Instructions provided courtesy of guest Lynette Jensen and Thimbleberries.
We've all wished upon a star or two, and if you're a quilter, chances are you've wished for an easy holiday quilt to make. Well, your wishes have been granted, because guest Lynette Jensen not only has an extremely easy quilt to make, but it's perfect for the holidays too. Give it a try!
The size of the finished quilt is is 35" x 43". Yardage in the materials list is based on 44-inch wide fabric.
Materials:
1/2 yard gold fabric for star
1/4 yard green fabric A for tree
1/4 yard green fabric B for tree
1/4 yard green fabric C for tree
7/8 yard beige fabric for background
1/8 yard brown for tree trunks
3/4 yard red fabric for border
1/4 yard plaid fabric for corner squares
1/2 yard red fabric for binding
1-1/3 yards backing fabric
quilt batting, larger than 39" x 47"
rotary cutter, mat and wide clear plastic ruler with 1/8-inch markings
Tips:
- One-quarter inch seam allowances are used throughout unless otherwise specified.
- Press seam allowance in the direction that will create the least bulk and whenever possible, toward the darker fabric.
- Accuracy is a must for this pattern. Measure seam allowances now and then to make sure they are accurate and consistent.
Steps:
Tree Blocks (Tree A, B and C)
1. From each of the green fabrics cut one, 4-1/2" x 8-1/2" piece and six , 2-1/2" x 8-1/2" pieces. From the beige fabric cut four, 4-1/2-inch squares and three, 2-1/2" x 44" strips. From the strips cut 36, 2-1/2-inch squares. Cut two, 3-1/2" x 15" strip.
2. From the gold fabric cut two, 4-1/2-inch squares. From the brown fabric cut one, 2-1/2" x 15" strips.
Tree B and Tree C (made the same)
1. With right sides together position a 4-1/2-inch beige square on the corner of the 4-1/2" x 8-1/2" green B piece. Draw a diagonal line on the beige square, corner to corner (figure A). Stitch just a hair to the outside of the diagonal line. Trim the seam allowance to 1/4 inch and press it toward the green fabric.
2. Repeat this procedure for the opposite corner of the green piece (figure B).
3. With right sides together position a 2-1/2-inch beige square on both corners of a 2-1/2" x 8-1/2" green B piece. Draw diagonal lines, stitch and trim seams as in step 1. Repeat this process for all six, 2-1/2" x 8-1/2" green B pieces.
4. Sew all of the green B tree units together. Repeat steps 1 through 3 with the green C pieces. Sew all of the green C tree units together. Press the seam allowances toward the bottom of the tree.
Tree A
1. With right sides together position a 4-1/2-inch gold square on the corner of the 4-1/2" x 8-1/2" green A piece (figure C). Draw a diagonal line on the gold square corner to corner. Stitch just a hair to the outside of the diagonal line. Trim the seam and press toward the green fabric.
2. Repeat this procedure for the opposite corner of the green A piece.
3. Follow the instructions for Tree B in step 3 (figure D).
4. Sew all of the green A tree units together (figure E). Press the seam allowances toward the top of the tree.
Trunk
1. Sew a 3-1/2" x 15" beige strip to both sides of the 2-1/2" x 15" brown strip (trunk figure A). Press seam allowances toward the brown fabric. Cut into three, 4-1/2-inch segments.
2. Sew each of these trunk units to the bottom of the trees (trunk figure B ). Press the seam allowances in opposite directions for ease in joining the trees together.
Star Block
1. From the gold fabric cut one, 8-1/2-inch square. Cut six, 4-1/2-inch squares. From the beige fabric cut three, 4-1/2" x 8-1/2" pieces. Cut two, 4-1/2-inch squares. Cut two, 4-1/2" x 12-1/2" pieces.
2. With right sides together position a 4-1/2-inch gold square on the corner of a 4-1/2" x 8-1/2" beige piece. Draw a diagonal line, stitch and trim as for Tree A in step 1. Repeat this process for the opposite corner of the beige piece. Make three of these star point units.
3. Sew a star point unit to both sides of the 8-1/2-inch gold square. Sew 4-1/2 -inch beige squares to both sides of the remaining star point unit. Stitch these two units together (star figure C).
4. Sew 4-1/2" x 12-1/2" beige piece to the right and left side of star.
Quilt top assembly
1. Sew the three trees together making sure Tree A is in the center.
2. Stitch the star to the top of the trees.
Border and corner squares
1. From the red fabric, cut four, 5-1/2" x 44" strips. From the plaid fabric cut four, 5-1/2-inch squares.
2. Measure the quilt through the center from left to right to determine the length of the top and bottom borders. Cut two red strips to this length and sew them to the top and bottom of the quilt.
3. Measure the quilt through the center from top and bottom, including the seam allowances, but not the top and bottom borders. Cut two red strips to this length. Sew a plaid corner square to each end of the border strips. Sew the borders to the sides of the quilt.
Quilt layer assembly
1. Trim the backing and batting so they are four inches larger than the quilt top.
2. Layer the backing, batting and quilt. Baste the layers together and quilt as desired.
3. When quilting is complete, remove basting and trim the excess backing and batting even with the quilt top.
Binding
1. From the red fabric cut five, 2-3/4" x 44" strips. This measurement produces a 3/8-inch wide binding. If you want a wider or narrower binding, adjust the width of the strip cut. Experiment on a small scrap of backing, batting and top fabric (the same thickness as your quilt) to see if you like the measurement given.
2. Piece the binding strips diagonally. Trim the seams and press open.
3. Fold the strip in half lengthwise, wrong sides together and press.
4. With the raw edges of the binding and quilt top even, stitch with an approximate 3/8-inch seam. Miter binding at the corners.
5. Fold the binding to the back of the quilt and slipstitch the folded edge in place.
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