Jewel Box Quilt Shibori Style (#102)

There is nothing I like more than a simple quilt pattern that looks complicated.  Behold .... the Jewel Box quilt.  

Shibori is a Japanese term for a method of dyeing cloth.  Traditionally using Indigo, it is a form of tie-dyeing that goes back to the 8th century. 

This quilt block is called:  Jewel Box   
I did not use a printed pattern - but by reading this post and the links below you will be able to master this :)

Quilt Specs: 

The fabric: A fat quarter bundle of Shibori II from Moda.  This collection designed by Debbie Maddy contains 20 different designs and I used all of them in this quilt.
The 'background' fabric is Kona white. 

Note: If you are using pre-cuts like charm squares or a layer cake, do not starch or iron with steam - they will shrink.

If you are using yardage for this project, feel free to starch and iron with steam.  

1)  Cut 5" x 5" squares from both the Shibori fabric and the Kona white:  a TOTAL of (126) each.

2)  Take (63) of the blue and (63) of the white squares and make (126) half square  triangles. Use a scant 1/4" seam.  Trim to an unfinished size: 4.5" x 4.5"  
A good tutorial for making HST's with charm squares is HERE from Scrapish.

3)  Take (63) of the blue and (63) of the white squares and make (126) 4-patch units. See pix above.  These should be unfinished at 4.5" x 4.5"

 

Note: A good video tutorial on how to make 4-patches from 5" squares is HERE from Me and My Sister Designs. 

If you are using yardage (cut into 2.5" strips)  - a video HERE from Missouri Star Quilt. Co. is helpful.

Or, you just cut up 2.5" x 2.5" squares and a post HERE from Fabric406 explains this method.

 Assemble all your units the way shown above with the 4-patch focus fabric on the top left - and HST focus fabric - top right.  That's it!  Sew away and stack them up.

I figured out my quilt size based on a 4" finished square.  14 squares across & 18 rows down = 56" wide x 72" long.

                                                          
NOTE ABOUT YARDAGE ...
 The yardage for THIS quilt in two colors would be exactly 2 yards of each.  But since I would err on the side of caution with mistakes, pre-washing, squaring up and starch - I would get 2.5 yards of each to be SAFE !

Bonnie Hunter from Quiltville's Quips & Snips has a great chart for yardage if you choose to make this quilt with just two fabrics ... a light & a dark.  Just figure out how large YOUR quilt will be - and go to the chart column for 5" squares. 

 

See the Jewel Box pattern emerge as you rotate these units and match up the triangles and the four patches. 
 I made this diagram which explains the assembly in detail - the colors are not important. Two good links below are also helpful with instructions & pictures.

    *Make all your units (#1).  
    *Take two units (#2) and rotate them so the focus                        fabric HST's are pointing out (#3)
     *Sew blocks together with 4-patches and triangles next                  to each other (#4 and #5).

The backing is a beautiful midnight blue minky.  Wavy line quilting was done with a walking foot in Aurifil 50wt. threads. Following the seams makes it super easy to quilt and creates cute little squares.

More Links:

1)  Shontelle from England Street Quilts has a great PDF and diagrams for a Jewel Box quilt here.  While our assembly techniques are different (Shontelle stripped pieced her 4-patches, I made them from 5" squares) - her pattern guides are the best.

2) For some step by step pictures of Poppy's Jewel Box quilt, visit Cuckooblue. 

Thanks to everyone for their tutorials and for all those who left comments that corrected my horrible math skills.  (2/14/19)

Materials:
Shibori II by Moda / Debbie Maddy
Kona white
Dimple dot minky / midnight blue
Binding: Cotton Couture Midnight / Michael Miller
Aurifil Thread 50wt: #2600 (dove) & #1248 (denim blue)
Warm & White batting
Jewel Box quilt pattern
Size: 56" x 72"
December 2018

It's a "Swell" Christmas Quilt (#101)

Nothing says Christmas like this fabric from Urban Chiks called Swell.  Cute retro images in soft cream, pink and green with a bright punch of Santa red.

If you happen to pick up a jelly roll and are not sure what to sew ... Thimble Blossoms Patchwork Swoon pattern (here) is a perfect fit.  For my first holiday quilt I wanted something that screamed CHRISTMAS, so instead of using a solid background fabric I used this happy red & white Christmas text by Henry Glass.

This is a nice pattern to follow with good directions and diagrams.  I chose to put a solid Santa square in the middle rather than patchwork.   

There are some overages of half square triangles (HST) that are a by product of the design. Quite enough for another project like a table runner or little blanket.

Quilting and piecing was done with my favorite off/white Aurifil 50wt. thread #2311.  It's sometimes called Muslin and it just melds with white Kona & the softer creams of Swell.  I love little squares created by jelly rolls (and 2.5" squares) because they create a ready made grid for me to follow when I quilt.  A wavy line following the seams with a walking foot is my 'go to' quilting method for most projects - it's pretty fast, easy to do and looks consistent.

For a large quilt with lots of design punch Patchwork Swoon is perfect. There are smaller versions of the same Swoon design, a 16" block just came out and is demonstrated here on the Fat Quarter Shop YouTube channel. 
Materials:
Swell by Urban Chiks / Moda
Holiday Wishes / Henry Glass
Kona white
Aurifil 50wt. #2311
Patchwork Swoon pattern / Thimble Blossoms
Warm & White batting
white flannel
Size: 73" x 73"
November 2018