McNeice - Snug as a Bug

Welcome to a land of buggy delights where snails are multicoloured and the ladybugs dance amongst the flowers. When I first designed Snug as a Bug my new fabric collection for Riley Blake I fell in love. The designs made me feel so happy and carefree I simply adore this colourful world of cute bugs and pretty florals.

As soon as the fabric artwork was complete, I had project ideas buzzing around in my head. I just knew that I wanted to create a book of the same title to bring the characters and design motifs to life. How delighted I was when David & Charles were equally enthusiastic about my ideas, so giving me the opportunity to turn my imaginings into reality, and to share them all with you.

I hope that you find joy and delight in making these creations and that they will bring a sparkle to the eyes of the little loved ones you create them for.

Melly

www.mellyandme.com

All templates can be downloaded from:

www.stitchcraftcreate.co.uk/patterns

Wrap your precious little one in this gorgeous quilt to keep her as snug as a bug in a rug. Perfect to brighten up any room, this single bed sized quilt features simple piecing with some lovely appliqu blocks made using motifs from my Snug as a Bug fabric collection. You can make more appliqu blocks, or mix and match the appliqu shapes in any way you choose, to create your own one-of-a-kind Flower Garden Quilt.

46cm (18in) yellow shade fabric

46cm (18in) pink shade fabric

30cm (12in) blue shade fabric

46cm (18in) each of a selection of 10 Snug as a Bug fabrics

46cm (18in) pink binding fabric

2.2m (212yd) good-quality quilt wadding (batting)

4.4m (5yd) of your chosen fabric for backing

1m (40in) fusible webbing

Six-strand embroidery thread (floss): dark pink, blue and green

Note: Use 100% cotton patchwork fabrics 106cm114cm (42in44in) wide for this project.

From yellow shade fabric:

Cut two squares measuring 29cm x 29cm (1112in x 1112in).

Cut two rectangles measuring 15.5cm x 29cm (6in x 1112in).

Cut four squares measuring 15.5cm x 15.5cm (6in x 6in).

From pink shade fabric:

Cut one square measuring 29cm x 29cm (1112in x 1112in).

Cut three rectangles measuring 15.5cm x 29cm (6in x 1112in).

Cut four squares measuring 15.5cm x 15.5cm (6in x 6in).

From blue shade fabric:

Cut one square measuring 29cm x 29cm (1112in x 1112in).

Cut one rectangle measuring 15.5cm x 29cm (6in x 1112in).

Cut five squares measuring 15.5cm x 15.5cm (6in x 6in).

From five of the Snug as a Bug fabrics:

Cut one square measuring 29cm x 29cm (1112in x 1112in).

Cut two rectangles measuring 15.5cm x 29cm (6in x 1112in).

Cut three squares measuring 15.5cm x 15.5cm (6in x 6in).

From the remaining five Snug as a Bug fabrics:

Cut three rectangles measuring 15.5cm x 29cm (6in x 1112in).

Cut four squares measuring 15.5cm x 15.5cm (6in x 6in).

One: Trace the Flower Garden Quilt appliqu templates onto fusible webbing following the cutting instructions provided. Note, each template is made of several parts that need to be cut individually to make up the appliqu block designs. Use the photographs of the quilt to guide you. Rough-cut the template shapes outside the traced lines.

Two: Choose fabrics from your leftover pieces for each of the component parts of your appliqu templates. Make sure there is adequate contrast for touching fabrics in the final layout (see quilt photographs and note that the appliqu blocks are made using your shade fabrics as backgrounds). Once you are happy with your choices, iron the fusible webbing shapes to the wrong side of your selected fabric pieces. Cut out all the shapes along the traced lines on the fusible webbing.

Three: Working on one appliqu block at a time, peel the backing paper from the appliqu pieces and position them in the correct order onto the shade fabric of your choosing; iron to fuse all pieces in place. You should have four large square flower appliqu blocks (one of each design), four rectangle long, thin flower appliqu blocks (two of each design), five small square flower appliqu blocks, and three small square ladybug appliqu blocks.

Four: Using either machine or hand blanket stitch (see ) using three strands of embroidery thread (floss).

Five: Take two squares measuring 15.5cm x 15.5cm (6in x 6in) randomly chosen from your shade, Snug as a Bug and appliqud blocks, and place together with right sides facing. Sew together along one edge to create a rectangle (see ). Make 24 rectangles in this way. Press well, pressing seams to one side.

Six: Take two of the pieced rectangles and place together with right sides facing. Sew together along one long edge, ensuring that the centre seams meet, to create a pieced square. This is your A block (see ). Make a total of 12 A blocks. Press well, pressing seams to one side, and set aside.

Seven: Take two rectangles measuring 15.5cm x 29cm (6in x 1112in) randomly chosen from your shade, Snug as a Bug and appliqud blocks, and place together with right sides facing. Sew together along one long edge to create a square (see ). Make a total of 14 B blocks. Press well, pressing seams to one side.

Eight: Take three of the A blocks and two of the B blocks. Positioning the B block rectangles vertically, sew the A blocks and B blocks together alternately, to create Row 1 of your quilt. Repeat to create Rows 3, 5 and 7, referring to the overhead photograph of the quilt.

Nine: Take three of the 29cm x 29cm (1112in x 1112in) fabric squares and two of the B blocks. Positioning the B block rectangles horizontally, sew the blocks together alternately to create Row 2 of your quilt. Repeat to create Rows 4 and 6, referring to the overhead photograph of the quilt.