Quilt-along Pattern

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Ladybugs in Polka Dotville: Part 7


[If you are just now joining the Quilt-along, please click on the button above for preliminary and additional information. Again, you can join this quilt-along ANYTIME!]

Fat Quarter Shop is now carrying kits for the Ladybugs in Polka Dotville in the multi-color colorway!

Finally, the ladies are ready for show! Before you do anything else, click Lady Bug Pattern to down the pdf file for the ladybug pattern pieces.

We left off with this in the last Ladybugs in Polka Dotville Quilt-Along post:


We will be adding the ladies!!!


You will need for the multi-color colorway:


You will need for the pink/purple colorway:


Or fabrics of your choice!

**** please note that my instructions are for the multi-color colorway, you will have to adjust the fabrics for the pink/purple colorway or the colorway of your choice****

Important Note: By all means, use the method of your choice to applique the ladybugs. The pdf pattern comes with a 1/4″ seam allowance for those who are turning under for the applique. My instructions are for fusible applique.

Step 1: With a light box, trace the applique pattern pieces on the reverse side of your printout.


Step 2: Trace the reverse applique pattern pieces onto the paper side of fusible. I use Steam-A-Seam2 by Warm Company. It works really well for me.


Step 3: “Gut” the traced applique shape by cutting away the fusible inside of the traced line, leaving about 1/4″ or less on the inside edge of the traced line.


Step 4: Remove the paper backing (the side that is not traced), and attach and fuse the sticky side to the wrong side of fabric. Cut out the exact shape of applique pieces following the traced line. Note: Use black dot on red fabric for applique pieces C & D, and black fabric for applique pieces for A & B.

Step 5: Arrange the applique pieces on the pieced quilt background. Play with the poses of your ladies!! Fuse in place. Finish with either a satin stitch or buttonhole stitch! You may applique as many ladies as you wish on the pieced quilt top! And you are DONE!!!

[I decided to use a black with white design fabric for the body to give my ladies a bit more interest.]


This has been a fun quilt-along. I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have. Send me pictures of your progress wherever you are – I am anxious to see them!!! Do go over to Facebook and become RJR Fabrics’ friend, would you? I hope you would also express your appreciation to the wonderful RJR people for sponsoring this quilt-along!

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Ladybugs in Polka Dotville: Part 6

[If you are just now joining the Quilt-along, please click on the button above for preliminary and additional information. Again, you can join this quilt-along ANYTIME!]

Fat Quarter Shop is now carrying kits for the Ladybugs in Polka Dotville in the multi-color colorway!

This is where we left off last week… Hello Friends, how are you? I hope you are doing well on this Friday. We are just about there…


Part 6: We will add the rest of the borders to complete the pieced quilt top.


You will need for the multi-color colorway –

You will need for the pink/purple colorway –

Or fabrics of your choice!

**** please note that my instructions are for the multi-color colorway, you will have to adjust the fabrics for the pink/purple colorway or the colorway of your choice****

Step 1:

Cut widthwise from white dots on navy fabric

4 x 1 1/2″ x 42″ strips

Cut two of the strips into 1 1/2″ x 36 1/2″ strips, save the leftovers.

Use the leftovers to piece with the remaining two 1 1/2″ x 42″ strips to make two 1 1/2″ x 42 1/2″ strips.

Step 2:

Sew the 1 1/2″ x 36 1/2″ strips to the short sides of the quilt center.


Sew the 1 1/2″ x 42 1/2″ strips to the remaining opposite sides.

Step 3:

Cut lengthwise from multi-color dot fabric

2 x 3 1/2″ x 42 1/2″ strips

2 x 3 1/2″ x 44 1/2″ strips

Step 4:

Sew the 3 1/2″ x 42 1/2″ strips to the long side of the quilt center


Sew the remaining 3 1/2″ x 44″ 1/2″ strips onto the remaining sides.


Voila! I hope you have enjoyed this quilt-along. Have you checked out RJR’s Facebook page lately? Mosey on over to Facebook and become RJR Fabrics’ friend, would you? They also have a Flickr page for you to share your progress pictures.

All we have left are the ladybugs applique. Please note that there won’t be a post on the instructions next Friday. The ladybug applique instructions will be posted two Fridays from now.

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Jill of Apple Avenue Quilts posted a picture of her progress – love her choice of fabrics.

 

 

Christine of Crafty Girlz Creations showed her black and white rendition of the quilt. Very cool!

 

 

 

Eileen of Ladybug Lovelies is doing a mini version in that the block size is reduced by half . But look at the Betty Boop corner blocks – they are a hoot! :)

Do send me your progress pictures if you have them. I would love to see them. Meanwhile, I hope you have a lovely weekend! Till next time!

p.s. Curious mind wants to know what you like about ladybugs.

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Ladybugs in Polka Dotville: Part 5

[If you are just now joining the Quilt-along, please click on the button above for preliminary and additional information. Again, you can join this quilt-along ANYTIME!]

NEWS FLASH, my friends! Fat Quarter Shop is now carrying kits for the Ladybugs in Polka Dotville in the multi-color colorway!

Part 5: More colors coming up!  This is a big week for us in the Polka Dotville!

You will need for the multi-color colorway (minus the navy blue)-

You will need for the pink/purple colorway (minus the purple) –

Or fabrics of your choice!

**** please note that my instructions are for the multi-color colorway, you will have to adjust the fabrics for the pink/purple colorway or the colorway of your choice****

For this part, you may use the method of your choice to construct the blocks if you have a favorite way of doing things.  Just remember the blocks in the pieced border ought to finish at 4″.

Step 1 :

Cut from white polka dots on green fabric

4 4-1/2″ squares.  Set aside.

Step 2 – Constructing HST’s units:

(i) Cut from white polka dots on green

2 5″ squares

Cut from white polka dots on black

2 5″ squares

(ii) Draw a diagonal line on the back of a green square.  Place it right side together with a black square.  Pin away from the drawn line.  Sew 1/4″ away from and on both sides of the drawn line.

(iii) Cut along the drawn line.  Open and press.  Line up the 45 degree line of the ruler  along the seam on the right side of the square.  Trim to measure 4-1/2″ on each side.  Make a total of four HST units.

Step 3 – Constructing HST/QST combo units:

(i) Cut from white polka dots on green,

2 5″ square (draw a diagonal line across on the wrong side)

1 5-1/2″ square

Cut from white polka dots on black,

1 5-1/2″ square

(ii) Take the 5-1/2″ squares and make 2 HST units like we did in step 2.

(iii) Now, take one HST unit made in (ii) and place right sides together with one 5″ green square.  You will noticed that the 5″ green square would be slightly smaller than the HST unit.  Don’t worry about that.  Like we did before, sew 1/4″ away from and on both sides of the drawn line.  Cut on drawn line.  Open and press.  When trimming with ruler, this time, you have to line up the 45 degree line, and make sure that the 4 1/2″ marks are at both the green/black seam line as shown in picture.  Trim to measure 4-1/2″ on all sides.  Make a total of 4 units.

I pressed the seams open to reduce bulk when sewing the blocks together later.

(iv)  You will now repeat for the other colors, making the number of blocks as shown in the following diagram.  Arrange and sew the blocks together to complete the second pieced border on this quilt top.

[Note:  I think you would have some extra blocks – you might use them for the back!]

Do let me know how you are coming along in your progress.  I am sorry I don’t have this second pieced border all done for this week’s post.  I have been working on meeting deadlines for some special projects.  So, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to email me.

Have you checked out RJR’s Facebook page lately? Mosey on over to Facebook and become RJR Fabrics’ friend, would you?  They also have a Flickr page for you to share your progress pictures.

Curious mind wants to know:  Are you going to have any personalization on this quilt?   If so, how are you going to do it?  Thanks for being my quilting buddy – I will see you again next week!

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Ladybugs in Polka Dotville: Part 1

[If you are just now joining the Quilt-along, please click on the button above for preliminary and additional information.]

Hello Everyone,

Let’s get down to this business of polka dotting, shall we? I am so excited about this quilt-along, and am even more excited about my dear friend Wanda who currently lives thousands of miles away from me is joining the fun!

I know that most of us have more than one quilt project going on at any given time. So, I have tried to split up the construction of this quilt into easy to manage portions (I hope!). I will be showing you exactly how I construct all my quilt tops. There is no one correct way to do things in quilting. So, feel free to use whatever method you like.

Part 1: We will be constructing the main playground for the ladybugs in the first part of the quilt along:

You will need for the multi-color colorway —

You will need for the pink/purple colorway —

Or fabrics of your choice!

**** please note that my instructions are for the multi-color colorway, you will have to adjust the fabrics for the pink/purple colorway****

Step 1: I pre-wash all my fabrics prior using Orvus. I know there are different schools of thought on the topic of pre-washing. My quilting teacher drilled into my little pea brain to always pre-wash my fabrics. That’s why I do it.

Step 2: From the green polka dot fabric, cut 60 2 1/2″ squares.

i) I would fold my fabric matching selvage edges, and trim off the fuzzies. Notice how I lined up my bottom edge against the markings on the ruler.

ii) After I trimmed off the fuzzies, I gingerly flipped the fabric over so that the trimmed edge is on my left hand side. I then cut the fabric widthwise four 2 1/2″ x 42″ strips.

iii) From the strips, recut 60 2 1/2″ squares.

Step 3: Use your ruler to draw a diagonal line across the wrong side of the green polka dot squares. Notice how one of the edges matches up with the 45 degree line on the ruler.

Step 4: The cutting process will be the same as mentioned for the green polka dot fabric. So, I shall not belabor the points. From the multi-color big dots, cut lengthwise three 4 1/2″ x 48 1/2″ strips, recut into 30 4 1/2″ squares. This cutting scheme is for continuous border strips.

If you are piecing your borders, you would cut your fabric widthwise four 4 1/2″ x 42″ strips, and recut the strips into 30 4 1/2″ squares.

Step 5: Line up a green 2 1/2″ square, right sides together, with the corner of a multi-color square. Pin on both sides of the drawn line.

Sew on drawn line.

Step 6: Open up the green polka dot triangle to match the corner of the multicolor square, and finger press. Then press with the iron to set the shape.

Step 7: Flip the triangle back. Trim 1/4″ away from the sewn line. Now you are half way there.

Step 7: Repeat Steps 5 &6 at the corner diagonal from the one you were on to complete the block.

Step 8: Take a break and enjoy the following Ladybug Fun Facts!

Ladybugs are cold blooded, and they hibernate during the winter season in clusters to conserve heat.

Ladybugs are a great natural pesticide as they eat nasty bugs like aphids.

Ladybugs are the state insect for Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Ohio, Delaware and Tennessee.

Step 9: Make 29 more blocks. Sew 5 blocks in a row, make a total of 6 rows. Sew rows together. And you will be ready for Part 2!  Meanwhile, mosey on over to Facebook and become RJR Fabrics’ friend, would you?  They also have a Flickr page for you to share your progress pictures.  I look forward to seeing your work.

Thanks for being my quilting buddy. I hope you will have fun making these. I would love to hear your thoughts. Have a great weekend.