Flannel tips
Flannel is a little more stretchy than other cotton fabrics, but that can be a good thing, according to guest Sandy Bonsib. Here are some of her tips for making flannel easier to use:
- Pre-shrink flannel fabrics before working with them.
- Use spray sizing to make the fabrics stiffer.
- Generally use a bit larger stitch length when working with flannel to accomodate the raised nap.
- Press the seams open to reduce bulk.
- Don't worry about staying on the grain with plaids; mismatched grain can add a homespun feel to the fabric.
- Use a thinner batting to accomodate the bulk of flannel fabrics.
- Feel free to mix flannels and non-flannels together.
Materials:
Group A fabrics - 1/4 yard each of eight assorted plaid, print, and/or solid flannels (the featured quilt used eight different solid colors of flannel fabric)
Group B fabrics - 2/3 yard each of six assorted flannels
two yards of flannel for border
4-3/8 yards of fabric for backing
1/2 yard fabric for straight-grain binding - flannel not recommended
Steps:
Cutting (figure A):
1. Cut six, six-inch squares from each fabric in group A fabrics--48 squares total. Cut 32 of the squares in half diagonally to yield 64 triangles. Keep them sorted in 16 sets of four matching triangles. Leave 16 squares as-is.
2. Cut 32, 8-1/2-inch squares from the fabrics in group B fabrics. Cut the squares in half diagonally to yield 64 triangles. Keep them sorted in16 sets of four matching triangles and set aside.
3. Cut seven strips measuring 8-1/2" x 40" from border fabric.
4. Cut seven strips measuring 2" x 40" from binding fabric.
Square-in-a-square block (figure B)
1. Match a triangle set (from Fabric group A) with each of the 16 uncut, six-inch squares (figure C).
2. Center and sew two triangles to opposite sides of the square and trim (figure D). Center and sew two more triangles to the remaining sides of the square then trim to complete the square-in-a-square block. Make 16 total and pair them into groups of four.
Multi-diamond square-in-square block
1. Working with four blocks at a time, cut the square-in-square blocks from corner to corner (figure E) on both diagonals, rendering four triangles from each block (figure F).
2. Mix and match four triangles from different blocks to create a new multi-diamond square block. To do this, pair the four triangles into two larger triangles and sew. Then stitch the two larger triangles together into one multi-colored block (figure G). Make 16 total. Trim the blocks to 8-1/2 inches square.
3. Using four matching (c) triangles from Fabric group B, sew two triangles to opposite sides of the block created in step 2 (figure H). Trim in the same manner as when making the square-in-square block. Sew two more triangles to the remaining sides of the block, trim and press seams open for a finished multi-diamond, square-in-square block (figure I). Make 16 total. Trim the blocks to 13-1/4 inches square.
Assembly
1. Arrange the blocks in four rows of four blocks each.
2. Sew the blocks together in horizontal rows. Join the rows together.
3. Sew the seven 8-1/2-inch wide border strips together, end to end. From this, cut two strips measuring 51-1/2 inches long for the side borders, and two strips 67-1/2 inches long for the top and bottom border.
6. Sew borders to the sides of the quilt top first, then add borders to the top and bottom edges.
7. Layer the quilt top with batting and backing then baste. Quilt as desired ( figure J) and add binding.
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