DONNA'S - In The Attic

~ 10" TWISTER ~

I Love This Tool ~

and . . . it's so easy to use!

I have it available to Purchase here ~

https://donnasintheattic.com/collections/notions

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Along with the tool you will get the Pattern for this Quilt.

 

You will need a Layer Cake, Fabric for two Borders,

Binding and the Back.

I used the JOL Fabric Collection

 

Available to Purchase it here:

Fabric Yardage

https://donnasintheattic.com/collections/fabric

Layer Cake

https://donnasintheattic.com/collections/pre-cuts

 

 Here is the General Idea how the "Twister" works.

First you will sew all of your blocks together along with the first Border ~

(the pattern says to use 36 of the 42 - 10" squares

but I don't like to waste any of them so

I used all 42 that I show on this Post)

Then you will Cut Up the Quilt Top you just Pieced

using the "Twister" ! ! !

The Corners ~

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Outside Edge Blocks With Border ~

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and The Inside Blocks ~

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Cut your Blocks ~ Left to Right/Top to Bottom.

Lay the Blocks back out in the Order you Cut them.

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The Pinwheels Start To Form!

 

Laid Out and Ready to Sew your the Blocks back together!

(No bulky seams!)

 

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 Ready for the Outside Border!

(the pattern does not call for 2 Borders, but I like to add a

1" Inside Border before adding the larger Outside Border)

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I LOVE IT!

Ready to be Quilted!

I think I am going to use Red Minkie Fabric

on the back and

the white Stripe Fabric that I used on the Inside Border

cut on the Bias for the Binding.

If I do, I'll show you how to do a Bias Binding on my next Post.

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and New Merchandise

before it is Posted for everyone to take advantage of.

~  DONNA ~ 

Tutorial ~ Figuring Yardage For Quilt Backs ~

 I decided to QUILT my "Courthouse Steps" Quilt today.

I have been putting it off because I couldn't decide what I wanted to use for the Backing Fabric. 

 I saw this Polk-a-Dot Print and thought it would be perfect!

Just a Quick Note on Figuring Yardage for Backing Fabric -

My Quilt Top measured

67" x 81"

add 6" to both measurements and you get

73" x 87"

which is what your Quilt Back will have to measure.

The width of fabric is normally 44"/45", so if you sew two pieces together you are going to get approximately 88".  That measurement will take care of the 87" needed for the length of the quilt.

You will need to cut two pieces 73" long to cover the width of the Quilt.

(73" x 2 = 146" / 36" = 4.25 yds of fabric).

I cut off the selvage edge of one piece and then cut off the opposite selvage edge of the second piece.

If the fabric is directional, this will keep both pieces of fabric going the same way.

Sew these two timmed edges together.

You now have one piece measuring 73" x 88".

PERFECT!

Ready to Quilt !

 

I decided to use a Feather Pattern ~

 

Here is how it turned out ~

 

I LOVE IT !!!

 

Now for the Binding!

If you would like to purchase a Kit and make this Quilt, go to

https://www.etsy.com/listing/262441967/courthouse-steps-quilt-kit-grey-blue-and?ref=shop_home_active_7

 ~ DONNA  ~

Courthouse Steps Quilt Tutorial ~

This is one of the Quilts that I had on display at my Shoppe.  I sold Kits for this Quilt and promised to have a Tutorial on my Blog to Piece the Quilt.

Well, it is finally here!

If you did not purchase this Kit but would like to make the Quilt using the fabric I am demonstrating, I have a few Kits available to purchase in my Esty Shoppe.  I do not have any of the Original Red, Gold, and Blue Fabric Kits left.

Here is the link to purchase the Grey, Blue and Cream Kit ~

https://www.etsy.com/listing/262441967/courthouse-steps-quilt-kit?ref=pr_shop

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Let's Piece A Quilt!

Here is the fabric I used ~

and here is the pieced Quilt Top ready to be Quilted!

 

Supplies Needed ~

1 yd Cream Fabric for the Center Block and Inside Border

1.25 yd - Blue Fabric in Blocks

3.25 yds - Grey Fabric in Blocks and Outside Border

.625 (5/8) yd - Binding (I used the Grey Fabric used in the Outside Border but you can use  any Print you think will complement your Quilt)

4.5 yds - Backing Fabric

* Optional - Patchwork Pins - these can be purchased in my Etsy Shoppe and will be shipped FREE if purchased with this Quilt Kit. https://www.etsy.com/listing/262616506/patchwork-pins-quilting-pins-extra-fine?ref=shop_home_active_3

* Optional - Mettler Silk Finish Thread - Can be purchased in my Etsy Shoppe - https://www.etsy.com/listing/262674808/silk-finish-thread-50wt-antique-white?ref=listing-shop-header-0

 

Finished Quilt Size - 69" x 82"

 

Cutting Instructions ~

Cream Fabric (Center Block) -

Cut 3 - 6" Strips WOF (width of fabric) -

Sub-cut each 6" Strip into 6" squares (Start cutting from the Selvage edge).  You will be able to get 6 squares from each strip plus one more from the leftover folded piece (press folded piece flat and cut 6" squares from these pieces.

You will need a total of 20 - 6" squares

 

Inside Border - Cut 6 - 2" Strips WOF

 

Binding - Cut 8 - 2.5" Strips WOF

 

Blue Fabric -

Cut 16 - 2.5" Strips WOF 

Take 6 of your 2.5" strips and sub-cut into 40 - 2.5" x 6" strips (make sure and start cutting from the Selvage Edge - you will need to use the leftover fold piece to cut additional pieces) - Take 4 of the left over fold pieces and press open - trim to 2.5" x 6".

Take remaining 10 Strips and sub-cut into 40 - 10" x 2.5" strips  (you will get 4 from each strip)

 

Grey Fabric -

Cut 24 - 2.5" Strips WOF

Take 10 of your strips and sub-cut into 40 - 10" x 2.5" strips (you can get 4 from each strip)

Take remaining 14 strips and sub-cut into 40 - 14" x 2.5" strips (you will be able to get 3 - 14" cuts from each strip using the fold piece)

 

Outside Border - Cut 8 - 6" Strips WOF

 

Piecing Your Blocks ~

 

1.  You will start with your 6" Center Block and 20 of your Blue 6" x 2.5" strips.  Pin strip to block on one side - Chain stitch the strips to the 20 blocks. 

2.  Take the remaining 20 Blue  6" x 2.5" strips - pin and sew to the opposite side.  Press seams toward the Blue side.

3.  Take 20 of your Grey 10" x 2.5" strips, pin and chain stitch to the side of the block now measuring 10".  Pres toward the grey strip.

4.  Take the remaining  Grey 20 - 10" x 2.5" strips and sew to the opposite side.  Press toward the grey strip.

5.  Take 20 of your Blue 10" x 2.5".  Pin to the blue side of your blocks and chain stitich to all blocks.  Press seam toward the blue strip.

6.  Take remaining 20 Blue 10" x 2.5" strips.  Pin to the opposite side of your blocks.  Chain stitich to all blocks.  Press seam toward the blue strip.

7.  Take 20 of your Grey 14" x 2.5" strips.  Pin to the grey side of your blocks.  Chain stitch to all blocks.  Press seam toward the grey strip.

8.  And finally, take the remaining 20 Grey 14" x 2.5" strips.  Pin to the opposite side of your blocks.  Chain stitch to all blocks.  Press seam toward the grey strip.  Your completed Block should look like this ~

 

The Layout ~

 

9.  Your layout will be 4 Block Across and 5 Blocks Down. 

10.  Take the top 4 Blocks.  Pin and sew together.  Do the same on the remaining 4 Rows.

11.  Press Row 1 seams you have just sewn to the left - Press Row 2 to the right - Row 3 to the left - Row 4 to the right - Row 5 to the left.

12.  Now you are going to have to go back and repress the last grey seams sewn on your blocks only on Rows 2 and 4.  This has to be done so your seams will be running in opposite directions when you pin your rows together.  This will make a nice flat seam instead of a fat bulky one.

13.  Pin Row 1 to Row 2 making sure to pin where seams will need to match up.  This will make you seams match up perfectly!  Stitch together.  Press seam toward Row 2.

14.  Pin Row 3 to Row 4 matching seams.  Stitch together.  Press seam toward Row 4.

15.  Pin Row 5 to Row 3-4 matching seams.  Stitch together.  Press seam toward Row 5.

16.  And finally, Pin Row 1-2 to Row 3-4-5 matching seams.  Stitch together.  Press seam toward Row 3.

 

Attaching the Borders ~

 

17.  Measure the length of you quilt.  Sew 2 of your 2" inside border strips together.  Trim border piece to the measurement of the length of your quilt. 

Find the center of this piece and mark it with a pin.  Find the center of each side of your Quilt Top and mark with a pin. 

Lay the border on top of you pieced Quilt Top right sides together.  Pin the border to the Quilt top on both ends and at the center matching the pins up. 

Continue to pin the border to the Quilt top between these places to hold the border in place while you are sewing it on.  This will keep the border from stretching while you are sewing.   Sew then Press seam toward the cream border.  Follow the same steps on the opposite side.

(I should have taken a picture of this step but failed too.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me - [email protected])

18.  Take one of your complete 2" Border strips and one of the pieces you cut off of the earlier borders and sew them together.  Do the same for the last 2" border piece. 

19.  Now, measure the width of the Quilt Top.  Cut these to strips to that measurement.  You will use one for the top and one to the bottom of the Quilt Top.  Pin ends and match center.  Pin spaces in between these points.  Sew and Press seam toward the Cream Border.

 

20.  You are now ready to attach the outside Border.  You have 8 - 6" Strips WOF.  Sew 2 strips together using all 8 strips.  You will now have 4 long strips.

21 Attach in the same way you just attached the inner border. 

22. Press seams toward the grey border.

 

Your Quilt Top is now completed and ready to be Quilted!