Taking Baby Steps

Inspired by: Dreamy Expression from designer Beverly McCullough of Flamingo Toes

Project tester: Diane Tomlinson

Finished size: 38-1⁄2"square

Finished blocks: 14" square

Yardages and cutting instructions are based on 42" of usable fabric width.

• 1/3 yard white print (blocks)
• 3/8 yard each blue print, green print, and solid black (blocks, inner border, outer border)
• 1/8 yard black print No. 1 (blocks)
• 10" square brown print
• 1/4 yard black print No. 2 (sashing)
• 1/2 yard yellow print (outer border)
• 3/8 yard binding fabric
• 2-5/8 yards backing fabric
• 47"-square batting

Cut pieces in the following order.

From white print, cut:

• 16—2-1/2 ×4-1/2" rectangles
• 16—2-1/2" squares

From blue print, cut:

• 4—2-1/2 ×14-1/2" rectangles
• 4—2-1/2 ×10-1/2" rectangles
• 16—2-1/2" squares

From black print No. 1, cut:

• 16—2-1/2" squares

From brown print, cut:

• 4—2-1/2" squares

From green print, cut:

• 4—2-1/2 ×14-1/2" rectangles
• 4—2-1/2 ×10-1/2" rectangles
• 16—2-1/2" squares

From black print No. 2, cut:

• 1—2-1/2 ×30-1/2" sashing strip
• 2—2-1/2 ×14-1/2" sashing rectangles

From solid black, cut:

• 2—1-1/2 ×32-1/2" inner border strips
• 2—1-1/2 ×30-1/2" inner border strips
• 4—3-1/2" squares

From yellow print, cut:

• 4—3-1/2 ×32-1/2" outer border strips

From binding fabric, cut:

• 4—2-1/2 ×42" binding strips

Measurements include 1/4" seam allowances. Sew with right sides together unless otherwise stated.

Press seams in directions indicated by arrows on diagrams. If no direction is specified, press seam toward darker fabric.

1) Sew white print 2-1/2 ×4-1/2" rectangles to opposite edges of a blue print 2-1/2" square to make a top row (Diagram 1). The row should be 2-1/2 ×10-1/2" including seam allowances. Repeat to make a bottom row.

2) Referring to Diagram 2, sew together two white print, two blue print, and one black print 2-1/2" squares to make an inner row. The row should be 2-1/2 ×10-1/2" including seam allowances. Repeat to make a second inner row.

3) Referring to Diagram 3, sew together two blue print, two black print, and one brown print 2-1/2" squares to make a center row. The row should be 2-1/2 ×10-1/2" including seam allowances.

4) Referring to Diagram 4, lay out top, inner, center, and bottom rows. Join rows to make block center. The block center should be 10-1/2" square including seam allowances.

5) Repeat steps 1–4 to make two block centers total.

6) Sew green print 2-1/2 ×10-1/2" rectangles to opposite edges of a block center (Diagram 5). Add green print 2-1/2 ×14-1/2" rectangles to remaining edges to make Block A. The block should be 14-1/2" square including seam allowances. Repeat to make a second A block.

7) Repeat steps 1–6 using green print 2-1/2" squares instead of blue print and blue print 2-1/2 ×10-1/2" and 2-1/2 ×14-1/2" rectangles instead of green print to make two B blocks (Diagram 6).

1) Referring to Quilt Assembly Diagram, lay out A and B blocks and black print 2-1/2 ×14-1/2" sashing rectangles and 2-1/2 ×30-1/2" sashing strip in three rows.

2) Sew together pieces in block rows. Press seams toward sashing rectangles. Join rows to make quilt center. The center should be 30-1/2" square including seam allowances. Press seams toward sashing strip.

1) Sew solid black 1-1/2 ×30-1/2" inner border strips to opposite edges of quilt center. Add solid black 1-1/2 ×32-1/2" inner border strips to remaining edges. Press seams toward inner border. The quilt center should now be 32-1/2" square including seam allowances.

2) Referring to Quilt Assembly Diagram, sew solid black 3-1/2" squares to ends of two yellow print 3-1/2 ×32-1/2" outer border strips to make two pieced border strips. Press seams toward yellow print.

3) Sew remaining yellow print 3-1/2 ×32-1/2" outer border strips to opposite edges of quilt center. Add pieced outer border strips to remaining edges to complete quilt top. Press seams toward outer border.

1) Layer quilt top, batting, and backing; baste. Quilt as desired.

2) Bind with binding strips.