Spring Baskets

Quilt designer: Darlene Zimmerman

From American Patchwork & Quilting 2001 Calendar

• 13--1/8-yard pieces of assorted red and blue prints for blocks
• 1-1/3 yards of solid white for blocks
• 3/4 yard of yellow print for blocks and inner border
• 2 yards of red print for setting and corner triangles, outer border, and binding
• 3-1/4 yards of backing fabric
• 58" square of quilt batting

Finished quilt top: 51-3/4" square

Finished block: 10" square

Quantities specified for 44/45"-wide, 100% cotton fabrics. All measurements include a 1/4" seam allowance. Sew with right sides together unless otherwise stated.

To make the best use of your fabrics, cut the pieces in the order that follows.

From each assorted red and blue print, cut:

• 5--2-7/8" squares, cutting each in half diagonally for a total of 10 small triangles (you'll have 1 leftover triangle)
• 1--2-1/2" square

From solid white, cut:

• 7--4-7/8" squares, cutting each in half diagonally for a total of 14 large triangles (you'll have 1 leftover triangle)
• 7--4-7/8" squares, cutting each in half diagonally for a total of 14 large triangles (you'll have 1 leftover triangle)
• 26--2-1/2x6-1/2" rectangles
• 13--2-1/2" squares

From yellow print, cut:

• 5--1x42" strips for inner border
• 7--4-7/8" squares, cutting each in half diagonally for a total of 14 large triangles (you'll have 1 leftover triangle)
• 39--2-7/8" squares, cutting each in half diagonally for a total of 78 small triangles

From red print, cut:

• 5--4-1/2x42" strips for outer border
• 6--2-1/2x42" binding strips
• 2--16" squares, cutting each diagonally twice in an X for a total of 8 setting triangles
• 2--9" squares, cutting each in half diagonally for a total of 4 corner triangles

The instructions that follow are for making one red Basket block. Repeat these steps using one red or blue print in each block to make a total of 13 Basket blocks.

1. For a red Basket block you'll need nine small triangles and one 2-1/2" square from the same red print, one solid white large triangle, 11 solid white small triangles, two solid white 2-1/2x6-1/2" rectangles, one solid white 2-1/2" square, one yellow print large triangle, and six yellow print small triangles.

2. Sew together one red print small triangle and one solid white small triangle to make a small red-and-white triangle-square (see Diagram 1). Press the seam allowance toward the red print triangle. The pieced small triangle-square should measure 2-1/2" square, including seam allowances. Repeat to make a total of seven small red-and-white triangle-squares.

3. Repeat Step 2 using red print small triangles and yellow print small triangles to make a total of two small red-and-yellow triangle-squares (see Diagram 2). Press the seam allowances toward the red print triangles.

4. Repeat Step 2 using solid white small triangles and yellow print small triangles to make a total of four small white-and-yellow triangle-squares (see Diagram 3). Press the seam allowances toward the yellow print triangles.

5. Repeat Step 2 using a solid white large triangles and a yellow print large triangle to make a large white-and-yellow triangle-square (see Diagram 4). Press the seam allowance toward the yellow print triangle. The pieced large triangle-square should measure 4-1/2" square, including the seam allowances.

6. Referring to Diagram 5 for placement, lay out the small and large triangle-squares, the solid white square and rectangles, and the red print square in sections.

7. Sew together the pieces in each section. Then join the secrtons to make a red Basket block. The pieced Basket block should measure 10-1/2" square, including the seam allowances.

1. Referring to the Quilt Assembly Diagram for placement, lay out the 13 Basket blocks and the eight red print setting triangles in diagonal rows.

2. Sew together the pieces in each diagonal row. Press the seam allowances in one direction, alternating the direction with each row. Then join the rows. Press the seam allowances in one direction.

3. Add the four red print corner triangles to complete the quilt center. Press the seam allowances toward the corner triangles.

4. Leaving a 1/4" seam allowance beyond the block corners, trim the edges of the pieced quilt center so that it measures 43-1/4" square, including the seam allowances.

1. Cut and piece the yellow print 1x42" strips to make:

• 2--1x44-1/4" inner border strips
• 2--1x43-1/4" inner border strips

2. Sew the short yellow print inner border strips to opposite edges of the pieced quilt center. Then add the long yellow print inner border strips to the remaining edges of the pieced quilt center. Press the seam allowances toward the inner border.

3. Cut and piece the red print 4-1/2x42" strips to make:

• 2--4-1/2x52-1/4" outer border strips
• 2--4-1/2x44-1/2" outer border strips

4. Sew the short red print outer border strips to opposite edges of the pieced quilt center. Then add the long red print outer border strips to the remaining edges of the pieced quilt center to complete the quilt top. Press the seam allowances toward the outer border.

1. Layer the quilt top, batting, and backing. Quilt as desired.

2. Use the red print 2-1/2x42" strips to bind the quilt.

• Green Pinwheels
• Hourglass Pillow
• Dotty Stars