Make it SouthWestern

Here's a great four block quilt which makes up into a stunning faux lone star.  Pull out your southwestern colors, or maybe your hand- dyes.  (How about Marblecakes?)  Finished size is 20 x 20. This is not a difficult pattern, but it might be not be good for absolute beginners.  Paper piecing ability is assumed.  

Fabrics

Color A:  Summer Grass; 2 Fat Quarters
Color B:  Stormy Sea; 1 Fat Quarter
Color C:  Autumn Forest; 1 Fat Quarter
Color D:  Red Sunrise; 1 Fat Quarter
Color E:  Beach Sand; 1 Fat Quarter
Color F:  Forest Fire ; 1 Fat Quarter
Color G:  Night Sky; 1 Fat Quarter 

Start by cutting all your fat quarters into 2 1/2" strips the long way, except for one of the grass.  Cut that one into 3" strips.  Lay them all in nice neat piles and feel proud of yourself! Having pre-cut them will make it easier for you to paper piece the components.   

Print out the template to the right, which should measure 4 inches by 4 inches.  Everyone's computer is different, however, so if your template does not come out right, either resize it on a copier or hand draw it.  Don't forget to add the seam allowance! The letters refer to the color you should use, not the piecing order.  You will need four of these.  Press. 

Color C:  Autumn Forest
Color E:  Beach Sand
Color F:  Forest Fire 

Click on the thumbnail to the left.  Print it out and measure.  It should measure 2 inches by 6 inches.  Everyone's computer is different, however, so if your template does not come out right, either resize it on a copier or hand draw it.  Don't forget to add the seam allowance! The letters refer to the color you should use, not the piecing order.  Sew 4 of these using the strips you cut in the first step.  

Fabrics

Color A:  Summer Grass
Color B:  Stormy Sea
Color C:  Autumn Forest
Color D:  Red Sunrise
Color E:  Beach Sand
Color F:  Forest Fire 

Print out the template to the right and measure.  It should measure 2 inches by 2 inches.  Everyone's computer is different, however, so if your template does not come out right, either resize it on a copier or hand draw it.  Don't forget to add the seam allowance!  The letters refer to the color you should use, not the piecing order.  Sew 4 of these using the strips you cut in the first step.  

Now, sew the blocks you just made together like this: 

Press and measure.  These should measure 2 1/2" x 8 1/2".  

Cut two of the 2 1/2" grass strips you cut in the very first step into (4) 4 1/2" strips and (4) 6 1/2" strips.  

Sew a short strip to the side of the block you made in Step One from Template A.  Press.  It will look like the thumbnail below:  

Sew a long grass strip to the top of the block you just made.  Press. It will look like the thumbnail below and measure 6 1/2" x 6 1/2":

Click on the thumbnail of the template to the left.  Print it out and measure.  It should measure 2 inches by 6 inches.  Everyone's computer is different, however, so if your template does not come out right, either resize it on a copier or hand draw it.  Don't forget to add the seam allowance! The numbers refer to the color you should use, not the piecing order.  Sew 4 of these components using the fabric strips you cut in the first step.  

Fabrics

Color A:  Summer Grass
Color B:  Stormy Sea
Color C:  Autumn Forest
Color D:  Red Sunrise

Sew these four components to the left side of the block you made earlier in this step.  It should look like the thumbnail to the right.  Press.  It should measure 6 1/2" x 8 1/2":

All the pictures on this page are thumbnails - click on them to see them up close.

Press.  It should measure 8 1/2" inches square. Sew four blocks - you are almost there!

Cut one of the color G strips into two lengths of  16 1/2".  Attach them to the top and the bottom.  Press to the dark.  Cut one of the color G strips into two lengths of 20 1/2".  Attach to the sides, then press to the dark.  You are done!  What do you think? Now finish as normal with batting and backing, and Quilt as Desired.  Here is what it might look like:  (click on the thumbnails)