Restore America Quilt: Block 1 First Hermitage

The first block represents First Hermitage—two original log cabins on President Andrew Jackson's property in Hermitage, Tenn.

Designer Tom Russell examined elements from the First Hermitage to fashion this contemporary block.

Materials and Tools:

Restore America printed quilt pattern - Discontinued
fusible webbing, 505 spray/freezer paper
thread for satin stitching - chartreuse
pearle cotton for stem stitching - green, yellow
fabrics:
- sky - 9" x 13" deep purple
- ground - 4" x 13" dark green
- cabin & roof - scrap of yellow-orange, 6" x 10" orange, fat eighth red, 6" x 8" orange-red
- tree - 4" x 12" yellow-green, 11" square pale green organza

Cutting:

Note: Number and letter notations are from the printed pattern. Unfortunately the pattern has been discontinued.
• From deep purple (2), cut 1-1/2" x 7" rectangle (C7), 2" x 5" rectangle (D2), 1-1/2" x 9 3/4" rectangle (D3), 3" x 7" rectangle (E6).

• From dark green (21), cut 3-1/4" x 12-1/2" rectangle (F).

• From yellow orange (4), cut 1-1/2" x 3" rectangle (A1).

• From orange (17), cut 1-1/4" x 6" rectangle (B1), three 3/4" x 6-1/2" rectangles (C1, C3, C5), 1-7/8" x 9-3/4" rectangle (D4), two 3/4" x 2-1/2" rectangles (E2, E4).

• From red (24), cut 1-1/2" x 2" rectangle (A2), 1-1/2" x 2-1/2"
  rectangle (A3), 3-1/2" x 5-3/4" rectangle (A4), 1" x 2" rectangle (B2), 2-1/2" x 5-3/4" rectangle (B3), 4" square (C8), 1-1/2" x 9" rectangle (D1), 2-1/2" x 3-3/4" rectangle (E5).

• From orange red (15), cut three 1-1/4" x 7" rectangles (C2, C4, C6) two 1-1/4" x 2-1/2" rectangles (E1, E3).

• From pale green organza (8), cut 11" square.

• From yellow green (7): Fuse fabric with webbing. Cut 65" of 1/2"-wide strips. Trim to make branch pieces in the following lengths: 5-1/2" (H), 4-1/2" (I), 10" (J), 2-3/4" (K), 6-1/2" (L), 5-1/2" (M), 10" (N), 4" (O), 10-1/2" (P).

Steps:

1. Photocopy or trace patterns in preparation for paper piecing the quilt block. If unfamiliar with this technique, refer to supplementary "Paper Foundation Piecing" section for a tutorial.

2. Section A - Place yellow A1 piece face up on back of pattern. Position red A2, stitch along pattern line, and finger press open. Repeat with A3 and A4.

3. Section B - Place orange B1 piece; position red B2 and stitch. Trim seam allowance and finger press open. Add B3.

4. Section C - Place C1; position C2 and stitch. Repeat with C3 through C8.

5. Section D - Place D1; position D2 and stitch. Trim and press. Add D3 to right side of section. Add D4 to left side of section.

6. Section E - Place E1; position E2 and stitch. Repeat with E3 through E6.

7. Block Assembly - Join Sections A and B. Join Section C to top to make left cabin. Join Section D and E; add to block. Remove all paper and press piece. Add F to bottom to complete piecing.

8. Arc section - Trace arc pattern onto organza square. Stabilize organza and baste to block using 505 spray, freezer paper, or basting. Stitch along arc; do not trim excess. Baste seam allowances if needed.

9. Position branch pieces H-J and K-N. Fuse. Position branch pieces O - P and fuse.

10. Machine satin stitch branch edges in chartreuse. Trim excess organza beyond arc; satin stitch arc.

11. Stem stitch bottom edges of branches in green pearle cotton thread. Stem stitch around cabin window in yellow pearle cotton.

12. Beading - Swirls in the arc indicate bead placement for this block. To avoid quilting obstacles, all beading is added after quilting. The "Embellishment" section in Finishing instruction will include beading.

Finished size is 58" x 71" - a large wall hanging size.