Creating a Quilt Garden
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In Honor of April Fools Day, here is a Garden of Quilt Puns!
Use the green print button at the bottom of this page to print this page. If that doesn’t work, try Ctrl-P or Flower-P.
Spring has sprung, and that means it’s thyme to sew! Whether you’re a seasoned quilter or just planting the seeds of your craft, now is the perfect season to dig in and cultivate some fresh inspiration.
Every great quilt starts with a strong foundation, just like a flourishing garden. Before you begin, take time to root around in your fabric stash. Are you in the mood for floral prints? Leafy greens? Maybe a design that grows on you? Whatever you choose, make sure your fabric selection stems from your creativity!
I have chosen the Corn and Beans block. This is a block that not only has many names, but also can be made in many different ways. Here is the basic block:
Notice that you CAN make it from Flying Geese, Half Square Triangles, and Quarter Square Triangles. If I were going to write a black and white pattern, I probably would put instructions for all those in it. (You can find a list of “How to Make” various blocks with tutorials at https://sewhelpme.info.)
I am not going to. I am going to use HSTs. My apologies to everyone who just completed the Ten-Speed Mystery:-)) How about a multi colored block that can be used to make a garden of yellow corn, green beans, and orange pumpkins? Once you’ve chosen your fabrics, it’s time to sow the seeds of your quilt to make sure your colors blossom together.
There are (20) twelve inch blocks in the 63″ x 75″ quilt above. In order to make the star design, you need eight different colorways of the block. I’m not going to list them out, though. They might just be a sew-along this Spring! If you would like that, leave me a comment below.
Here is the basic Corn and Beans block.
Here’s what you will need to make it:
- (10) 2-1/2″ white blocks
- (2) 2-1/2″ black blocks
- (24) 2-1/2″ black and white HSTs. (If you are using the Magic Eight method, you will need 6″ squares.)
I just heard about this ruler and have NOT had a chance to use it yet. But it seems a lot like Thangles, which I like, so you may want to watch this video to see if it is something you can use. Check out their YouTube video at https://youtu.be/6Jp0k-qK4fc?si=GgDv1ENy4moa0JfJ
Sew the block in rows as shown above. The top half of the block matches the bottom half, so you really only have to make (2) of each row. Sew two groups like the top three rows, pressing rows 1, and rows 3 to the right. Press rows 2 to the left. That will help you press the block seams in opposite directions when it comes time to sew the top half to the bottom half. Just don’t bee too hard on yourself if things don’t line up perfectly. Remember, every stitch is part of your growing journey!
You can stop here and just add a small border to make a Mug Rug if you like. Choose a border that blooms with your design and don’t forget to stop and smell the selvages along the way! Once your quilt is finished, it’s time to enjoy the fruits of your labor!
So, fellow quilters, let’s turnip the creativity, squash our doubts, and keep those sewing machines budding with inspiration. After all, there’s no better thyme to sew than now!
