I was so very excited when my wonderful friend
Amy Smart of Diary of a Quilter announced that she was releasing her second fabric line with Penny Rose Fabrics!!! You may recall, I made
this Crossroads quilt and tutorial with Amy's first fabric line, Gingham Girls. And when she asked if I would like to make a quilt up with her new
Sunnyside Ave. fabric, you know I couldn't say yes fast enough!!! And now I am super excited to get to share the finish with you all. It's called Criss Cross Applesauce and I just love it ;)
I just loving working with
Sunnyside Ave every bit as much as I loved playing with Gingham Girls. I know I have mentioned this before, but it so reminds me of the homemade clothes my mother used to make for me and my twin sister when we were little girls. We were always dressed in the same prints, but hers were red and mine were blue to make it easier for people to tell us apart ;) And these prints are just so bright and happy making, you can't help but smile the whole time you are sewing with them!!!
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| Photo used from Amy Smart |
I actually designed this quilt a while ago and had it saved just waiting for the right fabric to come along for it. When I saw
Sunnyside Ave. I knew it was the perfect fit. All of those apples totally reminded me of Kindergarten and that made me think of this quilt, as it was inspired by a rug in my daughters K class. You know those rugs where everyone has their set square to sit in ;) Hence the Criss Cross Applesauce because of course, that is the way to sit on those rugs in Kindergarten!!
And I am super excited to share Criss Cross Applesauce as a tutorial!!!! Yippee, now you can make your very own :) And it goes together super fast thanks to a lot of chain stitching so you can totally have it ready in time for summer, or maybe in time for school getting out!! So let's get to it . . .
YOU WILL NEED:
1 Sunnyside Fat Quarter Bundle and you will be using 16 Fat Quarters
(I choose not to use the green Fat Quarters as they are used in the secondary design)
3 3/4 Yards of a White Solid for the Background
1 1/2 Yards of the Green Pin Dot for Piecing
2/3 Yard of the Green Plaid for Binding
4 1/2 Yards of a Coordinating Print for Backing
STEP 1 - CUTTING
From Each of the 16 chosen Fat Quarters cut:
(1) 6 1/2" x 6 1/2" square (16 Total)
(12) 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" squares (192 Total)
From the White Solid cut:
(32) 7" x 7" squares
(64) 6 1/2" x 6 1/2" squares
(64) 3" x 3" squares
From the Green Pin Dot cut:
(32) 7" x 7" squares
From the Green Plaid cut:
(8) 2 1/2" x Width of Fabric strips
STEP 2 - MAKING HALF SQUARE TRIANGLE UNITS
And with the cutting done, you are ready to start sewing. We will start with making the Half Square Triangle units and for that, you will need the Green and White stacks of 7" x 7" squares. On the wrong side of all (32) Green squares draw a diagonal line from corner to corner. (Note - If you use any kind of seam guide on your machine,
like I described at the beginning of this post, you can skip drawing all of the lines ;)
Place a White square and a marked Green square right sides together aligning the raw edges. You will be stitching a 1/4" seam to either side of the drawn line. Chain stitching all 32 sets will save you time and thread.
If you haven't chain stitched before, it simply means you don't cut the threads between units. Start with stitching the 1/4" seam along the left hand side of the drawn line on your first set. When you get to the end of the square, simply begin feeding the next matched set into your machine. Continue in this fashion until you have stitched a seam on all 32 sets.
Then clip the threads between your sets, and repeat the process for the other side of the drawn line.
You will finish with 32 sets all stitched on either side of the drawn line. Again. clip the threads between your sets.
Now move to your cutting mat. Cut the square sets along the drawn line to make two sets of triangles. Press the seam allowance towards the Green triangle to make Half Square Triangle units. You will have 64 Units total.
Now trim all the units to 6 1/2" x 6 1/2" square. Be sure to match the seam allowance and the diagonal line on your square ruler to ensure your HST's are trimmed square. If you haven't trimmed HST's before, you can
see this tutorial for more detailed instructions ;)
STEP 3 - MAKING CORNER UNITS
Now we are going to add a "Goose in the Corner" to all of the Half Square Triangle Units. Start by gathering (4) 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" squares of each of your 16 prints. On the wrong side of each of these squares, draw a diagonal line.
Place the Print marked square on the white corner of the HST with right sides together. Stitch directly on the drawn line. Again, chain stitching here will save you a lot of time and thread and I highly recommend stitching all 64 sets at once. Then, align a ruler 1/4" away from the seam as shown and trim away the excess. This is scrap, or you can stitch a 1/4" seam along the trimmed end to make a bonus HST's for another project :) I like to trim all 64 sets at the seam time as well. Finally, Press the seam allowance towards the Print "goose".
And now, we are going to do the same thing to the Green side of the Triangle using the (64) 3" x 3" White squares. So start by drawing a diagonal line on the wrong side of all 64 white squares.
Then, just like before, place the White marked square on the Green corner of the HST unit with right sides together. Chain Stitch the 64 sets of seams directly on the drawn line. Trim 1/4" away from the seam line, and then Press the seam allowance towards the White "goose".
And just like that, you have 64 Corner Units that will measure 6 1/2" x 6 1/2". They really do go super fast with all of that fun chain stitching ;)
STEP 4 - MAKING SIDE UNITS
And now, we are going to make the Side Units. Start by gathering the 64 White 6 1/2" x 6 1/2" squares and (4) 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" squares of each of your 16 prints. On the wrong side of each of the small Print squares, draw a diagonal line.
And this again, is just the same process as adding that Goose in the Corner. Place the Print marked square on the corner of the large White square with right sides together. Chain Stitch the 64 sets of seams directly on the drawn line. Trim 1/4" away from the seam line, and then Press the seam allowance towards the Print "goose".
And now we will "goose" the other side ;) Gather the final (4) 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" Print squares from each of the 16 Prints and draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of each of the Print squares.
Place a matching Print marked square on the adjacent corner of the large White square with right sides together as shown below. Chain Stitch the 64 sets of seams directly on the drawn line. Trim 1/4" away from the seam line, and then Press the seam allowance towards the Print "goose".
And just like that, you have 64 Side Units that will measure 6 1/2" x 6 1/2". Again, they are going to come together super fast with that chain stitching ;)
STEP 5 - MAKING THE BLOCK
At this point, you can choose to make 1 block at a time, or stack up your block pieces to chain stitch your blocks. Do whatever you feel comfortable with, but I will be writting the tutorial for 1 block at a time to make it easier to understand ;)
Using all of the pieces with the same Print Fabric, Layout 4 Corner Units, 4 Side Units, and one matching 6 1/2" x 6 1/2" Print square as shown below.
We will start by sewing the units into rows. To do this, place the second unit in each row onto the first unit with right sides together. Align and pin the seams. Stitch a 1/4" seam along the three pinned edges. Then lay your block back out again. (this will help avoid flipping pieces ;)
Now place the third unit in each row onto the second unit with right sides together. Align and pin the seams. Stitch a 1/4" seam along the three pinned edges.
Press the seams in to top and bottom row open. Press the seams in the center row inwards, towards the Print square. Lay the block back out on your mat.
Now, all you have to do is sew the rows together. Place the first row onto the second row with right sides together. Align and pin the seams. Stitch a 1/4" seam along the pinned edge.
Finally, place the third row onto the second row with right sides together. Align and pin the seams. Stitch a 1/4" seam along the pinned edge.
Press the seam allowances open and you will have a beautiful Criss Cross Applesauce Block measuring 18 1/2" x 18 1/2".
Repeat step 5 to make all 16 of your Criss Cross Applesauce blocks. If you were chain stitching, you already here ;)
STEP 6 - MAKING THE QUILT TOP
And with the blocks done, it is time to make a quilt top!!! Layout your blocks in 4 rows with 4 blocks in each row as shown below. Play with the placement until it is pleasing to the eye. Taking a picture of your layout is the easiest way to do this as your eye can see everything at once, and it is also great to have to refer back to so you make sure you don't mix up your block placement :)
Once you have a layout you like, it's time to sew the blocks into rows. To do this, place the second block onto the first block (shown in row 1) in each row with right sides together. Align and pin the seams. Chain Stitch a 1/4" seam along the pinned edge of each set in each row. Put your sewn pieces back in your layout. And now you just repeat this for each block in the row. Place your third block in each row onto your second block (shown in row 2) with right sides together and align, pin, and stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge. Finally, Place the fourth block onto the third block (shown in row 3) with RST and align, pin, and stitch a 1/4" seam. Press all of the seam allowances open.
And your quilt top should look like this. Again, I always find it helpful to keep laying your pieces back out each time you stitch on them. This will help you keep the layout you like ;) And now, all that is left is to sew the rows together into a quilt top.
Place the second row onto the first row with right sides together and the fourth row onto the third row with right sides together as shown below. Align and pin all of the seams in both row sets. Stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge of both row sets.
Press the two seams Open. This will help to reduce the bulk of those angled seams meeting each other.
Finally, place the bottom half onto the top half with right sides together. Align and pin all of your seams and then stitch a 1/4" seam along the pinned edge. And one last seam to press open!!
And you have a beautiful Criss Cross Applesauce Quilt Top!!!! It will measure 72" x 72" and really, didn't it go together fast and oh so much fun!!!
STEP 7 - FINISHING IT UP
So now it is time to turn that finished quilt top into a finished Quilt ;) Time to Baste It, Quilt It, and Bind It!!! Which is a whole lot in one little sentence. If you are new to quilting, you can see my
Finishing Your Quilt Series of video tutorials that will walk you through Basting, Quilting, and Binding step by step ;)
When it came time to quilt mine I decided on an all over medium size swirl. I used a favorite 402 Pearl thread that blends perfectly with the white and all the prints . And I just love all of those beautiful curves in the quilting paired with the wonderful points in the piecing!!
And I always, always, love the way this design creates such awesome texture!!! Doesn't that just make you want to snuggle up with a good book out in the sunshine!!! And thanks so the fun, vintage prints, this would also make a wonderful gift for a special teacher. It's name was inspired by Kindergarten after all ;)
Use the (8) 2 1/2"x Width of Fabric binding strips you cut at the beginning to create a binding and add it to the quilt. And your Done!!!
And now, just sit back and enjoy your beautiful Criss Cross Applesauce Quilt!!! It finishes at 72" x 72" so it is a great picnic size. And as you can see, with all that chain stitching it will go together super fast and is so much fun to make!!! And
Sunnyside Ave. is just the perfect fabric for it to have that wonderful Summer Time Vintage Feel!!
I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial and if you make your own Criss Cross Applesauce Quilt I would love to see it!! You can email me a picture at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com or add it to my
flickr group here or post it to social media with #happyquiltingwithmc ;) I can't wait to see your Criss Cross Applesauce Quilts!!!
Thank you so much to
Amy Smart for taking me back to my childhood while I played with these fantastic fabrics!!!! And for more
Sunnyside Ave. fun, be sure to Hop
over to Amy's blog to check out her awesome patterns and some more blogger goodies :)
Thanks for stopping in today to share this tutorial. And thanks for popping in each and every day. I am just so grateful to have this space to share my love of quilting!!!
Have a very Happy Quilting Day!!!
P.S. It's still Tuesday and of course, there is still Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!! If you are looking for that post, you will find it here ;)
