Australian Homespun — October 2017

to select the combos for all of them

at the same time so you don’t end

up with repeated fabrics on one kite.

11

Join a 4^1 ⁄ 2 x 8in background

rectangle to the bottom of

each kite block and press the seams

downwards. (You will have two

rectangles this size left over – they

are not used in this project.) On

each block, make a light mark in

the centre of the bottom edge.

12

Remove the backing paper from

the kite string shapes and centre

them, right side up, on the lower

rectangles. The top of the string shapes

should almost meet the lower point of

the kites and the bottom should be

level with the edge of the fabric. See

Diagram 2. Fuse them in place. Repeat

Step 7 to stitch the strings in place.

13

Peel the backing paper from

the bow shapes and position

them at the base of the kite shapes,

covering the top of the kite string.

Fuse them in place and repeat Step 7

to stitch them. You should now have

a total of 40 Kite blocks measuring

14 x 8in, raw edge to raw edge.

Assembly

14

Arrange the Kite blocks in eight

columns of fi ve blocks each.

Add a 7^1 ⁄ 4 x 8in background fi ller block

in each column: at the top of the fi rst,

third, fi fth and seventh columns and

at the bottom of the second, fourth,

sixth and eighth columns. Move the

blocks around within the layout to

achieve a pleasing balance of colours.

15

When you’re happy with the

arrangement, join the Kite and

fi ller blocks in each column together.

Then sew the columns together to

complete the quilt top. Press all the

seams open.

Finishing

16

Cut the backing fabric in two

equal lengths and remove the

selvedges. Join the pieces side by side

with a^1 ⁄ 2 in seam and press it open.

17

The backing, batting and quilt

top are ready to take to a long-

arm quilter as they are. If you’re

doing the quilting yourself, smooth

out the backing fabric on the fl oor,

right side down, and secure it with

masking tape. Lay the batting on

top, ensuring it is free of wrinkles.

SAMANTHA’S DESIGN

TIP As you’re sewing the Kite

blocks together, maintain a random

placement of fabrics and colours.

The beauty of this quilt is in its

haphazard scrappiness.

SAMANTHA’S

TECHNIQUE TIP I used

fusible raw-edge appliqué for

this quilt, but it lends itself to

other appliqué techniques, too.

If you choose to use needleturn

appliqué, be sure to add a seam

allowance around the templates

for turning under.

Diagram 2

Quilt Layout Diagram

62 Homespun

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