Steps To Tranquility - A Tutorial and Giveaway

Today I am excited to share another collaboration tutorial with Art Gallery Fabrics using the ever so beautiful Legacy by Angela Walters.  And I was  thrilled when they asked if I would be willing to do a giveaway  along with the tutorial. Well, of course!!!!  Stay tuned for the Giveaway, it's at the end and it is fabulous!!!  

So Let's get to it!!!  I am happy to introduce to you my newest tutorial . . . Steps To Tranquility!!!!

Here's what you are going to need:

20 Fat Quarters - As mentioned, I am using the Legacy Collection by Angela Walters.

5 1/2 Yards of White Background Fabric

7/8 Yard of Binding Fabric - I used Square Elements

STEP 1 - CUTTING
Press each of your 20 fat quarters.
From each of the 20 fat quarters cut (1) 2 3/4" x 22" strip and (3) 3" x 22" strips.  Set the remaining fat quarter scrap aside for the moment.   Sub-cut the strips as follows:
The 2 3/4" strip - (2) 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" squares, (2) 2 3/4" x 7 1/4" rectangles
First 3" strip - (1) 3" x 3" square, (2) 2 3/4" x 8 1/2" rectangles
Second 3" strip - (1) 3" x 8 rectangle,  (1) 3" x 13" rectangle
Third 3" strip - (1) 3" x 8 rectangle,  (1) 3" x 13" rectangle

Choose 1 of the fat quarter remnants set aside and from it cut (2) 2 3/4" strips.  Sub-cut the strips as follows:
First 2 3/4"  strip - (2) 2 3/4" x 8 1/2" rectangles
Second 2 3/4" strip - (1) 2 3/4" x 8 1/2" rectangle.
     Scrap the remaining large pieces.

Choose 1 of the fat quarter remnants set aside and from it cut (1) 2 3/4" strips.  Sub-cut the strip as follows:
The 2 3/4"  strip - (2) 2 3/4" x 8 1/2" rectangles
     Scrap the remaining large pieces.

Choose 5 of the fat quarter remnants set aside and from each cut (1) 3" strip and (1) 2 3/4" strips.  Sub-cut the strips as follows:
The 3"  strip - (1) 3" x 3" square, (2) 2 3/4" x 8 1/2" rectangles
The 2 3/4" strip - (1) 2 3/4" x 8 1/2" rectangle.
     Scrap the remaining large pieces.

Choose 5 of the fat quarter remnants set aside and from each cut (2) 3" strips.  Sub-cut the strips as follows:
First 3"  strip - (1) 3" x 8" rectangle, (1) 3" x 13" rectangles
Second 3" strip - (1) 3" x 8" rectangle, (1) 3" x 13" rectangles
   

Choose 8 of the fat quarter remnants set aside and from each cut (2) 2 3/4" strips.  Sub-cut the strips as follows:
First 3" strip - (2) 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" square, (2) 2 3/4" x 7 1/4" rectangles
Second 3" strip - (2) 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" square, (2) 2 3/4" x 7 1/4" rectangles

And you are done cutting prints.  You should have the quality of each piece listed below.    Place the 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" squares and 2 3/4" x 7 1/4" rectangles together with similar fabrics grouped (as shown) to be used for the Corner Blocks.  Place the 2 3/4" x 8 1/2" rectangles in a pile to be used for the Sashing Blocks.  And place the 3" x 8" rectangles and the 3" x 13" rectangles together with similar fabrics grouped (as shown) and then add the 3" x 3" squares to the group to be used for the Center Blocks.

And now, some yardage cutting.  Press your background yardage.  From your background fabric cut the following:
(36) 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" squares - Place with the Corner Blocks print pile.
(120) 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" squares - Place with the Sashing Blocks print pile.
(120) 2 3/4" x 13" rectangles - Place with the Sashing Blocks print pile.
(50) 3" x 3" squares - Place with the Center Blocks print pile.
(50) 3" x 8" rectangles - Place with the Center Blocks print pile.

STEP 2 - CORNER BLOCKS

We'll start with building the Corner Blocks.  So grab the print and background fabrics in the Corner Blocks pile.  Note - while the instructions will be shown making one block at a time, I recommend chain stitching and assembly line piecing all 36 units at a time, if you are comfortable with that type of piecing.

To start the Corner Blocks gather a 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" background square and (2) similar 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" print squares.  Lay out as follows.  Place the right hand side print square onto the background square with right sides together.  Aligning as you go, stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.  Finger press.  Now place the left hand print square onto the background square with right sides together.  Aligning as you go, stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.  Press both seams outward.

Now gather the (2) similar 2 3/4" x 7 1/4" print rectangles.  Lay out as follows.  Place the top print rectangle onto the pieced unit with right sides together.  You can align as you go or pin and then stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.  Finger press.  Now place the bottom print rectangle onto the pieced unit with right sides together.  Align as you go or pin and then stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.  Press both seams outward.  Repeat this step to make a total of 36 Corner Blocks.

STEP 3 - SASHING BLOCKS

Next, we move onto building the Sashing Blocks.  So grab the print and background fabrics in the Sashing Blocks pile.  Note - once again, while the instructions will be shown making one block at a time, I recommend chain stitching and assembly line piecing all 60 units at a time, if you are comfortable with that type of piecing.

To start the Sashing Blocks gather a (2) 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" background squares and (1) 2 3/4" x 8 1/2" print rectangle.  Lay out as follows.  Place the right hand side background square onto the print rectangle with right sides together.  Aligning as you go, stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.  Finger press.  Now place the left hand  background square onto the print rectangle with right sides together.  Aligning as you go, stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.  Press both seams outward.

Now gather (2)  2 3/4" x 13" background rectangles.  Lay out as follows.  Place the top background rectangle onto the pieced unit with right sides together.  You can align as you go or pin and then stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.  Finger press.  Now place the bottom background rectangle onto the pieced unit with right sides together.  Align as you go or pin and then stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.  Press both seams outward.  Repeat this step to make a total of 60 Sashing Blocks.

STEP 4 - CENTER BLOCKS

And finally, we will build the Center Blocks.  So grab the print and background fabrics in the Center Blocks pile.  Note - And one last time, while the instructions will be shown making one block at a time, I recommend chain stitching and assembly line piecing all 25 units at a time, if you are comfortable.

To start the Center Blocks gather a (2) 3" x 3" background squares and (1)  3" x 3" print square.  Lay out as follows.  Place the right hand side background square onto the print square with right sides together.  Aligning as you go, stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.  Finger press.  Now place the left hand background square onto the print square with right sides together.  Aligning as you go, stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.  Press both seams outward.

Now gather (2) 3" x 8" background rectangles.  Lay out as follows.  Place the top background rectangle onto the pieced unit with right sides together.  You can align as you go or pin and then stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.  Finger press.  Now place the bottom background rectangle onto the pieced unit with right sides together.  Align as you go or pin and then stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.  Press both seams outward.

Now gather (2)  3" x 8" print rectangles and (2) 3" x 13" rectangles all of the similar print.  Lay out as follows.  Place the right hand side print square onto the background square with right sides together.  Aligning as you go, stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.  Finger press.  Now place the left hand print square onto the background square with right sides together.  Aligning as you go, stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.  Press both seams outward.

Place the side print rectangles onto the pieced center unit with right sides together.  Aligning as you go or pin in place and then stitch a 1/4" seam along each of the 2 edges.   Press both seams outward.

Place the top and bottom  print rectangles onto the pieced center unit with right sides together.  Aligning as you go or pin in place and then stitch a 1/4" seam along each of the 2 edges.   Press both seams outward.

Repeat this step to make a total of 25 Center Blocks.

STEP 5 - ASSEMBLING QUILT TOP

And now all that is left is assembling the quilt top.  I have to apologize that the remaining steps will use graphics and not pictures.  I tried and tried but just could not get a whole row into my camera view.  This is a big quilt ;)

Gather 6 Corner Blocks and 5 Sashing Blocks.  Lay them out in a row as shown below, playing with the placement of prints until it is pleasing to the eye.  Using 1/4" seams, sew the blocks into a row.  (I like to do this by first sewing all of the corner blocks to the sashing block next to it, and then sewing those pieced units together :)  Press the seams towards the Sashing Blocks.  Repeat to make a total of 6 rows.

Now gather 6 Sashing Blocks and 5 Center Blocks.  Lay them out in a row as shown below, playing with the placement of prints until it is please to the eye.  Using 1/4" seams, sew the blocks into a row.  (Once again, I like to do this by first sewing the sashing blocks to the center block next to it, and then sewing those pieced units together)  Press the seams towards the Sashing blocks.  Repeat to make a total of 5 rows.

And finally, layout all your rows as shown below, starting and ending with the corner rows and alternating rows.  Using a 1/4" seam, sew the rows together into the quilt top.  And yes, just like making the rows, I like to first sew each corner row to the center row next to it, and then sew those pieced row units into the quilt top.

STEP 6 - FINISHING UP

And now that your quilt top is compete, you are ready to finish you quilt.  You just have to Baste it, Quilt it, and Bind it. (You will need 11 2 1/2" x wof binding strips).   I know that's a lot of work to put into one sentence.  If you are new to quilting and need some pointers on how to finish your quilt you can see my video tutorials going over basting, quilting, and binding in detail.  

I really pushed myself in the quilting of this one in an attempt to get more comfortable with the Long Arm.  I spent 20 hours quilting Steps to Tranquility and by the end, we were good friends.  We had a few rough patches along the way but it all worked out.  Oh,  and there are over 500,000 stitches.  (I love that the machine counts them, so fun :)  I think this is by far, the most custom quilt quilting I have ever done on a quilt and I am so excited to share it ;)

For the Center Blocks I quilted a back and forth rounded edge design and then used my ruler in the corners to create some outward rays.  I love how the two designs work together.  And on all the background of the entire quilt I quilted my favorite little spirals.  These are a lot smaller than I normally quilt and it was good to get more comfortable with smaller (although it sure takes a lot longer ;)

For the Corner Blocks I did echoed Arches of the piecing.  I just love how this quilting design creates  the secondary circle designs.  So fun!!  This stitch was a little nerve racking at first to try and get my arches similar, but by the end I was loving how fast and easy it was.

And finally, in the sashing blocks I did an S design that I learned from Angela Walters craftsy video's.  Once again, nervous to get started on this one as I was having a hard time keeping my shape and distance apart the same, but by the end of the quilt, feeling pretty good about it :)

All in all, I am just ecstatic with how the quilting turned out and it has oh so much yummy texture!!

STEP  - ENJOY

Once you baste it, quilt it, and bind it, you can then sit back and enjoy it!!  This 103"x 103" King Size Bedspread is sure to be an added piece of tranquility in your house :)

I hope you enjoyed the tutorial and if you make your own Steps To Tranquility Quilt I would love to see it.  You can add a picture of it in my Happy Quilting Flickr group here, or if you don't do flickr just email me a picture :)

BONUS SIZE!!!!   Several of you have asked how to make this quilt, but in a smaller size, so I have added the fabric requirements and cutting directions for a bonus size option and here it is ;)  You can make this as a Picnic Size finishing at 84" x 84" by just taking out two rows of the bottom and side in the following layout that uses 16 Center Blocks, 25 Corner Blocks, and 40 Sashing Blocks.

Here's what you are going to need:

15 - 20 Fat Quarters - The more fat quarters, the more variety in the quilt.

4 Yards of White Background Fabric

2/3 Yard of Binding Fabric - Cut into (9) 2 1/2 X WOF Strips

And here is what you need to cut:  

From each of 16 Print Fabrics cut:

(2) 3" x 13" rectangles and (2) 3" x 8" rectangles for the Center Blocks

             You will have a  total of (32) 3" x 13" rectangles and (32) 3" x 8" rectangles

 From each of 25 Print Fabrics (You can use each print more than once) cut:

(2) 2 3/4" x 7 1/4" rectangles and (2) 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" squares for the Corner Blocks

              You will have a total of (50) 2 3/4" x 7 1/4" rectangles and (50) 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" squares

From the remaining Fat Quarter Pieces cut:

(40) 2 3/4" x 8 1/2" rectangles for the Sashing Blocks

(16) 3"x 3" squares for the Center Blocks

From the Background Fabric cut:

(32) 3" x 8" rectangles for the Center Blocks

(32) 3" x 3" squares for the Center Blocks

(80) 2 3/4" x 13" rectangles for the Sashing Blocks

(80) 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" squares for the Sashing Blocks

(25) 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" squares for the Corner Blocks

And that does it for the cutting.  Now you can just use the Block Piecing Instructions from above to make the 16 Center Blocks, 25 Corner Blocks, and 40 Sashing Blocks and from there use the Quilt Piecing Instructions from above and the Picnic Size Layout picture to finish your quilt :)