In Full Bloom Quilt

Designed by Mimi Shimp

finished size 60" x 78"

As seen in Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores® Fall/Winter 2012 FASHIONfusion Magazine. The whimsical patchwork grid and three-dimensional flowers featured add instant joy – and a bright pop of color – to any space. Use EZ Quilting® tools to make cutting faster, easier and more accurate.

Materials Needed:

• Fabric 1 (we used Jo-Ann article #11696838 Pretty Peacocks) – 3/4 yard
• Fabric 2 (we used Jo-Ann article #11696879 Colorful Flora) – 2/3 yard
• Fabric 3 (we used Jo-Ann Article #11696853 Flowery Cutouts) – 1-1/4 yards
• Fabric 4 (we used Jo-Ann Article #111696846 Leafy Medley) – 7/8 yard
• Fabric 5 (we used Jo-Ann Article #111696861 Paisley Plants) – 2/3 yard
• Fabric 6 (we used Jo-Ann Article #4052288 White Leaf Outline) – 1-3/4 yards
• Fabric 7 (we used Jo-Ann Article #8295784 Tonal Calico-Brown) – 1-1/2 yards
• Queen Size Cotton Batting
• Backing Fabric – 3-1/4 yards
• EZ Quilting® Acrylic Tools:
  • Easy Rule or Leftie-Rightie Square 6-1/2" x 12-1/2"
  • Easy Square Jr. or Leftie-Rightie Square 6-1/2"
  • Leftie-Rightie Square 12-1/2"
  • Petal Shapes
  • Easy Circle Cut
• Simplicity® Bias Tape Maker 881925 and Quilt Binding Bias Tip 881969

Cutting Instructions:

1. From Fabric 1, cut
   5 (five) – 12-1/2" squares
   1 (one) – 6-1/2" square
2. From Fabric 2, cut
   4 (four) – 6-1/2" x 12-1/2" rectangles
   3 (three) – 6-1/2" squares
   5 (five) – 7" circles for flower centers
3. From Fabric 3, cut
   2 (two) – 6-1/2" x 12-1/2" rectangles
   2 (two) – 6" squares
   40 (forty) – 7" petal shapes (cut from 4 (four) strips, each measuring 7" x 42") for flowers
4. From Fabric 4, cut
   5 (five) – 6-1/2" x 12-1/2" rectangles
   1 (one) – 6-1/2" square
   40 (forty) petal shapes (cut from 3 (three) strips, each measuring 4" x 42") for inner flowers
5. From Fabric 5, cut
   4 (four) 6-1/2" x 12-1/2" rectangles
   6 (six) – 6-1/2" squares
6. From Fabric 6, cut
   2 (two) – 12-1/2" x 60" strips lengthwise
   5 (five) – 14" squares for flowers
   5 (five) – 8-1/2" squares for flowers
7. From Fabric 7, cut
   10 (ten) – 3-1/2" x 42" strips for borders
   7 (seven) – 2-1/2" x 42" strips for binding

Assembling the Quilt Top

NOTE: Illustrations are color-coded as follows:

Fabric 1 = Ivory
Fabric 2 = Lavender
Fabric 3 = Turquoise
Fabric 4 = Pink
Fabric 5 = Brown
Fabric 6 = White
Fabric 7 = Dark Purple

1. Arrange all the squares and rectangles according to the diagram shown below. Starting with the 6-1/2" squares and rectangles join the smallest units first and press seams. Join these units to the larger rectangles, squares and units. Assemble in rows as shown:
   
   
   
   
2. Measure the width (the widest part) of the quilt center. This should measure 54-1/2". Piece the 3-1/2" wide Fabric 7 border strips together, end to end. Press, and then trim four borders to this length. Sew to the top and bottom edges of the quilt top. Press toward the borders.
   
   
   
   
3. Trim the 2 (two) Fabric 6 strips to the same length as the borders (54-1/2"). Sew to the top and bottom edges of the quilt top. Press down, toward the Fabric 7 borders.
   
   
   
   
4. Add the last two Fabric 7 borders to the top and bottom edges of the quilt top. Press toward the borders.
   
   
   
   
5. Measure the length of the quilt in several places. Take an average of these measurements and trim the remaining Fabric 7 border strips to this size. Sew to the sides of the quilt top, pressing toward the borders.
   
   
   
   

Finishing the Quilt:

1. Layer top, batting and backing together and quilt by hand or machine, as desired.
2. Join Fabric 7 binding strips with diagonal seams and press open. Fold binding in half lengthwise, with wrong sides together.
   
   Optional Method: Join binding strips with diagonal seams and press open. Using the Simplicity® Bias Tape Maker and 1-1/8" Tip, run binding through to create 1-1/8" finished quilt binding.
3. Bind quilt to finish off.

Flowers:

The flowers are made separately, and then tacked to the quilt for easy removal before laundering the quilt. The flowers can then be separately laundered by hand.

1. Sew the large Fabric 3 petal shapes together in pairs, as shown. Join pairs to make half of a flower. Press the seam to the left.
   
   
   
   
2. Join the two halves of the flower to make a full flower. Repeat steps 1 and 2 to make 5 (five) flowers total.
   
   
   
   
3. Layer a 14" square of batting, a 14" square of Fabric 6 with right side up and a large flower right side down in the center of the square. Pin in place and stitch around the edge of the flower, through all layers, 1/4" from edge.
   
   
   
   
4. Using the edge of the flower as a guide, trim excess batting from fabric from flower. Cut a 3" slit in the center of the batting, and the center of the Fabric 6 backing fabric, being careful not to cut the flower. Turn the flower right side out and press. TIP: Be careful when pressing if using polyester batting, which can melt. Repeat steps 3 and 4 to complete 5 (five) flowers.
   
   
   
   
5. Repeat steps 1-4 to make 5 (five) small flowers, using the smaller Fabric 4 petals and smaller squares of batting and Fabric 6 backing.
6. Using double thread, tack the smaller flowers to the larger flowers by hand with one small invisible stitch near the top of each of the smaller fabric petals.
   
   
   
   
7. Using a 10" Fabric 2 circle, turn under the edge 1/4" and stitch around the circle by hand with 1/2" long gathering stitches. Pull the circle to gather slightly in the center and fasten off. The resulting yo-yo is then tacked to the center of the flower with a stitch in the center, going through all of the layers. Repeat for each of the flowers.
   
   
   
   
8. Tack the flowers in place on the quilt, using the photo as a guide.