Rickrack Tulips

Designers: Tammy Johnson and Avis Shirer of Joined at the Hip

• 2/3 yard of solid tan (appliqué foundations)
• 3/8 yard of green print (stem, leaf appliqués)
• 9--4" squares of assorted pink prints (flower appliqués)
• 1/8 yard of light yellow print (flower center appliqués)
• 3/4 yard of solid brown (sashing)
• 1/2 yard of pink stripe (sashing)
• 1/2 yard of dark red print (sashing, inner border)
• 1 yard of brown print (outer border, binding)
• 1-3/4 yards backing fabric
• 44x56" batting
• 1 package yellow rickrack
• Tan liquid fabric dye
• 2 yards lightweight fusible web

Finished quilt: 38x50"

Finished flower block: 6x10"

Finished sashing block: 3" 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. (Download PDF for patterns) To use fusible web for appliquéing, as was done in this project, complete the following steps.

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

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

From solid tan, cut:

• 9--6-1/2x10-1/2" rectangles for appliqué foundations

From green print, cut:

• 9 each of Patterns A, D, and D reversed

From each assorted pink print, cut:

• 1 of Pattern B

From light yellow print, cut:

• 9 of Pattern C

From solid brown, cut:

• 24--1-3/4x10-1/2" strips
• 24--1-3/4x6-1/2" strips

From pink stripe, cut:

• 12--1x10-1/2" strips
• 12--1x6-1/2" strips
• 8--4-1/4" squares, cutting each diagonally twice in an X for a total of 32 triangles

From dark red print, cut:

• 2--1-1/2x42-1/2" inner border strips
• 2--1-1/2x32-1/2" inner border strips
• 8--4-1/4" squares, cutting each diagonally twice in an X for a total of 32 triangles

From brown print, cut:

• 5--3-1/2x42" strips for outer border
• 5--2-1/2x42" binding strips

From yellow rickrack, cut:

• 9--8-1/2"-long pieces

1. Referring to the Appliqué Placement Diagram, arrange a green print A stem, D leaf, and D reversed leaf, and a pink print B flower on a solid tan 6-1/2x10-1/2" appliqué foundation rectangle; fuse in place.

2. Using threads that match the appliqué fabrics and working from the bottom layer to the top, machine-blanket-stitch the appliqué pieces to the foundation rectangle.

3. Lay a yellow print C flower center with the fusible side up. Place a rickrack length on the flower center, easing it around the edges of the oval and overlapping the ends slightly. Use just the tip of the iron to lightly fuse the rickrack in place. Note: When temporarily fusing the rickrack, place a nonstick pressing sheet over the flower center appliqué to prevent getting fusible-web residue on your iron.

4. Add the embellished yellow print C flower center to the foundation rectangle (see Diagram 1); fuse in place. Using yellow thread, machine-blanket-stitch the yellow print flower center to the foundation rectangle to make an appliquéd flower block. Be sure to keep the rickrack's outer edge free from the stitching.

5. Repeat steps 1 through 4 with the remaining appliqué pieces, solid tan appliqué foundations, and 8-1/2"-long rickrack pieces to make a total of nine appliquéd flower blocks.

1. Sew together a pink stripe triangle and a dark red print triangle along bias edges to make a triangle pair (see Diagram 2). Be careful not to stretch the triangles. Press the seam allowance toward the dark red print triangle. Repeat to make a total of 32 triangle pairs.

2. Join two triangle pairs to make an hourglass block (see Diagram 3). Press the seam allowance in one direction. The pieced hourglass block should measure 3-1/2" square, including the seam allowances. Repeat to make a total of 16 hourglass blocks.

1. Aligning long edges, sew a solid brown 1-3/4x10-1/2" strip to each side of a pink stripe 1x10-1/2" strip to make a long sashing unit. Press the seam allowances toward the solid brown strips. The pieced long sashing unit should measure 3-1/2x10-1/2", including the seam allowances. Repeat to make a total of 12 long sashing units.

2. Aligning long edges, sew a solid brown 1-3/4x6-1/2" strip to each side of a pink stripe 1x6-1/2" strip to make a short sashing unit. Press the seam allowances toward the solid brown strips. The pieced short sashing unit should measure 3-1/2x6-1/2", including the seam allowances. Repeat to make a total of 12 short sashing units.

1. Referring to the Quilt Assembly Diagram, lay out the nine appliquéd flower blocks, the 12 long sashing units, the 12 short sashing units, and the 16 hourglass blocks in seven horizontal rows.

2. Sew together the pieces in each row. Press the seam allowances toward the sashing units. Then join the rows to make the quilt center. Press the seam allowances in one direction. The pieced quilt center should measure 30-1/2x42-1/2", including the seam allowances.

1. Sew a dark red print 1-1/2x42-1/2" inner border strip to each side edge of the pieced quilt center. Then add a dark red print 1-1/2x32-1/2" inner border strip to the top and bottom edges of the pieced quilt center. Press the seam allowances toward the inner border.

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

• 2--3-1/2x44-1/2" outer border strips
• 2--3-1/2x38-1/2" outer border strips

3. Sew the long brown print outer border strips to the side edges of the pieced quilt center. Then add the short brown print outer border strips to the top and bottom 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.

2. Quilt as desired. Machine quilter Deb McGaugh echo-quilted in the brown sashing strips, stipple-quilted the block backgrounds, and quilted spirals in the flower center appliqués.

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