Flying in Circles

Inspired by: Free Flight by Melissa Dunworth

Quilt tester: Diane Tomlinson

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

• 2-1/4 yards mottled gray (blocks, binding)
• 1-1/2 yard total assorted prints in blues, purples, and pinks (blocks)
• 2-1/2 yards backing fabric
• 45"-square batting
• Lightweight tracing paper or other foundation material of your choice

Finished quilt: 36-1/2" square

Finished block: 9" square

Cut pieces in the following order. Click on "Download this Project" above for patterns.

From mottled gray, cut:

• 4—2-1/2×42" binding strips
• 4 of Corner Pattern
• 12 each of Top and Bottom patterns
• 12—5" squares, cutting each in half diagonally for 24 triangles total
• 4—4×6" rectangles
• 4—4×4-1/2" rectangles
• 24—4" squares
• 4—3×4" rectangles
• 24—2-1/2×7" rectangles
• 4—2×4" rectangles

From assorted prints, cut:

• 12—5" squares, cutting each in half diagonally for 24 triangles total
• 24—4" squares
• 4—3×4" rectangles
• 24—2-1/2×7" rectangles
• 4—2×5-1/2" rectangles

Click on "Download this Project" above for Foundation patterns.

To foundation-piece, stitch fabric pieces to a foundation paper with the marked side of the paper facing up and the fabric pieces layered underneath. The resulting pieced unit will be a mirror image of the foundation paper.

1. Use a pencil to trace four each of foundation patterns A and B onto lightweight tracing paper (or other foundation material of your choice), tracing all lines and numbers. Repeat to trace 12 each of foundation patterns C and D. Cut out each traced foundation pattern roughly 1/4" outside dashed lines to make four A foundation papers, four B foundation papers, 12 C foundation papers, and 12 D foundation papers.

2. Gather one A foundation paper, one mottled gray 4×6" rectangle (position A1), one assorted print 2×5-1/2" rectangle (position A2), and one mottled gray 4×4-1/2" rectangle (position A3). Working in numerical order, foundation-piece Unit A (Diagram 1). Repeat to make four A units total.

3. Gather one B foundation paper, one mottled gray 3×4" rectangle (position B1), one assorted print 3×4" rectangle (position B2), and one mottled gray 2×4" rectangle (position B3). Working in numerical order, foundation-piece Unit B (Diagram 2). Repeat to make four B units total.

4. Gather one C foundation paper, one mottled gray 2-1/2×7" rectangle (position C1), one assorted print 2-1/2×7" rectangle (position C2), one mottled gray triangle (position C3), one assorted print triangle (position C4), one mottled gray 4" square (position C5), and one assorted print 4" square (position C6). Working in numerical order, foundation-piece Unit C (Diagram 3). Repeat to make 12 C units total.

5. Gather one D foundation paper, one assorted print 2-1/2×7" rectangle (position D1), one mottled gray 2-1/2×7" rectangle (position D2), one assorted print triangle (position D3), one mottled gray triangle (position D4), one assorted print 4" square (position D5), and one mottled gray 4" square (position D6). Working in numerical order, foundation-piece Unit D (Diagram 4). Repeat to make 12 D units total.

These 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. Referring to Diagram 5, layer an A unit atop a B unit. Align and pin center matching points; pin matching points at each end. Pin generously in between, gently easing edges as needed to align. Sew pieces together, removing each pin just before needle reaches it, to make a small arc unit (Diagram 6). Repeat to make four small arc units total.

2. Pin a mottled gray corner piece to top edge of a small arc unit, aligning matching points as before. Sew together to make Block 1 (Diagram 7). The block should be 9-1/2" square including seam allowances. Repeat to make four total of Block 1.

3. Layer a C unit atop a D unit. Pin together, aligning matching points as before. Join pieces to make a large arc unit (Diagram 8). Repeat to make 12 large arc units total.

4. Referring to Diagram 9, sew a mottled gray top piece to top edge of a large arc unit, aligning matching points as before. In same manner, add a mottled gray bottom piece to bottom edge of large arc unit to make Block 2. The block should be 9-1/2" square including seam allowances. Repeat to make 12 total of Block 2.

1. Referring to Quilt Assembly Diagram, lay out blocks in four rows, noting orientation of each block. Sew together blocks in rows. Press seams in one direction, alternating direction with each row.

2. Join rows to complete quilt top. Press seams in one direction.

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

2. Quilt as desired. To machine-quilt the wall hanging, Handi Quilter Studio Educator Johnny Barfuss used both rulers and computerized designs to highlight the circular piecing and accentuate the triangles (Quilting Diagram). He used two layers of batting—Hobbs 80/20 blend on the bottom and Hobbs wool on top—and Magnifico thread from Superior Threads in White.

3. Bind with mottled gray binding strips.