Apple Picking Quilt Tutorial

Today is my turn on the Apple Farm blog hop with Elea Lutz and Penny Rose Fabrics!!!!!  I have always been a fan of Elea Lutz’s designs and I was thrilled to meet her in person at Quilt Market!  She is the cutest ever! 

I love Elea’s newest line called Apple Farm.  It has such a fun vintage feel!

I choose to work with the reds from this collection.  I have a vintage red and white quilt from my Great Grandmother and it was sort of the inspiration for my design.

The quilt measures 37″ square and it’s perfect to throw over a couch, place on a table, or hang on a wall.

Let’s get started!!

Supplies:

Fat quarters or quarter yard cuts of 2 red prints

3/4  yard solid white fabric

1/2 yard red swiss dot fabric

fat quarter red gingham

scraps of green and brown

1/2 yard plaid border print

1/3 yard binding

1 1/2 yard backing

Heat n Bond Lite

Sizzix HST die and apple die

The quilt block is made of of 3 parts:  The center block, the “economy block” and the half square triangle (HST)  block.  All seams are 1/4″

For the HST block…

You will need 48 HST consisting of solid white and the darker red print.  I used my 2 1/2″ HST Sizzix Die.  You can literally cut all the HST you need in 30 seconds!  If you don’t have access to this die, just make 48 HST that finish 2 1/2″ square.

I love the Sizzix die because the squares finish perfectly even and no trimming or squaring up!

Mufasa was very helpful in the chain piecing!

Cut (16) 2 1/2″ squares out of solid white.

Lay the block out like this:

Sew together as you would a 4-Patch.  It is helpful to press the seams open to reduce bulk.  You need 16 total of these blocks.

For the Economy Block….

Cut (16) 4 1/2″ squares from the lighter red print.

Cut (64) 2 1/2″ squares from the solid white.  Draw a diagonal line on the back of each white square.

Position a 2 1/2″ square in the corner of the 4 1/2″ red square.  Sew along the diagonal line.  Repeat this process for each of the 4 corners.  Trim 1/4″ along the seam, and press.  

For the centers…

Cut (4) 4 1/2″ squares of solid white.  Don’t applique the apple until the block is sewn because it will overlap slightly.

Lay out the block like this:

Sew together in rows.  Press seams open.  Make four of these blocks.

For the apple applique…

Fuse Heat n Bond Lite to the wrong side of the red gingham.  Position the gingham on the apple die diagonally.  Trim off the stem and the leaf.  Make four of these.  Repeat this process and die cut the leaf and the stem with the appropriate colors of fabric.

Peel off the backing paper and position in the center of the block.  Heat set in place.  Sew around each piece twice with desired thread color.

For the sashing and borders…

Cut (2) 12 1/2″ x 2 1/2″ pieces for center sashing.

Cut (5) 2 1/2″ x WOF strips for sashing and borders.  I didn’t measure the borders, just sew and cut off the excess.  Press toward the sashing.

Cut (4) 4 1/2″ x WOF strips of the plaid.  Sew the sides, press, then the top and bottom, trimming off the extra each time.  Quilt as desired.

I love how this quilt turned out and I love the red & white feel of it without it being totally red and white!  I think the plaid border is my favorite!!

OK – I totally love this pattern!  I’m going to make it again for sure!

Here’s a list of all the other bloggers taking part in the blog hop, pop over to their blogs for more Apple Farm inspiration.

8/8/16 Jemima @tiedwitharibbon www.tiedwitharibbon.com
8/8/16 Anorina @sameliasmum www.sameliasmum.com
8/9/16 Kimberly @fatquartershop www.fatquartershop.blogspot.com/
8/9/16 Bridgette @thefamilyhearth www.thefamilyhearth.com
8/10/16 Taunja @taunjalynn www.carriedawayquilting.com
8/10/16 Nadra @ellisandhiggs www.ellisandhiggs.com
8/11/16 Shari @doohikeydesigns www.doohikeydesigns.com/blog/
8/11/16 Heidi @fabricmutt www.fabricmutt.blogspot.com