Homespun Thanksgiving Quilt, Part 2

Okay, on to the piecing directions. (See yesterday's post for fabric requirements and cutting directions.)

PIECING THE FLYING GEESE BLOCKS FOR THE INNER BORDER:

When I made this quilt, I pieced the flying geese blocks first to get them out of the way. The main body of the geese are the 28 4-1/2" x 2-1/2" rectangles. The side triangles are made using 56 of the 2-1/2" cream squares (the remaining 4 squares are corner blocks). I found a couple of websites that have better directions (with illustrations) for block making than I could give you here. So, to make the 28 flying geese blocks, click HERE and follow the steps.

PIECING THE SNOWBALL BLOCKS FOR THE CENTER:

Divide the 49 4-1/2" squares into two piles: 25 of the lightest squares and 24 of the darkest squares. With the lightest squares, you'll attach the darker 2" squares; with the darker squares, you'll attach the cream colored 2" squares.

For directions on making the snowball blocks, click HERE and follow the steps. HOWEVER, note that instead of 9-1/2" squares and 3-1/2" squares as shown in the illustrations, you'll be using 4-1/2" squares and 2" squares. And remember--add the cream colored 2" squares to the corners of the darker 4-1/2" squares, and add the darker 2" squares to the corners of the lighter 4-1/2" squares.

PUTTING THE QUILT TOGETHER:

This is where a design wall comes in handy. If you don't have one, find a space where you can lay out your snowball blocks in 7 rows by 7 columns. Start placing the snowball blocks with a dark-cornered block to begin and alternate dark cornered blocks with light cornered blocks--here's a photo of my quilt so you have a visual reference:

Once you have your blocks laid out and placed so there are no repeats of the same color bordering each other, sew the blocks together, 7 to each row, 7 rows.

For each inner border, sew 7 flying geese blocks together. To the snowball center of the quilt, add a flying geese border to the top and bottom. To the remaining flying geese borders, add a plain 2-1/2" cream colored square to each end; press. Attach these to the sides of the quilt top.

Next, you'll add the final borders. Cut two of the 4-1/2" x WOF cream colored strips 32-1/2" long, and add these strips to the top and bottom of the quilt top. Cut the remaining two 4-1/2" x WOF cream colored strips 40-1/2" long, and add these strips to the sides of the quilt top.

DONE! Well, sort of. To the borders, using your favorite applique method, add the letters that spell your favorite Thanksgiving dishes. (I used wool for my letters and added them by machine as I was quilting the quilt.) Email me if you'd like me to email you a PDF document containing my 4" alphabet--please make sure I have your email address; if you don't hear back from me within 24 hours, it's probably because you've commented and are "no-reply," so I can't contact you.

And don't forget to post your finished quilt to your blog and let me know, or send a photo to me--I'd really love to see it!

P.S.: No time to make this quilt before Thanksgiving? Don't celebrate Thanksgiving? Here's the solution: You could make this quilt in your favorite Christmas fabrics and add the names of your favorite Christmas goodies to the border. This would make a fairly fast, cute Christmas gift as well.

Homespun Thanksgiving Quilt

Several of you were interested in the pattern to make this 40" x 40" tabletopper quilt, so let's get started!

For many years, I've "collected" brushed cotton fat quarters in various plaids; the ones I used in this quilt were from a Kansas Troubles line I purchased several years ago, and I'm not even sure what the name of the line was. However, any plaids would work. This collection contained deep wine reds, forest greens, and navy blues as well as a couple shades of brown, but when put together, overall look was autumnal. In addition to the Kansas Troubles plaids, I used a cream brushed cotton plaid for the background and a dark wine brushed cotton for the alternating snowball corners.

I was also asked what I used for the lettering and the method I used to stitch the words on. I used wool in colors similar to the other fabrics, and I stitched the letters down as I was quilting the quilt. Here's a close up photo:

I think that answered most of the questions, but if I missed anything or if further questions come up, let me know and I'll try to answer.

FABRIC REQUIREMENTS:

1 yard total from a variety of medium and dark fabrics
1-1/4 yard of off-white fabric for backgrounds
1/3 yard of dark fabric for snowball corners
1-1/3 yard of backing fabric

CUTTING INSTRUCTIONS:

From the variety of medium to dark fabrics, cut:
49 4-1/2" squares
28 4-1/2" x 2-1/2" rectangles
From the dark fabric (snowball corners), cut:
100 2" squares
From the off-white fabric, cut:
60 2-1/2" squares
96 2" squares
4 4-1/2" x WOF (width of fabric) strips

Piecing instructions will follow in the next post.

I will try to scan the letter templates to a PDF file tomorrow and will let you know when I've done that--I'll be happy to email it to anyone who wants the letters. I have also uploaded two fabric kits to my Etsy shop, made up of the same fabrics I used and already cut in case anyone is interested. Please note, though, that those kits DO NOT contain backing, binding, or the wool for the letters. I've uploaded a separate kit containing the wool I used; if you're interested in a wool kit and the one in my Etsy shop has already sold, please email me. (For the kits, I've only listed postage within the U.S.; if you're outside the U.S. and wish to purchase a kit, please email me.)

Happy stitching!

ADDENDUM: The kits have sold but please don't let that stop you from selecting your own fabric and making this tabletopper!