Swizzle Sticks

Designer: Christine Barnes

Finished quilt: 48-1/2" square

Finished blocks: 12" square

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

• 6—1/4-yard pieces assorted solids (blocks)
• 5/8 yard white-and-black stripe (blocks, binding)
• 12—1/8-yard pieces assorted solids (blocks)
• 1/4 yard geometric floral (blocks)
• 1/8 yard gray-and-white print (blocks)
• 9×21" piece (fat eighth) each of multicolor stripe and multicolor floral (blocks)
• 1/4 yard each of black tone-on-tone and white tone-on-tone (Four-Patch units)
• 1 yard white-and-black dot (sashing)
• 3-1/4 yards backing fabric
• 57" square batting

Cut pieces in the following order.

From each 1⁄4-yard assorted solid, cut:

• 3—4-1/2×12-1/2" strips

From white-and-black stripe, cut:

• 5—2-1/2×42" binding strips
• 6—3/4×13" strips

From each 1⁄8-yard assorted solid, cut:

• 3—2-1/2×4-1/2" rectangles

From geometric floral, cut:

• 6—3/4×13" strips
• 3—4-1/2" squares

From gray-and-white print, cut:

• 6—3/4×13" strips

From each multicolor stripe and multicolor floral, cut:

• 3—4-1/2" squares

From each black tone-on-tone and white tone-on-tone, cut:

• 2—2×42" strips

From white-and-black dot, cut:

• 24—3-1/2×12-1/2" sashing 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. For one A block, gather two different solid 4-1/2×12-1/2" strips, two white-and-black stripe 3/4×13" strips, four different solid 2-1/2×4-1/2" rectangles, and one geometric floral 4-1/2" square.

2. Sew together a solid 4-1/2×12-1/2" strip and a white-and-black stripe 3/4×13" strip to make a strip unit (Diagram 1). Be sure to press seams away from 3/4"-wide strip, which will feel awkward because the seam allowances will want to go toward the narrow strip. Trim ends of white-and-black stripe strip even with solid strip. The unit should be 12-1/2×4-3/4" including seam allowances. Repeat to make a second strip unit.

3. Referring to Diagram 2, sew together the solid 2-1/2×4-1/2" rectangles and geometric floral 4-1/2" square to make center unit. The unit should be 12-1/2×4-1/2" including seam allowances.

4. Sew together strip units and center unit to make Block A (Diagram 3). Trim block to 12-1/2" square including seam allowances (Diagram 4).

5. Using solid strips and rectangles in same colors, repeat steps 1–4 to make three A blocks total.

6. For one B block, gather two different solid 4-1/2×12-1/2" strips, two gray-and-white print 3/4×13" strips, four different solid 2-1/2×4-1/2" rectangles, and one multicolor stripe 4-1/2" square. Repeat steps 2–4 to make Block B (Diagram 5). Using solid strips and rectangles in same colors, repeat to make three B blocks total.

7. For one C block, gather two different solid 4-1/2×12-1/2" strips, two geometric floral 3/4×13" strips, four different solid 2-1/2×4-1/2" rectangles, and one multicolor floral 4-1/2" square. Repeat steps 2–4 to make Block C (Diagram 6). Using solid strips and rectangles in same colors, repeat to make three C blocks total.

1. Sew together a black tone-on-tone 2×42" strip and a white tone-on-tone 2×42" strip to make a strip set (Diagram 7). Repeat to make a second strip set. Cut strip sets into thirty-two 2"-wide segments.

2. Sew together two 2"-wide segments to make a Four-Patch unit (Diagram 8). The unit should be 3-1/2" square including seam allowances. Repeat to make 16 Four-Patch units total.

1. Referring to Quilt Assembly Diagram, lay out Four-Patch units, white-and-black dot sashing strips, and blocks A–C in seven horizontal rows; note orientations of Four-Patch units.

2. Sew together pieces in each row. Press seams toward sashing strips. Join rows to complete quilt top. Press seams away from block rows.

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

2. Quilt as desired. Sandra Bruce machine-quilted free-motion flower motifs across the quilt top (Quilting Diagram).

3. Bind with white-and-black stripe binding strips.