Australian Homespun — May 2017

side of the Nine-patch block (see

Diagram 2). Use a quilter’s ruler

to trim the corner edges so that they

are^11 ⁄ 4 in outside the points of the

Nine-patch blocks (see Diagram 3).

12

Cut one of the 1^1 ⁄ 2 in moss

green print fabric strips in

half and join the two half strips to two

full strips. Measure the length of the

quilt top through the centre. Trim the

two long strips to this measurement.

Sew them to the left and right edges

of the quilt, pressing the seams

towards the border.

13

Measure the width of the quilt

top through the centre. Trim

the remaining two moss green print

strips to this measurement. Sew

them to the top and bottom edges

of the quilt, pressing the seams

towards the border.

14

Repeat Steps 12 and 13 to add

the forest green star print

border to the quilt. Measure the quilt

horizontally through the centre, then

trim an equal amount from each of

the left and right borders to make the

quilt 40^1 ⁄ 2 in wide. Measure the quilt

vertically through the centre. Trim an

equal amount from each of the top

and bottom borders to make the quilt

561 ⁄ 2 in long.

15

To piece the blocks for the

third border, sew four light

triangles to a dark square, referring

to Diagram 4 as a guide. Repeat to

make 52 blocks.

16

Lay out the units in two rows

of 14 blocks and two rows of 12

blocks. Re-position individual blocks

until you have an array of colours that

you like in each row. Sew the blocks

in each row together.

17

Sew the longer rows to the left

and right edges of the quilt and

press the seams towards the forest

green borders. Then sew the shorter

rows to the top and bottom edges of the

quilt and press the seams as before.

Quilting and binding

18

Cut the backing fabric in two

equal lengths. Remove the

selvedges and join the pieces side

by side along their long edges with

a^1 ⁄ 2 in seam, pressing the seam open.

19

Smooth out the backing fabric

on a large table or the floor

with right side down and secure it

with masking tape. Lay the batting

on top, ensuring it is smooth and free

from wrinkles. After pressing the

quilt top, lay it on top of the batting

and baste the three layers together

with safety pins (for machine

quilting) or thread (for hand quilting).

20

Quilt as desired. Kim worked

an all-over swirly pattern by

machine for this project. Trim

away the excess batting and

backing fabric so that all three

layers are equal.

21

Join the six strips of forest

green star print fabric together

with diagonal seams to make one

length. Fold the strip in half, wrong

sides together and long edges

matching, and press.

22

With raw edges together,

stitch the binding to the

edge of the quilt with a^1 ⁄ 4 in seam,

mitring the corners as you go and

referring to the Binding Diagrams

below for details.

23

Turn the binding over and stitch

it by hand to the back of the

quilt. Label and date your quilt.

Join the ends by

matching the fold

line and the drawn

line and sewing

them together. Trim

the seam, press it

open and refold the

binding, then finish

Mitring corners sewing it to the quilt.

40cm (16in)

Rule a line along the

45-degree fold

Binding diagram

Diagram 2

Diagram 3

¼in

Diagram 4

80 Homespun