Jessica Levitt - Levitt Twin String Quilt Pattern

Twin Strings Quilt

Finished block: 17 17 Finished quilt: 68 102

This string quilt is foundation pieced onto muslin using random-width strips. Using a lot of different prints in the same color family adds depth and personality, while the solids tie it all together. The solid strips in each block are arranged to create a strong pattern that is revealed only after you assemble all the blocks into rows. Break out your stash of scraps and add some new prints to make it all work together.

MATERIALS

Yardage is based on 42-wide fabric, unless otherwise noted. The fabrics listed are for a twin-size quilt.

12 prints: yard each (analogous colors for blocks) or plenty of scraps from your stash (some must be 2025 long)

Solid 1: 1 yards for block contrast stripe

Solid 2: 1 yard for block contrast strips and triangles

Muslin: 6 yards (3640 wide)

Binding: yard for straight-grain or yard for bias binding

Backing: 6 yards

Batting: 77 111

CUTTING

Prints

From each fabric, cut 13 strips across the width of the fabric, as follows:

3 strips at 1

2 strips each at 1, 1, 1, and 2

1 strip each at 2 and 2

tip

The width of the strips need not be exact because we are trying to achieve a random look. For an even more wonky look, cut the strips at uneven widths or sew them crooked onto the foundation. So, its all right to work with the scraps you have, no matter what width they are.

NOTE

If you are combining scraps with yardage, you need a total of:

36 strips at 1

24 strips each at 1, 1, 1, and 2

12 strips each at 2 and 2

Solid 1

Remove the selvage edge and refer to the cutting diagram to cut 24 strips, as follows:

22 strips 3 26 along length of fabric

2 strips 3 26 across width of fabric

Solid 2

Cut 2 strips 5 width of fabric; crosscut into 12 squares 5 5; cut each square diagonally to make 2 half-square triangles (24 total) for the corner triangles.

Cut 8 strips 2 width of fabric; crosscut into 24 strips 2 11 for the corner contrast strips.

Muslin

Cut 24 squares 17 17.

Construction

Seam allowances are a scant unless otherwise noted.

Mark and Piece the Blocks

Each block has a central diagonal stripe of a high-contrast solid fabric (Solid 1), one corner triangle of another solid fabric (Solid 2), and one corner with a solid contrast strip (Solid 2).

Mark 5 lines at 45 angles on each muslin square ( Figure 1 ). Use an erasable fabric marker or draw faintly with a fine-point permanent marker. Flip to the other side and draw a line ( Figure 2 ), making sure the angle is the same as the other side. The side with the 5 lines is the back.

Lay a Solid 1 contrast strip (3 26), right side up, diagonally across the front of a muslin square. Position the strips so that one raw edge lines up with the marked line and overhangs the corners evenly ( Figure 3 ).

Position 1 print strip (any width greater then 1), right side down, on top of the contrast stripe. Align the long raw edges with the print strip overhanging the edge of the square a little ( Figure 3 ). Pin. Repeat this step on the other edge of the contrast stripe with another print strip.

Flip to the back and sew along the 2 center marked lines. From the front, press the top strip toward the seam allowance. Roughly trim the excess fabric strips so that they only slightly overhang the muslin square.

tip

As you piece all the strips, you dont need to cut them down to size until after they are sewn on. Simply let the extra hang off one end of the muslin square and trim it later.

Pin 2 more print strips (these can be any width), right side down, on top of the first strips so that the long raw edges line up and the new strips overhang the edge of the square a little ( Figure 4 ). From the front, sew from the edges through all layers. Open, press, and trim as in Step 4.

Repeat Step 5, choosing print strips of varied widths and fabrics, until the next marked line (on the back) is covered by at least . The widths of the strips arent critical, so adjust the seam width if desired. Vary the widths to get about 69 strips per side. If the marked line is overlapped by more than , carefully trim the excess width of the last strip so that it overlaps only .

tip

After the first couple of blocks, be sure to use the shorter pieces youve trimmed off from the previous strips to fill in the shorter sections. You want to make sure youll still have some long pieces left for the last blocks. Its like a fun puzzletrying to find strips that fit.

Complete the Corners

On one side you will reach a single marked line for the corner contrast triangle, and on the other side you will reach 2 lines for the corner contrast strips. Each side will be completed as follows.

1. On the triangle side: Pin a Solid 2 triangle on top of the print strip so that the diagonal edge lines up with the raw edge of the print strip and it overhangs each side evenly ( Figure 5 ). Flip to the back and sew along the marked line. From the front, press the triangle toward the corner.

2. On the strip side: Pin a Solid 2 contrast strip on top of the last print strip so that the long raw edges line up and it overhangs each side evenly. If the print strip doesnt evenly overlap the line, use the marked line (from the back) to adjust the contrast strip so that it evenly overlaps the line ( Figure 6 ). Flip to the back and sew along the marked line. From the front, press the strip toward the seam allowance.

Pin the next print strip, right side down, on top of the contrast strip so that the long raw edges line up and it overhangs each side. Flip to the back and sew along the next marked line. From the front, press the strip toward the seam allowance.

tip

Using a very large square ruler (12 or greaterI used a 16 ruler) will help you trim the blocks so that the corners are all square. With all the piecing, the blocks may become distorted. Center the ruler the best you can on the block and trim evenly along all 4 sides.

Finishing

Use the quilt assembly diagram as a guide to carefully arrange the 6 rows forming the overall diagonal pattern. Note that the rotation of the blocks makes up the pattern of the quilt.

Sew the 6 rows of 4 blocks together. Press the seams in opposite directions.

Layer, baste, quilt, and bind your quilt.