Download Stars in my heart - Popular Patchwork

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A P P L I Q U É L A P Q U I LT
Stars in my heart
Simple appliqué and patchwork techniques create a complex design
in this throw over quilt by Dilys Fronks.
Dilys was taught this block design many
years ago and has since developed it into
a small quilt consisting of nine 12" blocks.
Alternatively, it would be ideal for inclusion
in a sampler quilt or as an individual cushion.
The instructions given here are for traditional
hand appliqué, however, you could use
whichever is your favourite appliqué method.
Two variations are given - the throw uses the
second variation with a pieced ‘diamond’
centre. It is a good idea to make a sample
block to understand the technique. This can
then be made into a co-ordinating cushion.
Materials
Materials required for a 121/2" sample block:
❖ 121/2" square for the background fabric
❖ 1/8 yd scrap fabric for the hearts
❖ Template plastic or tracing paper and card
plus:
❖ 121/2" square for the backing fabric
❖ 121/2" square of wadding
Finished size: 57 x 57"
Skill level: Intermediate
To make a sample
block
1
Trace the heart shape
(Fig 1) accurately onto
the template plastic.
2
Draw round the heart
onto the right side of the
fabric, with the grain line
running through the centre
of the heart. Add 1/4" seam
allowance all round and cut
out (Fig 2). Make 8 hearts
in total.
8 " NC
T
U /4 A
C D 1 OW
AD ALL
AM
SE
ST
R
RT
EA
H
AI
G
H
T
G
RA
IN
E
E
AT
PL
M
TE
Fig 2. Draw around the template,
add seam allowance and cut.
3
2
1/
4"
Clip right up to the line
at the ‘V’ of the heart
and clip at 1/8" intervals
round the curves of the
heart, cutting almost up
to the line (Fig 3).
4
In preparation for
tacking, go round the
heart and press the seam
allowance underneath with
your fingers, ensuring the
drawn line is just out of sight.
Fig 1. One quarter of the total design and the heart template.
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5
Using tacking thread
with a knot at one end,
and the right side of the
fabric towards you, turn
under and tack the
seam allowance.
Fig 3. Clipping into the curves and
tacking the seam allowance (step 5).
TIP!
You will get a better
result if you sew close to
the edge of the heart with
small stitches. The bulk
of the seam allowance
can be ironed under
when the stitching is
finished. It is important
to get an accurate heart
shape as the hearts will
form the star pattern!
Fig 4. Folding and marking the background fabric 21/4" from the centre.
6
Fold the background
fabric in half vertically
and crease press with
fingers. Do the same
horizontally and on both
diagonals (Fig 4). Measure
21/4" out from the centre
and make a faint line with
pencil or disappearing
marking pen on each of
the creases. These marks
will be used for placing
the hearts.
7
Place the hearts in
sequence on a creased
line, so that each point lies
on the marked line and the
‘V’ lies on the crease
(Fig 5). The sides of the
heart will touch to form the
points of the star. Pin or
tack the hearts in place.
12
Fig 5. Pinning the hearts onto the background fabric.
8
Hand appliqué using a
matching thread and
invisible stitch to hold each
heart firmly in place.
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Options
1
If using a plaid or other ‘folksy’ fabric, make a feature by blanket stitching around the edge of the heart and use
a thicker thread. For a contrasting coloured star (sample 2), cut out a circle, with a 4” radius. Do not add a seam
allowance. Crease press it into 8 and lay on the background square, so that the creases match. The hearts will touch
at the edge of the circle and cover the raw edge.
2
You can cut away the background fabric from the heart if you wish. This will give a puffier effect when quilted.
However, it is not recommended if the item is to be heavily used or laundered.
Sample 1 - sewn using the first technique.
Sample 2 - sewn with a circle to create a
Sample 3 - careful placement of the heart
contrasting star colour and alternate fabrics
template on the fabric creates a repeating
on the stars.
motif on each heart.
Lap Quilt
Preparation of the
patchwork background
(bias squares)
1
Cut four 7" squares, 2
light and 2 dark fabrics.
Draw a diagonal line onto
the wrong side of both
fabrics (Fig 6). Place the
light and dark fabrics with
right sides together.
2
Sew two lines, parallel
and 1/4", either side of
the diagonal line (Fig 7).
Press the squares to set the
stitches before cutting.
3
Cut along the diagonal
to give 2 bias squares
(Fig 8). Iron the seam
towards the dark fabric.
Use a bias square ruler
to trim the blocks to 61/2"
(Fig 9). Repeat with the
other two squares.
All fabric quantities based on 45" 112cm fabric which is pre-washed
❖ 13/4m of fabric for the lattice, border and binding
❖ 1/2m of accent fabric for stars and prairie points
❖ 1 fat quarter (optional) for the inner frame for the blocks
4
Join the four bias
squares to create the
121/2" windmill block. Make
sure the points at the centre
seam are accurate (Fig 10).
You will need to sew 9
blocks in total for the quilt.
Preparation of the
9 heart blocks
1
Prepare the hearts
according to the previous
Fig 6. Draw a diagonal line on
Fig 7. Stitch either side of the
each square.
diagonal using a 1/4" allowance.
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Materials
❖ 3/4m each of 2 fabrics for the patchwork backgrounds - choose fabrics
with some tonal contrast
❖ 1m of fabric in total for the hearts
❖ 150cm square of wadding (Perfect Cotton was used here)
❖ 150cm square of backing fabric
instructions. You will need
8 per block, 72 in total.
2
Measure 21/4" from the
centre of the windmill
block and position and
sew the hearts as per
the previous instructions.
Prepare 9 121/2" blocks
in total.
Fig 8. Cut on the diagonal to give 2 bias squares.
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Tilting the blocks
The blocks would look
just fine set on the straight in
a traditional way. However, for
more movement in the final
design, set at a jaunty angle.
1
For each block, cut 2
border strips 2 x 121/2"
and sew these to the top
and bottom of the block.
Cut 2 strips 2 x 15" and
sew to the sides (Fig 11).
2
Place a ruler on one of
these borders, so that it
goes from the top right corner
to pass 3/4" above the
corner of the block. Draw
this line (Fig 12). Repeat on
the other three sides and then
cut using a rotary cutter.
The cut block will still be
square but slightly tilted.
3
Add a second 2" border
strip to the block and
repeat the marking and
cutting of the tilted lines.
The rotation will become
more exaggerated.
TIP!
The block will finish at
about 151/2" square. Check
the size of each block *
and adjust to the smallest
block size if necessary.
This measurement * is
important as it will
determine the length of
the lattice strips and the
border strips.
Fig 10. Windmill block made from 4 bias squares.
Fig 9. Trim the squares to 61/4".
Setting the quilt
To prepare the lattice
strips, cut 12 strips 31/2"
x * (see Tip! left). Cut
parallel to the selvage.
placing a second square on
the adjacent corner. Sew 8
lattice strips like this and sew
4 lattice strips with squares
at either end (Fig 14).
2
5
1
Cut four strips 8 x 22"
from the accent fabric
for the prairie points. Put
on one side.
3
For the four lattice
stars, cut out four 31/2"
squares from the remainder
of the accent fabric. From
the same fabric, cut 32 11/2"
squares and mark or crease
press these smaller squares
across one diagonal.
4
Place one small square,
right sides together onto
the corner of a lattice strip.
Sew on the diagonal. Cut
away the excess fabric, to
leave a 1/4" seam allowance
and press (Fig. 13). Repeat,
Join the accent fabric
squares with the
appropriate lattice strips or
heart blocks to make rows.
Sew the rows together to
make the quilt centre (Fig 15).
6
Cut the border strips.
Measure the horizontal
width across the middle of
the quilt and cut two strips
at this length, 31/2" wide. Sew
these to the top and bottom
edges of the quilt, adjusting
the quilt edge to fit the border
strip if necessary. Iron.
Measure vertically down the
middle of the quilt and cut
two more borders at this
length, 31/2" wide. Sew on
these borders and iron.
7
Place the quilt top onto
the wadding and backing
fabric, which should be
about 1" larger all the way
round. Pin and tack. Quilt
the top by hand or machine
as preferred (Fig 16).
Prairie points and
finishing the quilt
1
Take the cut accent
fabric strips (8x22")
and mark down the centre
of the strip. Mark one half
at 4" intervals and mark the
other half in the same way,
starting 2" in from the end
(Fig 17). Cut away the excess
fabric from the end of the
top line and the start of the
lower line. This staggers the
lines. Cut along the marked
lines, stopping at the centre
line. Fold the strips twice,
as shown, to make a string
of prairie points. Fold the
lines of points together and
Option
To define the edges of the
blocks, you can add a
strong accent fabric. Cut
four 3/4" wide strips to the
length of your block. Fold
each strip in half, and
with raw edges matching,
tack them to the outer
edge of all the blocks
(about 1/8" from the edge,
so the line of tacking
stitches will be covered).
These strips will be caught
in the seam when the
lattice strips are added
leaving 1/8" visible.
Fig 11. Sew on the 4 borders.
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Fig 12. Marking the tilt lines on the borders.
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A
A
A
B
B
A
Fig 13. Sewing the star points
onto the lattice strips.
lift and refold them so that
they interlock. There will be
10 points in each strip.
A
B
B
A
A
A
2
Place two prairie point
strips on opposite corners
with raw edges level with
the raw edges of the quilt.
The points will meet at the
corner (Fig 18). Tack them
about 1/2" in from the edge
so that the tacking can be
easily removed.
3
Binding: Cut 21/2" strips
of lattice fabric and sew
them together with a diagonal
seam to make a continuous
61/2 yard length of binding.
Press this in half with the
Fig 15. Layout of the heart blocks, lattice strips and borders.
wrong sides together. With
raw edges together, sew it
all round the quilt with a
good 1/4" seam, mitring the
corners. Catch the folded
edge by hand onto the back
of the quilt to complete.
A
B
Fig 14. Make 8 lattice strips like A and 4 like B.
16
Fig 16. Quilting suggestion to echo the block design.
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A P P L I Q U É L A P Q U I LT
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Fig 17. Marking, cutting and folding the prairie points.
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Fig 18. Positioning the prairie points on adjacent corners.
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