alt="Stash-BusterQults_c001_f033"/>
10 Pin and stitch the three long joined strips between the rows of blocks, matching all the seams carefully (Fig 33). Press the seams towards the sashing
Fig 33
ADDING THE BORDERS
I framed the quilt with a border of sashing fabric cut 2½in (6.2cm) wide (finished width 2in/5cm). A second wider border was made from one of the pinwheel fabrics cut 4in (10cm) wide. (See Bordering a Quilt.)
QUILTING
Each block was quilted by hand in the design shown in Fig 34. The sashing was quilted ¼in (6mm) away from the seams in the traditional way. The wide border has a design of triangles quilted on it (Fig 35). The quilt is bound in a dark green fabric that was also one of the pinwheel fabrics.
Fig 34
Fig 35
MAKING A LARGER QUILT
To make a single bed quilt 65½in × 90in (166.3cm × 228.5cm) like Sue Fitzgerald's (opposite), the number of blocks must be increased, from four rows with four blocks in each row (sixteen blocks in total) to seven rows with five blocks in each row (thirty-five blocks in total). This means making four sets of eight blocks (thirty-two blocks) plus three more blocks. To make another complete set of eight blocks is a waste of fabric and energy, so it's useful to know how to make individual blocks to make up the correct number for a quilt project. Also, if you want to make a really scrap quilt with every pinwheel block in different fabrics, this is the way to do it.
1 Choose eight different fabrics for the pinwheel. From each fabric cut one square 4½in × 4½in (11.3cm × 11.3cm). Cut each square in half diagonally (Fig 36) to give two identical triangles from each fabric. Use one set of triangles to make one block and the other set of triangles for a second block. If you only need one block, then save the second set of triangles for another project.
Fig 36
2 From the chosen background fabric cut two squares each 4½in × 4½in (11.3cm × 11.3cm) and cut each square in half diagonally, to give four triangles, enough to make one block. From the background fabric cut four strips each 2in × 6¼in (5cm × 15.8cm). These will also make one block.
3 Now go back to the instructions or Construction for arranging the pieces. Arrange the eight different triangles of fabric as in Fig 7 and then follow the instructions from steps 8–17 to make the block.
Blue-and-White Delight
Sue Fitzgerald made this beautifully fresh looking single-bed sized quilt in her favourite blue and white colour scheme using Spinning Pinwheel blocks but increasing the number of blocks to thirty-five – see the panel, left, for instructions on making a larger quilt.
“I collect blue and white china and love using calico, so these colours really appealed to me. The rust-red accents, I felt, brought it to life. (Sue Fitzgerald)”
Crazy Nine-Patch
You'll have fun using up some of your fabric stash on this quilt. Nine different squares of fabric are piled up and cut into pieces through all the layers at the same time. The pieces are then reassembled following a mathematical formula (which I've worked out for you) to make nine blocks, each with a different arrangement of all nine fabrics. The pieces of fabric in each block are joined with narrow contrasting sashing strips, while different coloured strips separate the finished blocks. Much time is saved by cutting all the blocks at the same time. Each block looks different from the others because the pieces are rearranged, although the stages of construction are the same each time.
Crazy in Amsterdam
THE QUILT STORY
The fabric collection I used for this quilt was bought in Amsterdam at vast expense and then hoarded for some years. There were only eight in the original group, so I had to search my stash to find an extra one that would join the team, plus a good background fabric and another for the sashing. I first made nine blocks using this layer-cake technique (blocks marked A in Fig 1). Then I found I hadn't enough of those nine fabrics to repeat the blocks, so I reversed the design, using my sashing fabric for the nine-patch blocks and an assortment of the nine original fabrics for the sashing strips (blocks B in Fig 1). Finally, I added eight plain squares of fabric, which were arranged between the others and quilted in the same nine-patch design (blocks C in Fig 1).
Fig 1
Finished size of block 10½in × 10½in (26.7cm × 26.7cm)
Finished size of quilt 61in × 61in (155cm × 155cm)
FABRIC REQUIREMENTS
• One fat quarter (either a ¼yd or ¼m) each of nine fabrics that will look good together in the first set of blocks (A). These will make the cut squares that are layered to make the design and are also used for sashing strips on the second set of nine-patch blocks (B).
• 1¾yd (1.6m) of a contrast fabric for narrow sashing in the first set of blocks (A) and the main fabric in the second set of blocks (B).
• 1½yd (1.37m) of a third fabric to make the C blocks (not pieced but quilted) and also for the final border.
• Wadding and backing fabric: at least 2in (5cm) larger than finished quilt size.
“This crazy nine-patch quilt has a versatile design that will make good use of fabrics you already have, or give you an excuse to rush out and buy new stock…”
Construction
MAKING SET A BLOCKS
1 From each of the chosen nine fabrics cut a square measuring 11½in × 11½in (29.2cm × 29.2cm). For the sashing strips for this first
