Even if you don't have a green thumb, you can make a beautiful addition to your garden with a quilt! Join quilt maker/author Mary Hickey and host Alex Anderson as they design a Garden Trellis quilt block.
This quilt might seem a bit overwhelming, but once the design is broken down, it 's only three blocks. Two "X" blocks are made identically with the only difference being that the colors are reversed (figure A). The third block is a Snowball block. The sewing of this quilt is beginner level but the concepts of color and shading do not lend themselves well to a first quilt. However, it's definitely makes a good early quilt.
Fabric selection
Fabric is an important factor in this quilt. Any type of a novelty print will work fine as a background print in this type of quilt. A floral print will create a garden feel. Try something whimsical, such as rocket ships . Whatever is appealing to you. Once the background fabric is chosen, the other fabrics are selected for the trellis pieces. Select two shades, one a little bit lighter than the other of each fabric for the trellis (figure B). A strong contrast between the background fabric and the trellis pieces is highly recommended. This will give the dimension to the quilt.
Materials:
rotary cutter with a mat board
square ruler with a right-angle or a bias square
fabric selection
Steps:
Fabric organization
This block does require some planning. First, determine which is the lighter colored fabric. This fabric should always appear on the same side of the block. For instance, the lighter color fabrics are running across the top and the darker fabrics are running across the bottom of the quilt seen here ( figure C). This creates the light source on the trellis.
"X" block
1. Beginning with the background fabric, cut four-inch strips . Next, cut four-inch squares. Cut the squares in half, on the diagonal (figure D), creating quarter-square triangles. The straight of grain will be on the outside of the block that allows the block to lie smoothly.
2. To have the straight of grain on the outside of the block, the "X" strips are cut on the bias. The seam in the "X" block is a bias cut (figure E). Place fabric with right sides together. Use a long ruler and a bias square together to determine the right angle cut line (figure F). Cut 2-1/2-inch strips on the 45-degree angle. Keep fabric with right sides together to be stitched together.
3. The trellis pieces are to measure, from tip to tip, 12-3/4-inches long. Measure down the strip approximately 12-3/4-inches, from the tip and cut off the tail of the strip (figure G). This is a rough cut so don't worry about an exact measurement of 12-3/4-inches. Next, use the bias square to make the right-angle cut at the end that was just cut off (figure H). Finally, go back to the other end of the strip and make the final 12-3/4-inch measurement (figure I). Again using the bias square, place the solid line of the square on the bias seam and make the final right angle cut (figure J).
4. The next step is the trellis piece that appears to be on the bottom. These strips are sewn just like the first trellis piece above. However, the trellis will be folded in half, wrong sides together, to keep the darker fabric on the same side. Using the bias square, cut the right angle (figure K). Next, measure from the tip, 4-5/8-inches (figure L) and cut. Taking the quarter-triangle pieces, stitch to either side of the shorter trellis piece and press to the dark (figure M).
Sewing on bias
Here are a few reminders about bias cut fabrics:
- Handle the fabric gently to avoid stretching.
- As the fabric moves through the sewing machine, don't pull on either end of the strip. This will stretch the seam out of shape. Gently guide the fabric, allowing the fabric to float through the machine.
- On this particular block, press the seam open by gently opening the seam with the nose of the iron. Again, because the strip is cut on the bias, don't pull on the strip while ironing.
Snowball block
On this block, each corner will be a different fabric . However, the fabrics are always in the same position or in the same corner of the block. Darks on one side and lights on the other.
1. Cut a nine-inch square from the background fabric and cut four, 3-3/8-inch squares from the fabric used for the trellis.
2. With right sides together, place a square on the background, fold the square on the diagonal and press. Stitch along the diagonal press line (figure N). Trim away the excess fabric and press. Once the block is finished, stack the finished blocks, matching the fabric corners so it won't be confusing later when laying out the quilt pattern.
Design board
For this quilt design, it's important to use a design board to ensure correct placement of the blocks. On the design board seen here, each of the "X" blocks have the darker of the lights going towards the bottom, and the lighter of the light fabrics being on the top of the quilt (figure O). The finished blocks may need to be turned a few times in order to determine the best position of the block for the quilt design.
Resources The Joy of Quilting
by Joan Hanson, Mary Hickey, Kay Green (ISBN: 1564770702 )
Click
here to order this title.
Martingale and Company
Website:
www.martingale-pub.com Guests Mary Hickey
Author, quilt maker and instructor
Martingale & Co. / That Patchwork Place / Fiber Studio Press
20205 144th Ave. NE
Woodinville, WA 98072-8478
Phone: 425-483-3313
Toll Free Phone: 800-426-3126
Fax: 425-486-7596
Email:
info@martingale-pub.com
URL:
www.martingale-pub.com
Also in this Episode
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
