Take Flight

Designer Emily Herrick of Crazy Old Ladies

• 42--5" squares assorted prints and dots in cream, olive, blue, pink and coral (blocks)
• 2-1⁄2 yards brown pin dot (blocks, sashing, border)
• 5⁄8 yard solid coral (appliqué, binding)
• 5" square cream dot (appliqué)
• Scrap of teal print (appliqué)
• 5 to 6 yards 1⁄2"-wide rickrack: cream
• 3-1⁄4 yards backing fabric
• 57x60" batting
• Lightweight iron-on fusible web
• Thread: cream

Finished quilt: 48-1⁄2x52"

Finished block: 3-1⁄2" square

Quantities are for 44/45"-wide, 100% cotton fabrics. Measurements include 1⁄4" seam allowances. Sew with right sides together unless otherwise stated.

Cut pieces in the following order. Cut border strips lengthwise (parallel to selvages). Click on "Download this Project" above for patterns.

To use iron-on fusible web for appliquéing, complete the following steps.

1. Lay fusible web, paper side up, over patterns. Use a pencil to trace each pattern the number of times indicated in cutting instructions, leaving 1⁄2" between tracings. Cut out each fusible-web shape roughly 1⁄4" outside traced lines.

2. Following manufacturer's instructions, press fusible-web shapes onto wrong sides of designated fabrics; let cool. Cut out fabric shapes on drawn lines. Peel off paper backings.

From brown pin dot, cut:

• 5--7x42" strips for border
• 42--5" squares
• 10--2-3⁄4x4" sashing rectangles
• 72--1-1⁄2x4" sashing rectangles

From solid coral, cut:

• 6--2-1⁄2x42" binding strips
• 1 of Pattern A

From cream dot, cut:

• 2 of Pattern B

From teal print, cut:

• 1 of Pattern C

1. Use a pencil to mark a diagonal line on wrong side of each assorted cream, olive, blue, pink, and coral print and dot 5" square. (To prevent fabric from stretching as you draw the lines, place 220-grit sandpaper under each square.)

2. Layer a marked square atop a brown pin dot 5" square. Sew pair together with two seams, stitching 1⁄4" on each side of drawn line (Diagram 1).

3. Cut a pair apart on drawn line to make two triangle units. Open triangle units and press seams toward brown pin dot to make two triangle-squares (Diagram 1).

4. Use a pencil to mark a diagonal line perpendicular to seam line on wrong sides of each triangle-square.

5. Layer a marked triangle-square atop the unmarked triangle-square, aligning seam lines. Sew pair together with two seams, stitching 1⁄4" on each side of drawn line (Diagram 2). Cut pair apart on drawn line. Open triangle units and press seams in one direction to make two hourglass blocks (Diagram 2). Trim each to 4" square including seam allowances.

6. Repeat steps 2–5 to make 84 hourglass blocks total (you will use 83).

1. Referring to Quilt Assembly Diagram, lay out hourglass blocks, brown pin dot 1-1⁄2x4" sashing rectangles, and brown pin dot 2-3⁄4x4" sashing rectangles in 11 horizontal rows.

2. Sew together blocks and rectangles in each row. Press seams toward rectangles.

3. Join rows to make quilt center. The quilt center should be 35-1⁄2x39" including seam allowances.

1. Cut and piece brown pin dot 7x42" strips to make:

• 2--7x48-1⁄2" border strips
• 2--7x39" border strips

2. Add brown pin dot 7x39" border strips to long edges of quilt center. Join brown pin dot 7x48-1⁄2" border strips to remaining edges to complete quilt top. Press seams toward border.

Referring to Appliqué Assembly Diagram, position coral print A plane body, cream dot B wings, and teal print C tail on border; fuse in place. Using cream thread and a blanket stitch, machine-appliqué around each shape.

1. Layer quilt top, batting, and backing; baste.

2. Quilt as desired. Designer Emily Herrick machine-quilted an allover loop motif across the quilt top.

3. Bind with solid coral binding strips.

4. Referring to Appliqué Placement Diagram, position cream rickrack starting at tail of airplane, working around outer border; pin or baste in place, turning under ends 1⁄4". Using cream thread, machine-straight-stitch rickrack in place.