Free-Style Piecing Wall Hanging

Inspired by "Island Dreams" from designer Mabeth Oxenreider

Quiltmaker: Laura Boehnke

• 5--1/4-yard pieces assorted pink prints (blocks)
• 4--1/4-yard pieces assorted teal prints (blocks)
• 1/4 yard purple print (inner border)
• 3/8 yard pink print (middle border)
• 7/8 yard teal print (outer border, binding)
• 1-1/4 yards quilt backing
• 45" square batting
• 6-1/2"-square transparent acrylic ruler

Finished quilt: 38-1/2" square

Finished block: 4" 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.

From assorted pink prints, cut:

• 18 sets of 4 matching 2-1/2x5" rectangles
• 18 asymmetrical four-sided pieces, fussy-cutting as desired (The edges of the center pieces in the featured quilt range from 1-1/2" to 3-1/2" long.)

From assorted teal prints, cut:

• 18 sets of 4 matching 2-1/2x5" rectangles
• 18 asymmetrical four-sided pieces, fussy-cutting as desired (The edges of the center pieces in the featured quilt range from 1-1/2" to 3-1/2" long.)

From purple print, cut:

• 2--1-1/2x26-1/2" inner border strips
• 2--1-1/2x24-1/2" inner border strips

From pink border print, cut:

• 2--2-1/2x30-1/2" middle border strips
• 2--2-1/2x26-1/2" middle border strips

From teal border pint, cut:

• 4--2-1/2x42" binding strips
• 2--4-1/2x38-1/2" outer border strips
• 2--4-1/2x30-1/2" outer border strips

1. Center a pink block center on a long edge of a teal 2-1/2x5" rectangle (Diagram 1). Sew together; press pieces open (Diagram 2).

2. Referring to Diagram 3, position a matching teal 2-1/2x5" rectangle on an adjacent edge of the Step 3 unit. Sew together; press as before (Diagram 4).

3. In the same manner, join remaining matching teal 2-1/2x5" rectangles to remaining edges of block center; press as before (Diagram 5).

4. Place the 6-1/2"-square acrylic ruler over pieced Step 5 unit at any angle (Diagram 6); trim unit to 4-1/2" square to make a teal block.

5. Repeat steps 1–4 to make 18 teal blocks total.

6. Repeat steps 1–4 using pink print 2-1/2x5" rectangles and teal block centers to make 18 pink print blocks.

1. Referring to Quilt Assembly Diagram, lay out blocks in six rows, alternating pink and teal versions.

2. Sew together blocks in each row. Press seams in one direction, alternating direction with each row. Join rows to make quilt center. Press seams in one direction. The quilt center should be 24-1/2" square including seam allowances.

1. Sew short purple print inner border strips to opposite edges of quilt center. Join long purple print inner border strips to remaining edges. Press all seams toward inner border.

2. Sew short pink print middle border strips to opposite edges of quilt center. Join long pink print middle border strips to remaining edges. Press all seams toward middle border.

3. Sew short teal outer border strips to opposite edges of quilt center. Join long teal print outer border strips to remaining edges. Press all seams toward outer border.

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

2. Quilt as desired.

3. Bind with teal binding strips.