Down Under Quilts - Issue 134, 2009

The perfect baby shower gift for fashionable
parents-to-be, a cot quilt that’s fun and fast
and sure to please!
Materials
Dimensions

81cm x 96.5cm (32in x 38in)

Cutting

All measurements include a scant ¹/4in seam allowance. All strips are cut across the width of the fabric unless otherwise stated. It is recommended that you cut and make a sample block before cutting out all the pieces to complete the quilt.

From each of the red, pink and green fabrics

Cut two 2¹/4in strips for the blocks. Cut two 1¹/2in strips for the keyboard border.

From each of the aqua, blue, royal blue, purple, orange and yellow fabrics Cut two 2¹/4in strips for the blocks. Cut one 1¹/2in strip for the keyboard border.

Fabric choices

Working with plain fabrics – or prints that ‘read’ as plains – helps to create a strong vibrant quilt. Many of today’s mothers prefer the strong and bright look to the softer pastels of yesteryear’s baby quilts. Batiks, mottled or hand-dyed fabrics are all most suitable when a vibrant quilt is desired. The black is an essential finishing touch that really brings this quilt to life. Eliminate the black, change the strong plain fabrics to soft and pretty versions of the same colours and presto, you have a charming adaptation of the same quilt.

From the multicoloured feature print Cut three 4¹/2in strips and crosscut 20, 4¹/2in squares for the block centres. Cut four 3¹/2in squares from the remaining strip for the corners of the keyboard border.

From the plain black fabric Cut seven 2¹/4in strips – three for the blocks and four for the binding. Cut four 1¹/2in strips for the inner border.

Block size
15cm (6in)
There are 20 blocks

Fabric requirements

All fabric is 100 per cent cotton, 100cm (40in) wide, pre-washed and ironed. It is recommended that the fabric choices information be read before purchasing the fabric.

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20cm (8in) each of nine plain fabrics – red, pink, green, aqua, blue, royal blue, purple, orange and yellow for the blocks and keyboard border

■ 40cm (15³/4in) multicoloured feature print for the block centres and the corner squares of the keyboard border

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60cm (24in) solid black fabric for the blocks, inner border and binding

■ 1.1m (1¹/4yd) backing fabric

Other requirements

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Rotary cutter, ruler and mat

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20cm (8in) square ruler

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Cotton thread for piecing

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Safety pins for basting

■ Masking tape or clips/clamps for sandwiching the quilt

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94cm x 110cm (37in x 43in) batting

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Sewing machine

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General sewing supplies

Diagram 1

Block construction

Place a 2¹/4in black strip, right side up, on the bed of the sewing machine and sew the centre squares face down onto the strip. As one centre is stitched in place, add the next centre square leaving a tiny gap between them. Continue adding the centre squares in this way, see diagram 1.