the base, which is the footer of the basket, you'll need this in fabric:
5/8-yard background fabric
1/4-yard base fabric
1/8-yard fabric for the center
1/8-yard light fabric
1/4-yard dark fabric

Cutting

For the center, cut two 3-1/2-inch squares; two, 1-1/2-inch strips of light fabric and three, 1-1/2-inch strips of dark fabric.
For the background cut one 12-1/2-inch strip, then cut the strip into four 6-1/2" x 12-1/2" rectangles.
For the base, cut 7-1/4-inch squares from both light and dark fabrics. Cut the squares into quarters diagonally (quarter-square triangles for the right and left base units), following instructions in book Q is for Quilt.

Figure J

Stitch the light and dark quarter square triangles together (figure J) to make the base units. Stitch several units together for quicker assembling of quilts as desired.

Figure K

Assembly

Cut the Square-in-a-Square blocks in half diagonally (half-square triangles) (figure K). The blocks are very fragile and will easily stretch along the bias edge. Handle them as little as possible. To eliminate the stretching along the top edge of the basket bottom, place the top background piece onto the basket bottom, right side together. Pin at opposite ends. Carefully press flat. Place additional pins along the edges, then sew.

Figure L

Sew the left and right base units to the basket (figure L). Be sure that there is a 1/4-inch extension of base fabric beyond the bottom edge of the basket. Press the seams toward the basket. The bottom half of the block should measure 6-1/2" x 12-1/2". Trim.

Sew the 6-1/2" x 12-1/2" background rectangle to the top of the basket. Press the seam toward the background. The completed block should measure 12-1/2" x 12-1/2".

Figure M

Apple and leaf motifs

Trace apple and leaf designs onto templates and cut shapes out (figure M).
Iron lightweight fusible web on the shapes. Follow manufacturer's directions for fusible web.
Position apple and leaf shapes onto the background fabric and press in place.

Figure N

Blanket stitch motifs by machine (figure N) or hand stitch in place.

Guests
Laura Nownes
Quilter and author
Website: www.dianaandlaura.com

Diana McClun
Quilter and author
Website: www.dianaandlaura.com
Also in this Episode

Simply Quilts : Episode QLT-813
•	Quilting in the Garden
•	Apple Basket Quilt

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