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Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Four Patch Charm Quilt with Tutorial


charm1

Free PDF Pattern is now available for download.  Click here! 

I have had this quilt in the works for a  few months and finally got to quilt it this week.  When I loaded it on my machine I was planning on doing a panto but it kept nagging at me that it deserved some custom work so I gave in!  :)    Large pebbles and swirls it was!     I had made the blocks at a guild UFO day and had a few guild members help me decide on the finally layout as there are so many options when playing with HST style blocks. I really like how the blocks are worked into the border and glad my friends suggested it!  :)

charm2 charm3

 I used  soft yellow So Fine thread for the background quilting and a light brown Lava thread on the dark batiks.   Batting is Quilter’s Dream Blend.

charm5 charm6

I used a Stonehenge extra wide backing.

charm4

I thought I would share how I made the blocks as I didn’t use a pattern but used a technique that I saw on a Missouri Quilt Company YouTube video that you can see here on how to make quick HST blocks. But instead of using just two fabrics from a charm pack I resized it and replaced one of the fabrics with a  Four Patch made with 5” charm squares and that turns out to be 9 1/2” square.

demo2

Once I had the four patch sewn I cut a 9 1/2” square of my background fabric and layered them right sides together and sewed a 1/4” seam around the outside perimeter.

demo3 demo4

Then I cut the block diagonally twice.

demo5

Then press open the four sections ( to the dark side) and end up with four HST blocks. Trim blocks, if needed, to 6 1/4" square.

demo6 demo7

Now the only down side to these blocks are they are all bias edges so you have to be very careful when sewing the blocks together that you don’t stretch them out of shape!  When adding the border cut 6 1/4" strips WOF of the background and piece in the two corner blocks that extend the design into the border. DO NOT piece white and white HST in the border as that would put bias edges on the outside edge.  I have had a few readers do this and that makes for a very unstable outside edge.  So if you have a few charm packs sitting around and want make a fast and easy quilt why not give this a try!  I used 3 charm packs and my quilt finished 63 3/4"x 69 1/2", that includes the 6 1/4" border.  I used about 3m of background/border/binding fabric for this size.

charm8

66 comments:

  1. This is a striking, yet simple design, love it! And, your quilting is dead on perfect for it.
    I'm eyeing my charm pack collection now....

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  2. Oh, I love love love this layout. Gotta try this. And the quilting design is just perfect. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. I second that comment! So inspiring. Thank you so much for sharing.

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  3. Again a beautiful quilt with gourgeous quilting!

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  4. Thanks for sharing your idea with the four charm pack squares for one big square!
    Your quilt looks fantastic and your quilting is great on it.
    Saskia

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  5. Thank you for sharing. It is a very smart looking quilt. Quilting as always superb.

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  6. Kathy that is a fabulous quilt. Thank you for the tutorial, that is such a clever way to make those blocks

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  7. this is such a pretty quilt Kathy....I love your quilting

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  8. I love everything about this, the colour, the quick method, the quilting but best of all I like the layout. So cool and modern! Do you think one day you might add a Pinterest button to your photos - please!!

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  9. This is a fun technique, and your friends' idea to carry the pattern into the border was inspired. And then your custom quilting is the cherry on top! What a great quilt. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  10. Aren't you clever! Love the quilt and thanks for the quick tutorial.

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  11. So glad you didn't do an E2E on this one, it was worth the extra time!!

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  12. Todella ihastuttava peitto ja kaunis tikkaus! Kiitos ohjeesta.

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  13. Love it! And a great tutorial too--another chance for me to use up my nickels!

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  14. I love everything about this quilt, what an awesome job!!

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  15. Great tutorial on those HSTs, and the quilt is wonderful, love the way you placed the design. Carole @ From My Carolina Home

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  16. Now I think I need to buy some charm packs... but wait I will have quite a few left overs from my present quilt. Problem solved!

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  17. Love your quilt, and the quilting looks so great! Glad you reconsidered the pattern and did custom quilting! Wish you a great weekend and hope you will have a great time doing something for you :-)

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  18. Wow what a stunning quilt. The quilting is spectacular.

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  19. Just fabulous and the quilting is perfect for it.

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  20. never thought of that technique with a 4-patch. Cool!

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  21. When you say you used 2.5m background fabric...do you mean yards?

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  22. Thanks I wondered because some measurements were inches! What color way is your charm pack? Beautiful quilt!

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    1. I buy fabric in metric and make quilts using imperial measure! So I use both! I don't know the name of the batik charm packs, it was part of a kit that I never made and there were no labels on them.

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    2. I can handle putting the top together but it's the quilting that to my eye is nothing short uf magical & I definitely need help with that! Beyond showing my screenshot to someone with a longarm, any suggestions?

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  23. My friend asks what fabric line that charm pack was from? I like the colors too but thought I'd try the idea from my stash.....yeah, right!

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  24. I really love this, and plan to make one of my own! Thanks so much for sharing!

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  25. Stunning quilt. I had started one similar last year for my BIL but didn't get very far. I like your quilt much better so I'll have to make one. Thanks for sharing. I am going on a retreat and I think this would be something to take with me.

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  26. Do you think you could give us some instruction on cutting, layout, and sewing. This quilt is striking!

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  27. WOW!!! What a beautiful quilt!! I am in love with your quilting! Thank you so much for sharing all the information about this quilt, even down to the thread choices. You are amazing and gifted. You made my day!

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  28. Wonderful use and adaptation of a MSQ tutorial. This is simply a beautiful quilt pattern. Love your choice of colors.

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  29. Love the quick-it-up modification and your fmqing! Most excellent.

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  30. Beautiful quilt and a great job with the quilting design.

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  31. You should send this idea to MSQC and let them do a tutorial. So pretty!

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  32. This quilt is a beauty, love the colors and the quilting, you did a great job on the quilting design, thanks for the tutorial, really interesting,

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  33. I LOVE the lay out rolling into the boarders and the asymmetry of it. would like to resize it for a crib size...any suggestions?

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    1. I guess the only way to make it crib size would be to use smaller squares in the four patch. Instead of 5" charms try 3" squares with 5 1/2" background squares.

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    2. Would using a layer cake and then cutting work? I did that for making the pin wheels that Jenny showed using this method and they came out about 2 1/4" blocks, may work if you cut it differently???

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  34. Thanks for sharing this wonderful quilt and your short cuts, great idea with outstanding results.....love it :)

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  35. Merci pour ce tutorial excellent ! J'aime beaucoup le rendu et le matelassage est magnifique !!! Bravos !

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  37. Silly me, I asked how many charm packs you used, but it is said there already :) Beautiful quilt and genious technique!

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  38. Hello. I have a question. Did you leave the HST 6.5 inch? Did you make the quilt pictured with squares that large? I just tried your technique and like it very much. But the squares are huge.
    Thank you.

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    1. I went ahead and made this as a mini quilt. Used 2.5 mini charms. Sized the 4 patch square to 2.75. Turned out great.

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  39. Beautiful Quilt........thank you for the tutorial. The Quilting is stunning!!

    Barb
    Also from Manitoba

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  40. Beautiful quilt. Would love to see directions for the layout.

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  41. Smart folks think alike :-)
    I thought of the exactly same thing. I wrote a tutorial on my blog in April, 2014. I have also included several layouts for these 4-patch HSTs. Take a look here
    http://sewpreetiquilts.blogspot.com/2014/04/four-patch-hst-boston-block-tutorial.html

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  42. Hi,
    Your work is absolutely stunning! I have a quilt called "Sea Glass" that I am getting ready to long arm and have been thinking of doing a pebbles and swirl design. Yours has absolutely inspired me. You are a very talented and skilled longarmer!

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  43. I really love this quilt and wish I could down load it too my files I can't wait to try it

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  44. Very excited about this one. I have a to do list as long as my arm. But this one may jump to the top!

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  45. cant get it to layout like yours sooooooooo mixed up

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  46. Wow. That is sssooo beautiful. I would love to have this quilt.

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  47. I have to try and make this quilt! gorgeous!!!

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  48. My son loves this quilt but is asking if it would work with a light colors on a dark background. What do you think?

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    1. Yes I have seen it made with a dark navy background and colouful fabrics for the four patches. It looks great!

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  49. Now that I've seen an easier way to do this, I want to try it! Yours is the prettiest I've seen. Your quilting sets it off, and I love your choice of fabrics!

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  50. Love this. Just wondering if there is an easy calculation for a king size quilt. My son would love this.

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  51. Made it!!! Needed a 'man quilt' that personified "sound" and there was your pattern calling to me! Thank you!

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  52. Hi Kathy, how do you bind it without cutting of the points of the 3 triangles that go to the edge? Thank you!

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  53. I LOVE this pattern! I downloaded it a while back and am just making it now for someone in my family. Their favourite colours did not include any white or greys at all so I am doing a black background. It is going to be stunning I think! This pattern is truly so versatile!
    Your quilting is awesome as always! You are truly a gifted person.

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  55. Thanks so much for sharing your pattern and great tips! I am making a crib quilt.

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  56. I started today !! I really love all the tutorĂ­al.I am making mine with shirts of a dear friend who pass away. Thank you verry much for your help

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  57. Beautiful could this be turned into a King size?

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