1. hobbies and interests
2. needlework

6
how to make a patchwork quilt free designs for quilts
How to Make a patchwork Quilt:
6 FREE Designs
for Handmade Patchwork Quilts
Using Jelly Rolls, Strip Quilting,
and More
2
from Quilting Arts
3
1
5
4
6
1
Inside Out Mini Quilt
2
Mini Hexagon Quilt
Malka dubrawsky
Malka Dubrawsky
3
Out of the Dustbin Quilts
Annette Morgan
4 A New Twist on Using Men’s Ties in Quilts
5Hexagon Baby Quilt
6 Stacked Coins Quilt
Jeannie Palmer Moore
Malka Dubrawsky
Aimee Raymond
how to make a patchwork quilt: 6 Free designs for handmade
patchwork quilts using jelly rolls, strip quilting, and more
Q u i lt i n g A r t s . c o m
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6
how to make a patchwork quilt H
ere at Quilting Arts®, we
love taking new approaches
to tried-and-true techniques,
which is why we’re
thrilled to present
this collection
of contemporary
patchwork
projects. Our latest
free eBook contains
everything from
scarves to small
quilts, pieced together using materials
ranging from modern fabrics to
discarded clothing.
First, Malka Dubrawsky shares three
small quilting projects that take an
innovative spin on the traditional
methods of hexagon and log cabin
piecing. Those of you who enjoy
recycling older fabrics into your work
will want to check out Malka’s design
for a freeform patchwork scarf that
incorporates menswear suiting fabric,
put
more
as well as Jeannie Palmer Moore’s
original method for using neckties in
quilts. And if you have any old quilts
hanging around that you want to put
your own personal stamp on, Annette
Morgan offers her advice on how to
rework them with surface design,
cutting, and re-piecing.
how to make
a patchwork quilt:
6 FREE designs for
handmade patchwork
Quilts using jelly rolls,
strip quilting, and more
from Quilting Arts
Finally, Aimee Raymond shows you
how to use those luscious pre-cut
fabrics known as jelly rolls to create a
stacked coins quilt.
creative services
D ivision Art Director
ideas, textiles, and techniques
related to embellished and contemporary art quilting. Inside,
you’ll find design inspiration, step-by-step directions, gorgeous
photography, and motivation for developing your personal style, at
®
Quilting Arts MAgAzine explores
all skill levels.
Photographer
Larissa Davis
Larry Stein
Projects and information are for inspiration and personal use only. Interweave
Press LLC is not responsible for any liability arising from errors, omissions, or
mistakes contained in this eBook, and
readers should proceed cautiously, especially with respect to technical information.
Interweave Press LLC grants permission to
photocopy any patterns published in this
issue for personal use only.
Pokey Bolton
Editorial Director
in your life
Pokey Bolton
online editor Cate Prato
Editorial director
So whatever your fabric preference
and whatever type of patchwork
intrigues you most, you’re sure to
find something in the following pages
that inspires you. It’s time to break
into your stash and get sewing!
texture
free designs for quilts
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Ice Dyeing . 48
Layered Marbling . 44
Monoprinting &
Finger Painting . 38
Stamping and Stenciling
with Unusual Objects . 52
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how to make a patchwork quilt: 6 Free designs for handmade
patchwork quilts using jelly rolls, strip quilting, and more
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how to make a patchwork quilt 6
free designs for quilts
Adapted from
International Quilt Festival: Quilt Scene
Winter 2009/2010
inside out
mini quilt
by
M alka D ubrawsky
T
he inspiration for this quilt happened at my ironing board. I was pressing a log cabin block
on the wrong side and was struck by the visual interest created by the raw edges and stitching
lines. This prompted me to design a little quilt that celebrates what’s usually hidden. The quilt’s
freshness springs from a combination of improvisational piecing; simple, graphic prints and solids;
and, of course, the texture of those raw edges.
how to make a patchwork quilt: 6 Free designs for handmade
patchwork quilts using jelly rolls, strip quilting, and more
Q u i lt i n g A r t s . c o m
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©Interweave Press LLC
how to make a patchwork quilt 6
free designs for quilts
M at e ria l s
Approximate finished size:
20" × 22"
•Cotton or linen scraps of mostly
white, graphic prints: 9 squares or
rectangles for block centers (cut
freehand) and a variety of strips
in varying lengths and widths (cut
freehand)
•Cotton or linen scraps in shades of
white and cream: a variety of strips
in varying lengths and widths (cut
freehand)
•Cotton denim for backing, 3⁄4 yd.
•Cotton print for binding, 1⁄4 yd. (cut
strips measuring 11⁄2" wide)
•Rotary cutter, clear acrylic ruler, and
cutting mat
•Iron
•Sewing machine
•Machine-quilting thread in white or
cream
•Machine sewing thread in orange
•Cotton batting measuring about
26" × 28"
•Quilt basting supplies
•Pins
Directions
M aking
the blocks
All seam allowances are 1⁄4". When
piecing the blocks, all fabrics are
pieced with the wrong sides together
so that the “front” of the quilt top will
feature both the raw edges and the
right side of the fabrics. All cutting
is done freehand (sans ruler) with a
rotary cutter.
Note: Due to the improvisational
method used to piece the blocks, the
finished block size will vary. You can
add or eliminate strips from a block
so that it will be the same size as its
neighbor, or use a quilter’s clear acrylic
ruler to trim the blocks to a consistent
how to make a patchwork quilt: 6 Free designs for handmade
patchwork quilts using jelly rolls, strip quilting, and more
size, such as 8" square. My blocks vary;
their unfinished size is approximately
7" × 8".
1. With the wrong sides together, pin
the long edge of a print strip to the
edge of a center square/rectangle.
Maintaining a 1⁄4" seam allowance,
stitch the pieces together. Press the
seam away from the center square.
Trim the excess strip length so the
fabric is even with the edges of the
center square/rectangle.
2. Pin a second strip of print fabric
perpendicular to the previously
stitched pair, aligning the edges.
Stitch together. Press the seam away
from the center. Trim any excess
strip length.
Q u i lt i n g A r t s . c o m
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©Interweave Press LLC
how to make a patchwork quilt 1. Using a design wall, arrange your
3. Continuing to work your way
around the center, pin a solid
strip perpendicular to the pieced
trio, aligning the edges. Stitch and
press as before. Trim if necessary.
4. Pin a second solid strip
perpendicular to the pieced block,
aligning the edges. Stitch, press,
and trim if necessary.
concentrically, alternating pairs
of print strips with pairs of solid
strips, until the block measures
about 8" square.
6. Repeat steps 1–5 to make a total
P iecing
the top
Note: In this section the wrong side
refers to the non-raw edge side.
2. With the wrong sides facing, pin
the first two blocks together.
Maintaining a 1⁄4" seam
allowance, stitch the blocks
together. Press the seam to one
side.
3. Pin the third block to the
5. Continue adding strips
of nine blocks.
blocks into three rows of three
blocks each.
stitched pair along the short
edge. Stitch and press as before.
You should have a row of three
blocks.
4. Pin and piece the remaining
blocks into two more rows of
three blocks. Press.
6
free designs for quilts
F inishing
the
quilt
1. Layer the backing fabric
(wrong-side up), batting, and quilt
top (right-side up) on a surface.
2. Baste the layers using your
preferred method.
3. Machine or hand quilt, using
white or cream thread.
4. Trim the layers so they are flush.
5. Sew the binding strips together
using diagonal seams, and bind
the quilt.
To see more of Malka’s work, visit
stitchindye.blogspot.com.
5. Pin and piece the rows together.
Press all of the seams to one side.
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Visual journaling
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Paper quilts
Monoprinting
clothpaperscissors.com
how to make a patchwork quilt: 6 Free designs for handmade
patchwork quilts using jelly rolls, strip quilting, and more
F un with digital collage
Water-soluble paper
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Altered books
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Creating layered
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6
how to make a patchwork quilt free designs for quilts
Adapted from
International Quilt Festival: Quilt Scene
Winter 2009/2010
mini
hexagon quilt
by
M alka D ubrawsky
T
his wee hexagon quilt is a great stash-busting project as well as a wonderful opportunity to
learn about setting in seams. Unlike many quilt tops involving hexagons, this one is machine
pieced rather than hand sewn. Once you get the hang of the technique, it goes together quickly.
how to make a patchwork quilt: 6 Free designs for handmade
patchwork quilts using jelly rolls, strip quilting, and more
Q u i lt i n g A r t s . c o m
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©Interweave Press LLC
how to make a patchwork quilt 6
free designs for quilts
Directions
M aking
the
template and
cutting the fabric
1. Trace the solid outer line of the
hexagon pattern onto paper,
cardboard, or template plastic;
cut it out to make your template.
Also trace the matchpoints at the
corners of the hexagon pattern
onto your template, and poke a
hole at each matchpoint, using
either a pin or a tiny hole punch.
Hexagon Template
Interweave Press LLC grants permission
to photocopy this pattern for personal use.
2. Using your hexagon template,
mark and cut 59 hexagons from
the assorted print fabrics, being
sure to mark the matchpoints
on the wrong side of each fabric
hexagon as you go.
3. From the binding fabric, cut
11⁄2"-wide strips on the bias.
To do this, trim the fabric so that
you have at least one straight
edge. Align the 45° line marked on
your clear ruler along the straight
edge of the fabric. Cut the fabric
to establish an angled guideline.
Use this guideline to cut strips by
placing the ruler marking for 11⁄2"
along this diagonal edge.
P iecing
the
hexagon rows
Note: All seam allowances are 1⁄4". To
set in the seams of the hexagons, the 1⁄4"
seam allowance at the corners is not
sewn.
1. Pin 2 hexagons, right sides
together, so that the marked
corners are visible.
2. Starting at one marked corner,
machine stitch 2 or 3 stitches,
backstitch to the first mark, and
continue forward until you reach
the second mark. Backstitch to
secure and cut the thread. Press
the seam allowance to one side.
3. Start to construct a row by adding
a third hexagon to the pair,
starting and stopping 1⁄4" from
the corners and backstitching to
secure the seam. Press the seam
allowance to one side.
4. Continue adding single hexagons
until you have a row of 8
hexagons.
5. Make a total of four 8-hexagon
rows and three 9-hexagon rows.
P iecing
the rows
together
1. Place one 8-hexagon strip and one
9-hexagon strip on a flat surface so
that the 8-hexagon strip is to the
left of the 9-hexagon strip (with
the strips running vertically).
how to make a patchwork quilt: 6 Free designs for handmade
patchwork quilts using jelly rolls, strip quilting, and more
M at e ria l s
Finished size: 19" × 27"
•Assorted cotton and linen prints,
each measuring at least 5" square
•Fabric for backing, 1⁄2 yd.
•Fabric for binding, 1⁄2 yd.
•Paper, cardboard, or template plastic
•Rotary cutter, acrylic ruler, and
cutting mat
•Cotton batting, about 24" × 36"
•Quilt basting materials
•Pins
•Fabric marker
•Iron
•Sewing machine
•Machine-sewing thread in white or
cream
•Coordinating hand- or
machine-quilting thread
•Hand-sewing needle
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©Interweave Press LLC
how to make a patchwork quilt 2. Place the two hexagon strips
with right sides together so the
edges to be sewn are aligned.
3. Stitch in between the marked
points, remembering to
backstitch to secure the seams.
Cut the thread.
4. Rotate the hexagons to sew the
next pair of edges. Unfold the
pressed seam of the bottom
hexagon. Starting at the
endpoint of the previous seam,
sew to the next marked point,
remembering to backstitch. Cut
the thread.
5. Rotate the hexagons and sew
the edge perpendicular to the
previous seam, starting at the
endpoint of the previous seam,
and stitching to the next marked
point. Cut the thread.
2. Baste the top using your
preferred method.
3. Machine or hand quilt using
coordinating thread. Trim the quilt
layers so they are flush.
4. Using diagonal seams, machine
stitch the binding strips together.
5. Beginning along one long edge and
leaving a 6" tail, stitch the binding
strip to the quilt, right sides
together, maintaining a 1⁄4" seam
allowance.
6. Stitch to the matchpoint and sink
the needle into the fabric. Lift the
presser foot, pivot, and adjust the
binding and quilt top so that the
raw edges continue to fall under
the right edge of the presser foot.
6
free designs for quilts
7. Lower the presser foot and sew
until you reach the next point or
corner.
8. Repeat steps 7 and 8 for all
corners and points.
Note: The stretchiness of the bias-cut
binding allows you to maneuver around
the shaped edges.
9. Continue stitching until the
binding is attached and you’ve
joined the beginning and end of
the binding strip.
10.Hand stitch the binding to
the back side of your quilt,
remembering to turn under the
1
⁄4" seam allowance.
Enjoy your small hexagon quilt.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5, unfolding
the pressed seam every
other rotation, to sew the
entire 8-hexagon strip to the
9-hexagon strip.
7. Place the sewn strips face-down
on your ironing board and
gently finger-press the seams to
one side.
8. Repeat steps 3–7 to attach
the remaining 8-hexagon and
9-hexagon strips, one at a time.
F inishing
the quilt
1. Working on a flat surface,
layer the backing fabric
(wrong-side up),
batting, and quilt top
(right-side up).
how to make a patchwork quilt: 6 Free designs for handmade
patchwork quilts using jelly rolls, strip quilting, and more
Q u i lt i n g A r t s . c o m
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©Interweave Press LLC
how to make a patchwork quilt out of the
6
free designs for quilts
Adapted from
Quilting Arts Magazine
December/January 2008
Dustbin Quilts
by
A nnette M organ
“Out of the Dustbin II” • 361⁄2" × 273⁄4"
W
hat do you do with quilts that, in your estimation, have gone
wrong? Perhaps you don’t like the color, shape, quilting design,
or the fabric you have used. I have a solution, and this is how it came
about:
how to make a patchwork quilt: 6 Free designs for handmade
patchwork quilts using jelly rolls, strip quilting, and more
Eighteen months ago, I had just
given a talk about my quilts to a
group of enthusiasts. When packing
the quilts away, I found some very
early ones about a yard in size that
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©Interweave Press LLC
how to make a patchwork quilt 6
free designs for quilts
M at e ria l s
•Discarded quilt
•Emulsion (latex house paint) and
acrylic paints in desired colors
•Plastic sheeting to protect work
surface
•Paintbrushes
•Sewing machine and thread
•Rotary cutter, mat, and ruler
imperfections and I would have a
blank canvas on which to work.
Initially I loaded the quilt surface
with paint, which concealed all the
color, but I then discovered that by
brushing lightly with the emulsion
paint, some of the color near the
stitching was retained. I painted half
the quilt thoroughly and the other
half lightly. This painting highlighted
the quilted texture, which I then
exploited by dry brushing with acrylic
paint once the emulsion paint was
dry. I often mix acrylic colors and
media together and my favorite color
at the moment is turquoise. For
these quilts, I mixed the color with
an iridescent medium and, using a
dry brush, gently brushed it over the
surface.
Detail from “Out of the Dustbin II”
were not really worth keeping (or so
I thought). The quilting wasn’t very
good, and the appliqué designs were
not very sophisticated, so I decided
to put two of them in the dustbin.
Soon after, a former student of mine
phoned with a query about some
work, and once the question was
settled, she asked what I was up to.
On hearing that I had thrown some
quilts away, she told me I couldn’t
possibly do that and I should retrieve
them. I got them “out of the dustbin”
and thought, “Okay, what am I going
to do with them now?”
I have always been a rebel, and my
students say my motto is “What
if?” I like trying new ideas, playing,
and experimenting, so after some
consideration, I decided to do
something extraordinary with those
quilts.
I laid them on my worktable and
painted them with white emulsion
(latex) paint, back and front. I
thought this would cover up any
how to make a patchwork quilt: 6 Free designs for handmade
patchwork quilts using jelly rolls, strip quilting, and more
I love designing by collage so once
the quilts were dry, I cut them up
with my rotary cutter and started to
play around with the shapes on my
design wall. Once I was happy with
the position of the pieces, I joined
them together with a decorative,
V-shaped embroidery stitch. This is
traditionally known as faggoting, but
can go by other names; for example,
on the Bernina® 1080 it is called a
“gathering stitch.” In order to add
further interest, I appliquéd some
shapes onto the surface using a zigzag
Q u i lt i n g A r t s . c o m
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free designs for quilts
“Out of the Dustbin” • 36" × 33"
how to make a patchwork quilt stitch. I was so pleased with the
resultant piece that I entered it into
a juried show (Contemporary Art
Quilts 2006). It was accepted and
toured to three different venues in the
U.K.
P ainting
the quilt
1. Put on old clothes and shoes and
cover a table with plastic sheeting.
Place your quilt on the plastic.
how to make a patchwork quilt: 6 Free designs for handmade
patchwork quilts using jelly rolls, strip quilting, and more
2. Open the paint container—
sometimes I decant some of the
paint into a jam jar to make it more
manageable—and start to paint the
surface.
Q u i lt i n g A r t s . c o m
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©Interweave Press LLC
how to make a patchwork quilt 3. Paint half the quilt quite densely,
getting into all the cracks and
crevices. Paint the other half quite
lightly to retain some of the color
near the stitching.
4. Now turn the quilt over and paint
the back thoroughly. The back
needs to be painted, otherwise it
won’t hang or stitch well. Allow
to dry.
Note: Drying the quilt may take
24–48 hours, depending on the weather.
5. If you choose to add color, use a
dry brush and apply acrylic paint
next. Allow it to dry thoroughly.
6. Now is the time to cut up your
quilt and reassemble it, but
consider the following before
cutting:
•Can you utilize any features
of the quilt, such as appliqué,
piecing, or quilting patterns?
These can be focal points on the
new quilt.
•Borders and bindings often
make good edges for the square
or oblong pieces, or they can be
re-used as borders and bindings
on the new piece.
•Juxtapose the heavily painted
pieces with the lighter painted
sections for added interest.
M aking
the quilt
1. Using your rotary cutter, mat, and
ruler, cut the quilt into sections.
The easiest size to work with is
4"–6" squares and similar size
oblongs.
2. Consider whether you want a
border; if so, allow some cut areas
of the painted quilt for this.
6
free designs for quilts
3. Play around with the pieces on a
design wall or table until you are
happy with the placement.
4. Set up your sewing machine with
white cotton thread in the bobbin
and a colored thread in the needle
that matches the tone of the color
on the top of the quilt.
5. Take 2 squares and butt the edges
together so that the corners meet;
place them under the presser
foot. Using a zigzag or a faggoting
stitch, sew the pieces together,
making sure you reverse stitch
at the beginning and end of the
faggoting to secure the ends.
Because of the stiffness of the
fabric and the fact you are butting
the edges together, it is difficult
to pin the pieces together, so you
have to do this by eye and hand.
6. Sew strips of squares and oblongs
and then stitch the strips together,
butting the edges as you go along,
square to square.
7. In order to make a border, you
can butt a strip around the edge
and stitch as before (see option
a below), but I think if the quilt
is put onto the border strips and
machine appliquéd in place (option
b) it makes the quilt stronger.
a) Cut 2 strips the same length as
the top and bottom of the quilt
and attach the strips to the edges
of the quilt, using the faggoting
stitch. Then cut strips to the
length of the sides and stitch them
in place the same way. Because the
edges of the quilt are raw, you can
trim the edges after stitching.
how to make a patchwork quilt: 6 Free designs for handmade
patchwork quilts using jelly rolls, strip quilting, and more
Detail from “Out of the Dustbin”
b) Cut strips larger than the size
of the quilt and arrange them
in a border pattern on a table,
overlapping the strips at the
corners. Place the quilt on top of
this border, arrange it until it is
pleasing, and then pin it in place—
long quilting pins are useful here.
Using a zigzag stitch, sew the quilt
down onto the border, and stitch
the corners of the quilt, also with a
zigzag stitch.
8. Stitch a sleeve and label to the
back of the quilt.
To see more of Annette’s work, visit
annettemorgan.co.uk.
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how to make a patchwork quilt A new twist on using
men’s ties
in quilts
by J eannie
6
free designs for quilts
Adapted from
Quilting Arts Magazine
December 2008/January 2009
P almer M oore
O
ver a year ago, while
visiting my sister, she
asked me to help her drag
out a large wicker chest from
her studio. Her friend Tita
had dropped it by in hopes
that its contents could be
put to good use in our art
quilts. One by one we pulled
out hundreds of very retro,
bright, colorful, beautiful,
stunning, and hilarious men’s
ties. (Tita’s father was an
interior designer and he had
left quite a collection.)
Suddenly, I was presented with
this wonderful array of fabrics
that needed to be tastefully
designed and assembled into a
quilt. We had ties with stripes
in all colors and patterns;
large and small paisleys, polka
dots, outrageous solids with
patterning, geometrics, and
houndstooth check to name
only a few. Normally, I dye
my own quilting fabrics, so
this was quite a challenge. We
first sorted the ties by color,
and then again to get a nice
combination of solids and prints
with darks and lights.
Sometimes the fabrics in ties
can be a little overpowering, so
“Wildfire” • 211⁄2" × 17" • “This was my first quilt done entirely of ties. I was drawn toward the
bag of red ties primarily because, at the time, we had just survived another wildfire evacuation.
Quilting was my way of getting back to our normal way of life. I sewed the strips of ties in a
vertical fashion to simulate the flames climbing up and over our hillsides. Free-motion stitches of
flames and smoke cover the quilt, and the tags outline the curves of the hillside.”
how to make a patchwork quilt: 6 Free designs for handmade
patchwork quilts using jelly rolls, strip quilting, and more
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©Interweave Press LLC
6
free designs for quilts
“Black & White” • 20" × 221⁄2"
how to make a patchwork quilt M at e ria l s
•White cotton fabric and white silk
for the quilt background
•Black and white ties
•Fabric paints
•Paintbrushes
•Stamps
•Sewing machine
•Needle-felting machine
•Silver thread
•Fibers: roving, yarn, silk cording,
I was thinking that they might need to
be combined with other fabrics.
some of the skinnier ones were quite
stunning.
My first thoughts were focused on how
I could rip the ties apart and reassemble
them so that they no longer looked like
just ties in a quilt. The tie fabric could
be cut in squares or any other shape,
or torn into strips and woven or sewn
together. The wool ties could be needle
felted. I soon discovered that there were
many possibilities. Obviously, the nice
wide ties give you the most yardage, but
The most time-consuming part of
this project was ripping the ties apart.
But that’s when I discovered even
more inspiration: the interesting
labels. If these ties could talk, each
one would most definitely tell a story.
Incorporating the labels was clearly
another design element to consider. 
cheesecloth
how to make a patchwork quilt: 6 Free designs for handmade
patchwork quilts using jelly rolls, strip quilting, and more
Even though I already had all of these
neatly sorted bags of ties, I decided
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how to make a patchwork quilt 6
free designs for quilts
to visit my local thrift store and see
what else was out there. I discovered
a whole batch of black-and-white ties
that I immediately purchased to add
to my collection.
Mixed media
with ties
(See “Black & White” quilt on page 21.)
1. From your white cotton and silk,
cut a total of 4 squares that will
be pieced together to make the
background “canvas.” (Determine
the cutting size based on your
desired finished quilt size.) I used
2 cotton and 2 silk squares.
2. Stitch the 4 squares together by
machine to make one big square.
3. Paint and stamp the white squares
with fabric paints.
tips for creating with
men’s ties
•Look for contrast and texture when
picking out ties for a project. Solid ties
of the same hue don’t work as well
together.
•Use a seam ripper to disassemble the
tie. You’ll get the most yardage from
your tie by opening it up and pressing
it flat.
•Save the tags!
•The coarsely woven lining from each
tie can be needle felted.
•Wool ties are great for needle felting;
“Tie Sampler” • 131⁄2" × 12" • “I love to explore and experiment so I was excited to see that
it was possible to attach ties, labels, organza, roving, silk cording, and cheesecloth with only
a needle-felting machine and no thread. I created the tuxedo ruffle by needle felting down the
middle of a strip of organza. The only thread I used was to attach the shirt collar buttons for a
finishing touch.”
4. Arrange pieces of the ties on your
pieced background and appliqué
them in place.
5. Mask off different areas and
silk ties snag but can be combined
with organza or cheesecloth.
add hand-written text. I used a
Thermofax® screen I had made.
•Take frequent breaks while working
6. Free-motion stitch all over to hold
to view the quilt sideways or upside
down. This is a good time to check
the contrast of your lights and darks,
values, and composition.
the layers of your quilt in position
and to keep your quilt from
“shrinking” while you needle felt.
(I was excited to see how the silver
how to make a patchwork quilt: 6 Free designs for handmade
patchwork quilts using jelly rolls, strip quilting, and more
thread for my free-motion stitching
complemented the black and white.)
7. Needle felt as desired. I needle
felted parts of the wool ties along
with roving, yarn, silk cording, and
cheesecloth.
Now snatch up some old ties and
start quilting before ties become
obsolete!
To see more of Jeannie’s work, visit
jpmartist.com.
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©Interweave Press LLC
how to make a patchwork quilt free designs for quilts
Adapted from
International Quilt Festival:
Quilt Scene Winter 2010/2011
inside out
baby quilt
6
by
M alka D ubrawsky
Traditional meets contemporary with string piecing
how to make a patchwork quilt: 6 Free designs for handmade
patchwork quilts using jelly rolls, strip quilting, and more
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©Interweave Press LLC
how to make a patchwork quilt 6
free designs for quilts
O
ne of the simplest ways to make a traditional block
feel fresh and modern is to radically change its
proportions. I can think of few blocks more associated with
traditional quilting than Grandmother’s Flower Garden, a
pattern of hexagons usually painstakingly pieced using
the English Paper Piecing method. To give this design a
contemporary feel, I divided each hexagon into three
supersized string-pieced sections, with the strings
cut freehand using a rotary cutter. The strings lend a
scrappy quality but don’t diminish the quilt’s overall
modern sense because the palette is limited to shades
of orange for the hexagons and gray for the background
diamonds. Finally, I coordinated the color of the binding strips
to the edges of the quilt. The result is a shaped baby quilt that can
function as a scrap-busting project while packing a powerful visual
M at e ria l s
punch.
Directions
Note: All seam allowances are 1⁄4".
M aking
that measure at least 11⁄2" × 12".
Again, don’t worry about exact
measurements and aim for a
variety of widths.
the
templates and
cutting the fabric
M aking
1. Enlarge the template patterns and
1. Gather 4–5 orange strips and place
trace them onto paper, cardboard,
or template plastic; cut them out
to make templates. Label the
templates A and B.
2. From the assorted orange fabrics,
freehand cut 90 or more strips that
measure at least 11⁄2" × 10", using
the rotary cutter as you would
draw with a pencil. Don’t worry
about exact measurements, and
aim for a variety of widths; the
number of strips you will need
depends on the widths.
3. From the assorted gray fabrics,
the
hexagon blocks
them side-by-side on a table to
determine the desired arrangement.
(Figure 1) Position Template A
on top of the strips to determine
if you will need additional
strips. (Remember to take seam
allowances into consideration.)
2. Sew the long edges of 2 strips
together. Press the seam to 1 side.
Repeat to add the remaining strips.
Press.
3. Place the pieced fabrics right-side
up on a cutting mat. Position
Template A on top. (Figure 2)
Approximate finished size:
36" × 36"
•Assorted cotton and linen prints
and solids in orange (I used about
25 different orange fabrics. If you are
using scraps, note that the pieces must
measure at least
11⁄2" × 10". You will be freehand cutting
90 or more strips of approximately this
size—see Step 2.)
•Assorted cotton and linen prints and
solids in gray (I used about 17 different
gray fabrics. If you are using scraps, note
that the pieces must measure at least
11⁄2" × 12". You will be freehand cutting
35 or more strips of approximately this
size—see Step 3.)
•Coordinating cotton fabric for backing,
1 yd.
•6 orange bias-cut strips for binding, each
11⁄2" × 10"
•6 gray bias-cut strips for binding, each
11⁄2" × 20"
•Cotton batting, crib size
•Paper, cardboard, or clear plastic for
making templates
freehand cut 35 or more strips
how to make a patchwork quilt: 6 Free designs for handmade
patchwork quilts using jelly rolls, strip quilting, and more
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©Interweave Press LLC
how to make a patchwork quilt 6
Outer
Hexagon
Block
free designs for quilts
First outer
corner
Outer
Hexagon
Block
Common edges
Center
Hexagon
Block
Sewn seam
Figure 5
Figure 1
Using a rotary cutter, cut out the
1
⁄3-hexagon shape. (Figure 3)
4. Repeat steps 1–3 to make 2 more
shapes.
5. Arrange the (3) 1⁄3-hexagon
Figure 2
shapes to form a hexagon. (Figure
4) Pin sections 1 and 2 along
their common edge, with the
right sides facing. Sew the pieces
together, stopping 1⁄4" from the
center corner. Press the seam
toward section 1.
6. Align and pin the common edges
of pieces 2 and 3. Sew from the
outer corner, stopping 1⁄4" from
the center.
7. Cut the thread. Align and pin the
Figure 3
common edges of pieces 1 and
3. Start 1⁄4" from the center and
sew the seam. Press the seams to
either direction.
8. Repeat steps 1–7 to make a total
of 7 orange hexagon blocks.
P iecing
the
hexagons
together
1. Pin the center hexagon block and
Figure 4
1 outer hexagon block together
along the common edges. (Figure
5) Start 1⁄4" from a corner and sew
the blocks together, stopping 1⁄4"
from the opposite corner. Press
the seam toward the center block.
how to make a patchwork quilt: 6 Free designs for handmade
patchwork quilts using jelly rolls, strip quilting, and more
Center
Hexagon
Block
Second outer
corner
Figure 6
2. Pin a third hexagon block to the
sewn pair along the common
edges. Starting 1⁄4" from the first
outer corner, sew toward the
center, stopping 1⁄4" from the
center. Cut the thread and realign
the pieces to sew from the center
to the outer corner. Start 1⁄4" from
the center and sew to 1⁄4" from
the outer corner. Press the seams
toward the center block. (Figure 6)
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 to attach
3 additional hexagon blocks.
(Figure 7) For the final block,
align the block with the sewn
section along the first common
edge. Start 1⁄4" from the outer
corner and sew toward the first
corner, stopping 1⁄4" from the first
interior corner. (Figure 8)
4. Cut the thread and realign the
final hexagon block and the sewn
section along the next common
edge. Starting 1⁄4" from the first
corner, sew toward the second
interior corner, stopping 1⁄4" from
the second interior corner.
5. Cut the thread and realign the
final hexagon block and the sewn
section along the last common
edge. Starting 1⁄4" from the second
interior corner, sew toward the
outer corner, stopping 1⁄4" from
the outer corner. Press the seams
toward the center block.
Q u i lt i n g A r t s . c o m
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©Interweave Press LLC
how to make a patchwork quilt 6
free designs for quilts
First
common
edge
First
common
edge
Figure 7
M aking
the
diamond blocks
Note: I made 2 different types of
string-pieced diamonds. In 4 of the
diamonds, the strings run the width of
the diamond, while in 2 the strings run
the length. This is strictly a personal
preference. Whether you choose to
have the strings run the length, width,
or both, make sure the string-sewn
section is large enough to accommodate
diamond Template B.
1. Arrange 5–7 gray strips of varying
widths on a table to decide on the
placement. Position Template B
on top of the strips to determine
if additional strips are necessary
(consider seam allowances).
2. Sew and press the strips together as
you did for the orange strips.
3. Place Template B on top of the
sewn strips, and trim the sewn
strips to the diamond shape.
4. Repeat steps 1–3 to make a total of
6 string-pieced diamonds.
P iecing
the
diamonds to the
hexagons
1. Working with 1 diamond at a time,
align the first common edge of the
diamond and the hexagon. (Figure 9)
Note: The outer diamond corners
Figure 8
Figure 9
should extend beyond the edges by 1⁄4".
You may find it helpful to mark the 1⁄4"
seam allowance on the wrong side of the
diamond.
2. Start at the outer corner and sew
toward the center, stopping 1⁄4"
from the center.
3. Cut the thread. Realign the second
common edges of the diamond and
hexagon. Start 1⁄4" from the center
and sew to the outer corner.
4. Repeat steps 1–3 to add the
remaining diamonds.
Quilting
the layers
1. Working on a flat surface, layer the
backing fabric (wrong-side up),
batting, and quilt top (right-side up).
2. Baste the layers together using
your preferred method.
3. Machine or hand quilt using
coordinating thread. Remove the
basting as you work. I
free-motion quilted, working from
the quilt center in concentric
circles spaced about 1⁄4" apart.
4. Trim the layers so they are flush.
A dding
and piecing
the binding
1. With the right sides together,
center an orange binding strip
along 1 orange edge of the quilt.
how to make a patchwork quilt: 6 Free designs for handmade
patchwork quilts using jelly rolls, strip quilting, and more
Figure 10
Note: A strip tail several inches long
should extend beyond each end of the
orange section.
2. Sew the center 2" of the strip to
the quilt top.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 with the
remaining orange strips, and then
repeat with the gray strips.
4. Working with a pair of adjacent
gray and orange strips, abut the
strips at the quilt seam. Fold
the strips back at 45° angles in
opposite directions. (Figure 10)
Finger crease the folds.
5. Unfold both strips and, with
the right sides together, match
the creased lines. Sew the strips
together along the creased lines.
Trim the seam allowance to 1⁄4" and
finger press it open.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 to sew all
of the remaining binding strips
together.
7. Finish sewing the binding to the
quilt top and join the ends of the
binding strips.
8. Hand stitch the binding to the back
of your quilt, remembering to turn
under the 1⁄4" seam allowance.
To see more of Malka’s work, visit
stitchindye.com.
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©Interweave Press LLC
how to make a patchwork quilt Template B
Cut
along
dotted line
6
free designs for quilts
Template A
Cut
along
solid line
Enlarge pattern 120%
Enlarge pattern 147%
Interweave grants permission
to photocopy these patterns for personal use.
how to make a patchwork quilt: 6 Free designs for handmade
patchwork quilts using jelly rolls, strip quilting, and more
Q u i lt i n g A r t s . c o m
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©Interweave Press LLC
how to make a patchwork quilt stacked coins
quilt
by
6
free designs for quilts
Adapted from
101 Patchwork Projects + Quilts
2011
A imee R aymond
T
he colored blocks in this
traditional quilt pattern
resemble a stack of coins. Using a
precut jelly roll makes this project
fast and simple for any skill level.
Directions
1. Arrange the jelly roll strips in an
order that is pleasing to you.
2. Join all of the strips, long sides
together.
3. Square up your newly constructed
piece by trimming off all selvedges.
Using the sewn seams as the straight
horizontal lines, cut (8) 5" strips
from this piece, squaring up the edge
after each cut.
M at e ria l s
4. From each 5" strip, connect the
bottom coin to the top coin, forming
a fabric tube. Repeat for all of the
strips except 1.
5. Chose a spot to rip out a seam from
each fabric tube. You are turning the
fabric tube back into a column of
coins, but by choosing which seam
to release, you are choosing a new
coin to be at the top of each column.
This will make each column of
coins different and help spread color
throughout the design.
6. Assemble your solid color sashing
strips by connecting 2 strips at the
short, 5" ends. Make 9 sashing strips.
•1 jelly roll
•(18) 5" × width of fabric strips of
coordinating solid for sashing
•Seam ripper
7. Sew a coin strip to a sashing strip.
Repeat this for all of the coin and
sashing pairs. Keep in mind that the
sashing should be on the outsides of
the final quilt.
Tip: Sew these with the coin strip on
the top so you can control the seam
allowances as they pass under the needle.
8. Connect all coin and sashing pairs.
Use several pins to ensure that the
coins are lined up correctly.
how to make a patchwork quilt: 6 Free designs for handmade
patchwork quilts using jelly rolls, strip quilting, and more
Tip: Complete your quilt top in 2 parts,
then sew the parts together last. This
reduces the weight of the quilt dragging
from the needle, which is easier on your
machine and increases your accuracy.
9. Piece your backing fabric if
necessary; layer, baste, quilt, and
bind.
To see more of Aimee’s work, visit
saltmarshdesigns.blogspot.com
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©Interweave Press LLC