May 23, 2016
sewing, quilting
beginner

Americana Quilt

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If you can cut and sew straight lines you can make a quilt with massive patriotic impact. This quilt square is constructed from contrasting and complimentary fabrics in red white and blue. Combine as many squares as you want for a quilt of any size that celebrates the USA.

The directions are designed to make one square. Make additional squares and sew the squares together to make the quilt to the desired size. Use a 1/4” seam allowance for each seam. The fabric used in the project was from the Americana collection from Mary Fons. Click here to download instructions.

Materials:

  • Color 1 blue stars fabric (fat quarters) cut 1 square at 9 7/8”
  • Color 2 assorted reds (fat quarters) cut 5 squares at 3 7/8”
  • Color 3 assorted white prints (fat quarters) cut seven squares at 3 7/8”
  • 1/2 Yard of blue striped fabric for sashing
  • 1 Yard of small blue print for sashing and binding
  • Madeira® Cotona thread for piecing
  • Madeira Quilting Thread
  • Batting
  • Backing fabric
  • Rotary cutter and mat
  • 3” x 18” Straight edge ruler
  • Basic sewing supplies

Tools:

  • Baby Lock Coronet
  • Baby Lock Lyric Sewing Machine

Steps:

  1. Diagonally cut the star fabric square in half from corner to corner as shown below.

  2. From the assorted red fabric squares cut 10 half square triangle sections from each of the squares.

  3. From the assorted tan fabrics squares cut 13 half square triangles.

  4. Sew pairs of red and tan half square triangles together along the diagonal cut line. Make ten sets. Press the seam to the darker fabric. Trim the sets to 3 1/2” squares.

  5. Lay the pieced squares on a flat surface. Place three half square tan triangles on the top of three of the rows as shown.

    1. Sew the star half square triangle corner to the pieced section. The finished block should be 12” square.

  6. Follow steps 1-5 to create additional squares. Create seven blocks.

  7. For the top and bottom rows create four blocks that will be placed on the end of each of these rows as follows:

    1. Cut four strips from the red fabric that measures 2 ½” x 12”.

    2. Cut eight strips from the blue print fabric that measure 2 ½” x 5 ½”.

    3. Cut four sections from the white print that measure 2 ½” x 2 ½”.

    4. Using the 2 ½” white print squares sew a 2 ½” x 5 ½” blue print to each end. Press seams toward the darker print.

    5. Sew the 2 ½” x 12” red fabric sections to one of the long sides. Press toward the darker color.

    6. Trim as needed to even up the ends.

    7. Place the four blocks at the beginning and end of the first and third rows as shown in the opening image of the quilt.

  8. Cut the striped fabric 3 ½” wide for the sashing.

  9. Place the sashing vertically between each of the blocks and sew the blocks together to create rows.

  10. Cut 3 ½” wide strips from the blue print fabric for the outer sashing.

  11. Sew the sashing to the bottom edge on one of the pieced rows. Then sew the opposite edge of the sashing to another of the pieced rows. Trim as needed.

    1. Continue in this fashion until all of the rows are sewn together.

    2. Sew another strip of the sashing to the top and bottom edges of the quilt top.

    3. Press seams toward the darker colored fabric.

  12. Layer the backing batting and the quilt top on a flat surface. Use adhesive spray to hold the layers together during quilting or pin the layers together.

  13. Clamp the quilt to the top take up roller on the Baby Lock Coronet quilting machine.

    1. Place the quilt sandwich on the frame with the left side of the quilt 6”- 8” from the edge and top edge of the quilt sandwich under then up and over the back of the roller.

    2. Clamp in place with the smaller clamps.

    3. Repeat for the remaining portion of the quilt top.

    4. Clamp the front of the quilt to the front roller using the larger clamps.

    5. Clamp the right edge of the quilt.

  14. Thread the machine.

    1. Adjust the tension on the bobbin and place the bobbin in the machine.

    2. Set the machine to regulated mode with the stitches set to 12 stitches per length.

    3. Test for proper tension using a scrap of fabric attached to the side of the quilt.

    4. Adjust the top tension as needed.

  15. Baste 1/8” from the edge starting on the left side and across the top edge.

  16. Quilt the layers together using your favorite stipple or quilt pattern.

    1. After your first pass has been completed remove the clamps from the back and front rollers.

    2. Pull the quilt upward and re-clamp the top roller with the clamps.

    3. Re-clamp the side and the front edges.

    4. Use the C clamps to stop the top edge from flopping over onto the portion of the quilt that you will be working on.

  17. Trim the edges around the quilt so that the quilt is square.

  18. Cut several 2 1/2” strips across the width of the blue print fabric for the binding. Piece the sections together to form on long continuous strip.

  19. Fold the wrong sides together along the long edge and press.

  20. On one of the short ends fold in at a 45° angle on one of the short ends and press.

  21. Place the raw edge of the binding along the outer edge of the quilt starting 6” from the top corner and pin in place.

  22. Using a 1/4” seam allowance start to sew 4” from the top edge of the binding and continue down the first side of the quilt. Stop when you are ¼” from the corner and backstitch. Cut the thre

  23. Remove the quilt from the machine. Fold the binding up and then down over the second side of the quilt so that the raw edges are even. This will create a 45˚ corner.

    1. Pin in place and sew the second side of the quilt.

    2. Stop 1/4” from the second corner; back-stitch and cut the thread.

  24. Follow Step 24 to finish sewing the binding to the remaining sides on the quilt.

    1. When you turn the last corner trim the end on the binding so that it overlaps past the starting point on the binding.

    2. Tuck the binding inside the beginning point of the binding and sew in place.

    3. Press the binding to the back of the quilt.

  25. To finish your quilt hand-sew the binding to the back of the quilt.

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