Introduction: I Love You(r DNA) Quilt
I created this quilt design to help folks use the new charm packs (5 x 5 inch squares) available from so many great fabric companies. I made this for my daughter, whose birthday is 4 days after Valentine's Day.
My husband named the quilt, he thinks it looks like a DNA test.
Finished size 42 x 60
Supplies:
2-3 charm packs
1 1/2 yards solid brown
Iron
Basic sewing and cutting supplies and a working knowledge of sewing and quilting.
My husband named the quilt, he thinks it looks like a DNA test.
Finished size 42 x 60
Supplies:
2-3 charm packs
1 1/2 yards solid brown
Iron
Basic sewing and cutting supplies and a working knowledge of sewing and quilting.
Step 1: Cutting Info
Charm Pack (charm packs are pre cut)
(75) 5 x 5 inch Charms
(10-12) 1 x 3.5 rectangles from charm fabric
Dark Brown
(8) 5 x 5 square
(6) 2.5 x 3.5 rectangles
(9) 3.5 x WOF
Binding (Dark Brown) -- not shown in pictures
(6) 2.5 x WOF
I like charm patterns that allow you to jump in with out doing a lot of cutting. So jump in !
This computer generated copy of the quilt was made in Quilt Pro.
(75) 5 x 5 inch Charms
(10-12) 1 x 3.5 rectangles from charm fabric
Dark Brown
(8) 5 x 5 square
(6) 2.5 x 3.5 rectangles
(9) 3.5 x WOF
Binding (Dark Brown) -- not shown in pictures
(6) 2.5 x WOF
I like charm patterns that allow you to jump in with out doing a lot of cutting. So jump in !
This computer generated copy of the quilt was made in Quilt Pro.
Step 2: Get Started
The first column has (30) 2.5 x 5 inch blocks in it. You will need four (4) of these columns for the quilt.
Pick 52 charms (just count them out).
Put 2 charms RST and sew along one side.
After you sew them all together, rotate them 180 degrees and sew the opposite parallel side.
Cut (4) 5 x 5 square from the dark brown fabric.
Repeat with 4 charms and 4 dark brown squares.
After you finish sewing, cut them down the middle to 2.5 x 5
Cut parallel to the stitching.
Now you have (60) 2 patch blocks
Begin sewing the 2 patches together to create the column, each columns has (30) 2.5 x 5 patches.
You need a dark brown patch on each end.
Press patches in one direction.
Pick 52 charms (just count them out).
Put 2 charms RST and sew along one side.
After you sew them all together, rotate them 180 degrees and sew the opposite parallel side.
Cut (4) 5 x 5 square from the dark brown fabric.
Repeat with 4 charms and 4 dark brown squares.
After you finish sewing, cut them down the middle to 2.5 x 5
Cut parallel to the stitching.
Now you have (60) 2 patch blocks
Begin sewing the 2 patches together to create the column, each columns has (30) 2.5 x 5 patches.
You need a dark brown patch on each end.
Press patches in one direction.
Step 3: Long Skinny Column
To make the long skinny columns you need 18 charms and (6) 2.5 x 3.5 rectangles from the dark brown.
Sew the 18 charms together on one side.
Cut them perpendicular to the stitching (thought the stitched line) to create 18 long skinny 2 patches.
Each column needs (12) 2.5 x 5 charms
Make 3 columns
Sew one brown rectangles (2.5 x 3.5) on each end of the three long skinny columns.
Press patches in one direction.
Sew the 18 charms together on one side.
Cut them perpendicular to the stitching (thought the stitched line) to create 18 long skinny 2 patches.
Each column needs (12) 2.5 x 5 charms
Make 3 columns
Sew one brown rectangles (2.5 x 3.5) on each end of the three long skinny columns.
Press patches in one direction.
Step 4: Dark Brown Column
From the dark brown fabric cut (9) 3.5 x WOF stripes. Trim off selvage edge.
To make the columns as long as I needed for the quilt (3.5 x 60.5), I joined them using a 1 x 3.5 inch piece of fabric from the charm pack. I added a few more of the 1 x 3.5 inch joiner blocks through out the dark brown columns to add visual interest and movement. Press patches towards the dark fabric.
You need (6) 3.5 x 60.5 columns
I put all the columns up on my design board and looked at them.
Once all the columns were done, I just needed to sew them to each other. Press towards the dark.
To make the columns as long as I needed for the quilt (3.5 x 60.5), I joined them using a 1 x 3.5 inch piece of fabric from the charm pack. I added a few more of the 1 x 3.5 inch joiner blocks through out the dark brown columns to add visual interest and movement. Press patches towards the dark fabric.
You need (6) 3.5 x 60.5 columns
I put all the columns up on my design board and looked at them.
Once all the columns were done, I just needed to sew them to each other. Press towards the dark.
Step 5: Finish It Up
This quilt still needs a visit to my best buddy, the long arm quilter but it should be back and bound in time for my daughter's 8th birthday.
I stay stitched the outside edge to keep the sewn pieces from pulling apart.
The charms I used in this quilt are available at my online store.
I stay stitched the outside edge to keep the sewn pieces from pulling apart.
The charms I used in this quilt are available at my online store.
Step 6: FYI - Prelim Drawing
This is my preliminary drawing for the quilt, you might notice that the math is off and I removed the outside columns. I did not want to piece the backing fabric, so the quilt has to be a bit more narrow than originally intended.