14 Join us at http://www.todaysquilter.com
Youwillneed
QRedpindot– yd
QRedpolkadot– One(1)FatEighth
QRedgingham– One(1)FatQuarter
QRedstripe– yd
QReddenim– One(1)FatQuarter
QRedsolid(innerborder)– yd
QBluepolkadot– 1 yd
QBluedenim– yd
QBluegingham– 6insquare
QBluestripe– One(1)FatEighth
QGreennoveltyprint– One(1)
FatEighth
QDarkgreensolid– One(1)
FatQuarter
QLightgreensolid– One(1)
FatEighth
QYel lowsol id– O ne(1)FatE i g ht h
QTaup e /t a nsol id– yd
QWhite,beigeandgreyprints– yd
QBlacksolid– One(1)FatEighth
QWhitesolid– One(1)FatEighth
QGingerfeltforNutcrackerbeard
- 3insquare
QBrownfeltforfairyhair– 4insquare
QWideredricrac– 6 yds
BEHINDTHEQUILT
A TALE INSTITCHES
“TheNutcrackerandtheMouseKingis a fairy-talewrittenbyE.T.A
Ho mannin1816.It wasmadefamousbya balletnamedTheNutcracker
stagedat theMariinskyTheatreinSt.Petersburg,Russiain1890.Themusic
of thisiconicballetwascomposedbyTchaikovsky.Therearemanyversions
of thestory,howeverthegeneralsummaryis asfollows.OneChristmasEve,
Claraandherbrother,Fritz,awaitwithexcitementthearrivaloftheirUncle
Drosselmeyer,a wonderfultoymaker.Hebringsthebothofthemgiftsfor
ChristmasandClaraimmediatelyfallsinlovewitha wonderfulNutcracker
thatherunclehadmade.Fritzattemptstocracka nutintheNutcracker’s
mouthbut,withtoomuchvigour,accidentallybreaksthejawofthewooden
doll.A distraughtClaragoestobedintearsdespiteherunclespromisestofix
him.Thatnight,Claradreamsthatasthegrandfatherclockstrikesmidnight,
a flurryofmiceledbytheMouseKingemergefromthedarknessandbegin
to attackthetoys,includingtheNutcracker.Claraseesthatheis losinghis
fightandthrowsa slipperat theKing,killinghim.Hisarmyofmiceretreat
and the Nutcracker turns into a noble Prince. He leads Clara through a
magical land of castles, toys, sweets, gingerbread dancers and sugar plum
fairies. Clara falls in love with her Prince and is disappointed upon waking up
to find it had all been a dream. However, as she reaches for the Nutcracker,
she finds that his broken jaw has miraculously fixed overnight. The tale may
have been inspired by German folklore. Did you know that nutcrackers were
given as keepsakes to bring luck to the family and to protect the home? It
is said that they represent strength and power and that they watch over the
family to keep evil spirits away. I think of this each time I look at this quilt
and it makes me smile.” – Mandy Shaw
APPLIQUÉ AND PIECING PROJECT
NUTCRACKER SCENE
Making the blocks
Use the notes on fusible webbing,
blanket stitch and machine appliqué
(see pages 8 -11) to make up t he
following blocks. Refer to the images
and the thumbnails on the template
sheet for the correct layout. Details
for embroidery and finer details will
be written up under each block title.
Block 1: Rocking Horse
1
Cut a 12 in x 10 in background
piece from the red pin dot fabric.
2
Cut, position and fuse in place
the rocking horse pieces from