Free Project: Time Savvy Quilt
Posted by Deirdre Quirk on Jun 2nd 2017
Designed and pieced by Vicki Olsen • Quilted by Margaret Knoup
Finished quilt size: 54" x 72" • Finished block size: 8" x 8"
I love trying new methods of making quilt blocks, and I found a great time-saving technique for making the Hourglass blocks in this quilt. There are 140 Hourglass units in this design, and you will be amazed by how quickly they come together.
Fabric Requirements
• ¼ yard each of nine light prints for blocks
• ¼ yard each of nine medium to dark prints for blocks
• 1 yard black marble for sashing
• ¼ yard black print for sashing cornerstones
• 1 yard black floral for border
• 3½ yards fabric of choice for backing
• 2⁄3 yard black floral for binding
Cutting Instructions
From each light print, cut:
• 2 — 8" squares (Keep like squares together.)
From each medium to dark print, cut:
• 2 — 8" squares (Keep like squares together.)
From black marble, cut:
• 4 — 8½" strips the width of fabric, then sub-cut those into 82 — 1½" x 8½" strips for sashing
From black print, cut:
• 2 — 1½" strips the width of fabric, then sub-cut those into 48 — 1½" squares for sashing cornerstones
From black floral, cut:
• 7 — 4½" strips the width of fabric for border
• 7 — 3" strips the width of fabric for binding
Sewing Instructions
BLOCKS
1. Select a light print and medium to dark print to pair together. With right sides together, layer the 8" light print and 8" medium to dark print square. Sew a ¼" seam around the perimeter of the layered pair. Press to set the seams. Repeat with a second matching pair that uses the same fabrics as the first set sewn.
2. Make four cuts on the units from step 1 to yield a total of eight units from each pair. Press each unit to the dark print.
3. Sew together two units from step 2, then trim the resulting unit to measure 4¼" square. (I like to use the Precision Trimmer 6 for squaring them.) Repeat with the remaining units from step 2.
4. Sew the matching sets of units from step 3 to create two Hourglass blocks, which should measure 8½" square each.
5. Repeat steps 1–4 to create a total of 35 blocks. (You will have one extra block, which can be incorporated into a quilt label, if you wish.)
QUILT ASSEMBLY
1. Referring to the quilt assembly diagram, lay out the Hourglass blocks, black marble sashing strips and black print sashing cornerstones in 15 rows.
2. Sew together a row of 5 — 8½" Hourglass blocks alternating with 6 —1½" x 8½" black marble sashing strips. Press seams toward the sashing strips. Repeat to create a total of seven rows.
3. Sew together a row of 5 — 1½" x 8½" black marble sashing strips alternating with 6 — 1½" black print square sashing cornerstones. Press seams toward the sashing strips. Repeat to create a total of eight rows.
4. Join the rows from steps 2 and 3 to complete the quilt center.
5. Make 2 — 4½" x 64½" black floral border strips. Referring to the quilt assembly diagram, sew these two strips to the sides of the quilt center. Press seams toward the border.
6. Make 2 — 4½" x 54½" black floral border strips. Referring to the quilt assembly diagram, sew these two strips to the top and bottom of the quilt top. Press seams toward the border.
7. Sandwich the quilt top, batting and backing; baste. Quilt as desired, then bind.
Quilt Assembly Diagram
