Shoo Fly Friendship Quilt, Part 1

Choosing fabrics can be done by one person or several.  I do like to think about the recipient and the theme, if any, for the shower, etc.  Usually the focus (sashing) fabric is chosen first and the supporting fabrics based on that.  In Cindy's quilt, above, the frog fabric was first, then eight coordinating colors and the background.  Or you could choose to do a more scrappy version with one background to unite the blocks and choose the sashing later. 


Yes, I'm going to say it:  Wash your fabric before using it!  Fabric shrinks at different rates and it does run.  I'd rather know that before I start cutting and piecing than after the quilt is finished.  (I do know that you will do whatever you want in the privacy of your home--but you have been warned and I have done my duty.)


Yardage for the 20 block quilt as shown (approximately 49 x 60 when finished)


Background:  1-1/2 yards


"Design" fabric:  I bought fat quarters (8) and divided that number into the number of half square and square pieces I needed to cut.  I had plenty left, so I cut the cornerstones from these fabrics as well.  If you are doing everything from one fabric, a yard will more than suffice.


Sashing:  1-1/2 yards


Binding:  1/2 yard (I use 2 inch wide strips [you will need 6], but the yardage is enough to cut 2.5 inch strips)


Backing:  3-1/2 to 4 yards for vertical seam and to allow for machine quilting




Cutting (blocks finish 9 inches):


Each Shoo Fly block requires:


Background:  Two 3-7/8 inch squares divided once diagonally AND four 3-1/2 inch squares


Design fabric:  Two 3-7/8 inch squares divided once diagonally AND one 3-1/2 inch square


For 20 blocks you will need:


Background:  Forty (40) 3-7/8 inch squares divided once diagonally AND eighty (80) 3-1/2 inch squares


Design fabric:  Forty (40) 3-7/8 inch squares divided once diagonally AND twenty (20) 3-1/2 inch squares


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You will need to cut a total of thirty (30) 3 inch squares for cornerstones from your chosen fabric.


For sashing, you will need forty-nine (49) rectangles 3 x 9-1/2 inches.  Remember to cut both lengthwise and crosswise if you have directional fabric (as happened with the frogs); non-directional fabrics I usually cut crosswise.


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NOTES:  When I have a fabric (in this case the background) that is hard to tell the right from wrong side, I put a small mark in the seam allowance on the wrong side of each piece.  That helps keep mistakes to a minimum while piecing.  (Nothing is foolproof, but this makes it a bit easier!)


I have been generous with yardage.  I've never been a fan of getting almost to the end of a project and lacking just a bit of fabric.  So I've already added for a safety factor.


Tomorrow night?  Piecing the blocks.  This is the first time I've put a pattern on the blog, so I welcome feedback and comments.


Hugs til tomorrow!
Sharon