Bargello: Baby Quilt Size
Materials
Inspired by Rolling Prairie From Designer Mabeth Oxenreider
1—2-1/2x42" strip each of 17 assorted prints: for the quilt
top
1/2 yard fabric: border
1/2 yard fabric: binding
1-1/2 yards fabric: backing
Batting
Finished top:
35.5 x 34.5 [before
border is added]
Cut Fabrics
From each assorted print 2-1/2x42" strip, cut:
2—2-1/2x20" strips [cut the full strips in half]
Border: cut 4 – 2 ½” strips
Binding: cut 4 – 3 ½” strips
Prepare Fabric Bands
1. Lay out a 2-1/2x20" strip from each of the 17
assorted prints in a pleasing manner. (Consider making a chart showing fabric
placement and labeling fabrics 1 through 17 to avoid confusion when assembling
strip sets and quilt top.)
2. Join strips to make strip set A. Press all seams
toward fabric 1. To avoid a strip set that curves, alternate the sewing
direction as you add each strip. Add one strip sewing from top to bottom, then
add the next strip sewing from bottom to top, and so on.
3. Join ends of strip set A —fabrics 1 and 17—to
make an A tube.
4. Cut the A tube into assorted-width bands to use for
making the odd-numbered rows. Cut one layer of the tube at a time. To do this,
smooth out the tube carefully on your rotary-cutting mat and cut only as much
as you’re comfortable with at a time. Rotate the tube and continue cutting from
where you left off.
3-1/2"-wide A band
3-1/4"-wide A band
3"-wide A band
2-3/4"-wide A band
2-1/2"-wide A band
2-1/4"-wide A band
2"-wide A band
1-3/4"-wide A band
5. Repeat steps 1 and 2 to make an identical strip set;
label this strip set B. Press all seams toward fabric 17, which
ensures that seams will abut when assembling quilt top.
6. Join ends of strip set B to make a B tube.
7. Cut the B tube into assorted-width bands to use for
making the even-numbered rows. Use the same widths as set A.
Assemble Quilt Top
1. Select an A band (we used a 1-3/4"-wide A band).
Remove stitches joining fabrics 1 and 17 to make row 1. Lay the row
horizontally on a design wall or large flat surface with fabric 1 at the
left-hand edge.
2. Select a B band (we used a 1-3/4"-wide B band).
Remove stitches joining fabrics 1 and 2 to make row 2. Lay row 2 below row 1
with fabric 2 at the left-hand edge.
3. Select an A band (we used a 2"-wide A band). Remove
stitches joining fabrics 2 and 3 to make row 3. Lay row 3 below row 2 with
fabric 3 at the left-hand edge.
4. Continue in same manner, using A bands for odd-numbered
rows and B bands for even-numbered rows.
5. Join rows. Press seams in one direction.
Finish Quilt
Add border. Layer quilt top, batting, and backing; baste.
Quilt as desired. Bind with binding strips.
