Quilter's
Vortex The idea behind the "Quilter's Vortex" quilt is to give the viewer the feeling quilters experience with the overwhelming decisions they face in light of the increasing number of quilt blocks, settings, fabric prints and colors that are available. The following directions show how to put the same quilt designs onto the vortex background as done on the sample quilt. You can follow this design exactly, or put in your own quilt block designs. The largest and most obvious designs should balance each other. The smaller design elements can be scattered and almost invisible making the viewer look hard to find them. Quilt Size: 39 1/2"
x 39 1/2" |
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Fabric
Requirements: (Yardage is based on 44" wide
fabric)
Directions: 1.) Cut the following strips of fabric the full width of the fabric:
2.) Cut the tan, blue, purple and green 3 1/2" x 44" background strips into 33 squares of each color, 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" 3.) Cut the tan, blue, purple, and green 3 7/8" background strips into 9 squares of each color, 3 7/8" x 3 7/8". Cut each of these 3 7/8" squares in half diagonally, as shown (Diagram #1). 4.) Cut one tan, blue, purple and green background square, each 4 1/4" x 4 1/4". Cut each 4 1/4" colored square twice diagonally, as shown (Diagram #2). Using one triangle of each color, piece the center square of the quilt (Diagram #3). Set aside remaining quarter square triangles for use in piecing designs.
5.) Layout entire background on a large flat surface, preferably a felt covered design board, as shown (Diagram #4) 6.) Cut 4 squares red and 4 squares purple background fabrics, each 3 7/8" x 3 7/8". Cut red and purple squares in half diagonally (Diagram #1). Sew each red triangle to a purple triangle along long bias cut edge. Replace purple background squares with these pieced squares forming "Wild Goose Chase" design (Diagram #5).
7.) Cut 4 squares tan/brown and 4 squares tan background fabrics, each 3 7/8" x 3 7/8". Cut tan and brown squares in half diagonally (Diagram #1). Sew each tan/brown triangle along long bias cut edge. Replace tan background squares with these pieced squares (Diagram #5). 8.) Cut one square dark green fabric, 3 1/2" x 3 1/2". Cut 2 dark green and 2 green background squares, each 3 7/8" x 3 7/8". Cut each 3 7/8" square in half diagonally. Sew each dark green triangle to a green background triangle. Replace green background squares with "Friendship Star" pieces. 9.) Cut 1 square 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" blue/purple print. Cut 2 blue/purple and 2 blue background squares, each 4 1/4" x 4 1/4". Cut each 4 1/4" square in quarters (Diagram #3). Use one purple quarter square triangle left over from center block of background. Piece three blocks like: (Diagram #6). Piece one block like: (Diagram #7). Replace background pieces with "Ohio Star Block" pieces.
10.) Cut 2 dark blue and 2 blue background squares, 3 7/8" x 3 7/8" each. Cut squares in half diagonally. Sew each blue triangle to a dark blue triangle. Replace blue background fabric with "Birds in the Air" pieces. 11.) Cut 2 dark green and 2 green background squares, 3 7/8" x 3 7/8" each. Cut squares in half diagonally. Sew each green triangle to a dark green triangle. Replace green background fabric with "Birds in the Air" pieces. 12.) Cut one gray/purple and one purple background square, each 4 1/2" x 4 1/2". Cut each square diagonally twice (Diagram #3). Cut one 3 7/8" x 3 7/8" purple background square, then cut in half diagonally (Diagram #1). Piece the following pieces: (Diagram #8). Replace purple background fabric with "Square in a Square" pieces.
13.) Cut four rectangles tan border stripe fabric and four rectangles tan background fabric, each 2" x 3 1/2". Sew one tan stripe to each tan background rectangle along long edges. Replace tan background fabric with "Fan Blade" pieces. 14.) Cut two squares blue striped fabric and two squares blue background fabric, each 2" x 2". Piece into "Four Patch" block. Replace blue background fabric with this block. 15.) Make a four patch block using a green stripe and green background fabric and replace green background square with the new block. 16.) Make a four patch block using a tan stripe and tan background fabric and replace tan background square with the new block. 17.) Cut one square green stripe and one square green background fabric, each 4 1/4" x 4 1/4". Cut each square twice diagonally. Piece one block like: (Diagram #9). Replace a green background square with the "Hour Glass" block.
18.) Cut five tan/beige fabric and four tan background squares, each 1 1/2" x 1 1/2". Piece into a nine patch block (Diagram #10). Replace tan background square with block. 19.) Stitch together triangles that fall along the dividing lines between the different background colors. 20.) Sew quilt center together by sewing blocks into rows and then piecing rows together. 21.) Cut the following border strips:
22.) Sew together the following combinations of border strips, by sewing them at a 45 degree angle to each other (Diagram #11)
23.) Matching the diagonal seams at 1/4" seam line, stitch border strips to sides of quilt matching colors in quilt center. Start and stop seam 1/4" from each edge of quilt (Diagram #12). 24.) Cut a mitered corner on each end of all four border strips, being sure to include a 1/4" seam along the diagonal cut (Diagram #13).
25.) Sew mitered corners (Diagram #14).
26.) Layer backing, batting and quilt top. Baste layers together. 27.) Quilt or tie as desired. 28.) Carefully trim backing and batting even with quilt top. 29.) Prepare binding. Trim selvage and raw edges from binding fabric creating an even rectangle. Using a 45 degree ruler, cut a triangle from on corner (Diagram #15). Using the bias cut edge as a guide, cut remaining fabric into 2 1/2" strips (Diagram #16). Sew strips together into one long bias strip. (Diagram #17). Press bias strip in half lengthwise.
30.) Leaving an 8" tail of binding, sew binding to top of quilt through all layers matching all raw edges. Miter corners. Stop approximately 12" from where you started. Lay both loose ends of bias tape flat along quilt edge. Where these two loose ends meet, fold them back on themselves and press to form a crease. Using this crease as your stitching line, sew the two open ends of the binding together right sides together. Trim seam to 1/2" and press open. Finish sewing tape to quilt. 31.) Turn binding to back of quilt and blindstitch in place. 32.)To make sleeve for hanging, cut a 5" x 36" piece of fabric. Sew long sides together wrong sides together with a 1/4" seam. Turn tube inside out and sew a 3/8" seam to enclose first seam along long edge. Turn tube right side out and turn in raw edge 1/4", twice, and blindstitch in place. 33.) Center sleeve, 1-2" from the top of the quilt back. Using a blindstitch, sew bottom of sleeve to quilt backing. Fold top of sleeve down about 3/8" and stitch back of sleeve to quilt backing along this fold line. This will allow the rod to fill the sleeve without pulling on the front of the quilt. 34.) Sign and date your work. |
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Diagram #1 
Diagram #2 
Diagram #3
Diagram #4 
Diagram #5
Diagram #6 
Diagram #7
Diagram #8
Diagram #9 
Diagram #10
Diagram #11
Diagram #12 
Diagram #13 
Diagram #14
