Easy “Picture Frame” Quilt

Fabric choices (100% cotton):

5/8 yard for 4.5 center squares (more if you want a border and/or binding of this fabric as well). You can use fussy-cut charm squares or other novelty fabric images, but you may need more fabric in that case.

1.5 yard contrast fabric (either darker or lighter than the center squares) for the “frames.” (or you can use ¾ yard each of two contrasting fabrics and alternate your frames.)*

¾ yard or the equivalent if you want a coordinating border.

Plan for binding - Additional yardage of one of the fabrics.

Preparation:

Preshrink, dry, and press the fabrics. Test for color-fastness. If either bleeds, buy a package of “Dye Magnet” and continue to rinse the fabric until “magnets” don’t pick up any more color. (Dye Magnet can be found in the detergent section of the grocery store.)

Cutting:

Square up fabrics and remove selvages.

From 5/8 yard fabric, cut30 4.5 squares. (Cut 4 strips across width of fabric, 4.5” wide. You’ll probably get eight or nine squares from each strip.)

From 1.5 yard fabric:

§ cut two 9: strips, width of fabric, and two 17” strips, width of fabric.

§ Cut strips into 2.5” wide strips (2.5 x 9 and 2.5 x 17). You should have 30 of each size.

§ Cut 9” strips in half (4.5 x 2.5) You should have 60 rectangles

§ Cut 17” strips in half (8.5 x 2.5) You should have 60 rectangles.

Piecing:

Sew the 4.5” rectangles to opposite sides of the thirty 4.5” squares, as shown in Figure One. (If you chose two colors for your frames, sew them in pairs of colors.) If your 4.5” squares have a directional image, sew the 4.5” rectangles to the sides of 15 squares and to the top and bottom of the other 15. (Figure two). Press seams toward rectangles. Sew the 8.5” rectangles to remaining sides of the 4.5” squares, as shown in Figure three.

Sew into six rows of five blocks each, alternating block orientations as shown in figure four. Rows 1, 3, and 5 should start with the blocks turned one way and Rows 2, 4, and 6 should start with the “frames” turned the other way. Press blocks toward the long (8.5”) sides. Label rows as being Rows One, Two, etc. Sew rows together, “nesting” opposing seams. Press seams toward lower rows. Your top will now measure 40.5” by 48.5”.

Borders:

The borders can be any width you find pleasing – just measure down the middle and across the middle of the top to determine the proper lengths for the border strips.

Baste, quilt as desired, and bind.

*If you chose to use ¾ yard each of two contrasting/coordinating colors for your picture frames, cut one 9” strip, width of fabric, and one 17” strip, width of fabric, of each color. Then proceed with the remaining steps.