Quilt-A-Long Part Two

Welcome back to my quilt along!  Today's post features the cutting and piecing directions for the center panel.  To purchase the batiks used in this quilt, visit the Connecting Threads website: Light & Bright Batik Fat Quarter Sampler (24 pieces),  http://www.connectingthreads.com/Kits/Light__Bright_Batik_Fat_Quarter_Sampler__D5182.HTML

If you would like to purchase a completed draft of this pattern without the applique shapes, it is available on Craftsy for download on this link: http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/quilting/home-decor/flying-to-paradise-quilt-along-draft/65553 .

Note: All seam allowances are ¼ inch unless otherwise indicated.

SORT FABRICS:

·         For the center Twin Sisters blocks, choose 8 of your favorite prints. 

·         Separate the piles into light and dark fabrics.

·         Pair one light fat quarter with one dark fat quarter.  To check for contrast, squint at your fabric choices to ensure fabrics do not bleed into one another.  You will need four pairs.

CUTTING INSTRUCTIONS:

·         Fat quarter cutting directions are listed in the areas of the blocks they will be cut into.

·         From the 2 1/8 yards fabric for the inner border, cut four 6 ½ inch wide strips along the length of grain.

·         From the 2 ¼ yards fabric for the outer border, cut four 6 ½ inch wide strips along the length of grain.

FOR THE TWIN SISTERS BLOCKS:

·         From the 8 fat quarters previously set aside, divide them into 4 contrasting pairs.  Each pair should yield 4 blocks, totaling 16 blocks.To ensure there is enough contrast between the prints, squint at them to ensure enough difference.   Rotary cut four inch wide strips along the width of the fabric.

·         Pair four-inch strips with the previously sorted coordinating fat quarter and sew these strips into pairs.  Press seams towards the darker fabric.

·  

            Cut these strips into triangles using a 45 degree ruler or 45 degree line on the rotary cutting mat.

·         Sort the triangles into dark sets (darker color is the larger parallelogram) and light sets (lighter color is the parallelogram).  Coordinate four matching colored sets.  (See diagram.)

 

·          Rotate the triangles so the bias cut edge is on the outside of the block with the center points facing in.  Pin match the center of the block.  The seams will go in the opposite direction and allow the block to nest.  Tip!  To ensure all the blocks spin in the same direction, always piece with the same block on top.

·        

 Sew the four matching colored sets into 16 quilt blocks for the center panel.  Use caution when sewing the blocks together as the outer edge may stretch due to the bias edge being there.