Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Modern I Spy Tutorial



How about a modern I Spy quilt?




This pattern uses a total of  51- 5" I Spy squares in the following colors:

                                                        Red - 9
                                                        Orange -8
                                                        Yellow - 8
                                                        Green - 9
                                                        Blue - 9
                                                        Indigo/Violet - 8

All seams are sewn with a 1/4" seam allowance.



The quilt is made up of two different blocks labeled here as Block "A" and Block "B".
You will need three blocks of Block A and three of Block B.


Block A

To make Block A you will need:

                                                   9 -  I Spy squares cut 5"x5"
                                                   8 -  pastel fabric squares cut 5"x5'
                                                   4 -  print fabric strips cut 5"x 9 1/4"



The corner units of this block are a basic 4 patch.



The 4 patch blocks are connected with the print fabric
and then sewn together as rows to complete Block A.
Finished block measures 22 1/2" square.


Finish three Block A units.


Block B

To make Block B you will need:

                                                   8 -  I Spy squares cut 5"x5"
                                                   5 -  pastel fabric squares cut 5"x5'
                                                   4 -  print fabric strips cut 5"x 13 1/2"

The center of Block B is a basic 9-patch surrounded by 
four pieced border units.


To attach the border units lay the first one on top of the 9 patch block.
Sew the seam....EXCEPT for the final 1/4".
Notice just below the bottom pin there is a pencil mark 1/4"
from the edge of the 9 patch. Do NOT sew the final 1/4".


Attach the top and side border.





Attach the final border being careful to ONLY sew it to the 9 patch block.



Finish sewing the remainder of the first border seam.
Finished block measures 22 1/2" square.





Complete three Block B units.


The top is finished with 2" sashing and a 3" border
and measures 74"x 50".


Baste the quilt to prepare for machine quilting.
Click here to see how I pin baste my quilts.



This quilt was finished with basic straight line quilting in the center
and free-motion quilting in the outer border.


If you end up using this pattern, please give credit back to this post.
You are welcome to post photos of your Modern I Spy quilt
  here.



If you would like to make an I Spy quilt or just begin collecting fabric...
sign up for the next swap begins soon!
Tentative plans for the next I Spy Swap will be Spring of 2012.


May you always Sew in Peace!
Sandra

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Sneak Peak





I started this I Spy quilt ages ago and opted to go with straight line quilting.
Perhaps that was a mistake.
It always seems to take longer to quilt when I take this approach.

Hopefully it will be finished later this week.
At least that is the plan...


May you always Sew in Peace!
Sandra