Garden Patch Lap Quilt Information

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Garden Patch

From Simple Traditions by Kim Diehl


Project for Happy Scrappers, 2009

Fabrics: Please use quality fabrics, prewashed.

Finished blocks: 9"

Finished quilt with 9" border: 65 1/2" x 74 1/2"


Background should be light tan. You may use several different light tan backgrounds [total of about 2 yards] for your blocks but use the same background within a 3” nine patch unit.

Small nine patch units should use early reproduction print fabrics, eg. Civil War, William Morris, Smithsonian, 18th and 19th century reproductions, etc. [no 30’s or 40’s or feedsacks]. At least five different fabrics will be needed since there are five small nine patches in a 9” block.


Cutting and Sewing Instructions: Please try to be very accurate with the ¼” seam on the small nine patches. I would suggest a scant ¼” seam. If the small nine patch is slightly too large, it can then be trimmed to 3 ½”.

Directions are for 9” [finished] blocks. Please make 15 blocks.

Cutting:

  1. Cut the following from each of five different reproduction fabrics : 4 strips, 1 1/2" x WOF. Using one of the strips from each of the five fabrics, crosscut into 1 1/2" squares to be exchanged for the inner border. Place these squares in a separate bag to be placed with the Nine Patch blocks.

  2. Cut from background [lt. tan]: 19 strips, 1 1/2" x WOF. Using 4 tan strips, crosscut into 1 1/2" squares to be exchanged for the inner border. Place these squares in a separate bag also.

Cut from background, 6 strips, 3 1/2" x WOF, crosscut into 60 squares, 3 1/2" x 3 1/2".

Sewing:

  1. Strip A [need about 48"-50"]: Sew a matching print 1 1/2" strip to either long side of a tan 1 1/2" strip. Press seam allowances toward the print. Using the leftovers from Strip B below, make a short Strip A by cutting the print strip into two equal pieces and sewing these to either long side of a tan strip. This short strip should measure at least 6-7". Crosscut Strips A into thirty 1 1/2" segments.

  2. Strip B [need about 26"]: Cut the three remaining strips to 1 1/2" x 26". Sew one of the tan background 1 1/2" strips to either long side of the print 1 1/2" x 26" strip. Press seams toward the print. Crosscut into fifteen 1 1/2" segments.

  3. Lay out two A segments with a B segment between to make a ninepatch unit. Sew the rows together. Press seams away from the center row. Repeat to make 15 nine patch units.

  4. Repeat the above steps with the other four reproduction fabrics to make 15 nine patch units of each of the remaining fabrics [should have 75 nine patch units total].

  5. Lay out five different print nine patch units with four tan 3 1/2" squares to form a larger nine patch block. Join the pieces in each horizontal row. Press the seams toward the tan background fabric. Sew the rows together. Press the seams toward the center row. Repeat to make a total of 15 Nine Patch blocks measuring 9 1/2" unfinished.

  6. Keep one of the Nine Patch blocks for yourself and turn in 14 to trade.


Notes:


I would suggest prewashing fabrics. I have also found that starching fabrics [use Mary Ellen's or Niagara for best results] and ironing before cutting strips will avoid stretching and waving when sewing strips.


These instructions are for those who might not have a selection [stash] of reproduction fabrics. Thus, only five reproduction prints need to be purchased, about 1/4 yard of each.

If you choose to use reproduction fabrics from your stash you may follow the directions in the book, Simple Traditions, p. 105-107, Cutting and Piecing the Nine Patch Blocks.


Plaid homespun blocks can also be exchanged for the alternate blocks. If you wish to exchange these, I would like to suggest exchanging a total of 135 five inch squares cut from at least 3-4 different plaids [9 x 15 = 135].

Some might prefer to exchange squares of reproduction fabrics. This can be a separate exchange managed by someone else.

Elements for the outer applique border will not be exchanged. This border will be done on an individual basis and will make each quilt unique.



Garden Patch Lap Quilt

(Hosted by Carolyn Slack ~ Due in Sep. / Oct.)

(to print click "File" then "Print")