" At Home Among the Gum Trees " This striking quilted wallhanging has a background of two different blocks a Courthouse Steps block and a Triangle block arranged alternatively. Their colours are pale fawns, creams and greens to contrast with the machine appliquéd eucalyptus branch and butterfly. Duration: This is a one (1) month project suitable for beginner to advanced level quilters and will be enjoyed by all. Materials: For the background Courthouse Steps blocks you will need 5 colours in muted greens / fawns. A. ¼ yard (0.2m) B. ¼ yard (0.2m) C. ¼ yard (0.2m) D. ¼ yard (0.2m) E. ¼ yard (0.2m) For the Triangle blocks you will need two similar colours F. 3/8 yard (0.3m) G. 3/8 yard (0.3m)
For the appliqué you will need small amounts of dark brown for the branches and approximately 1 square foot of dark green for the leaves. If you choose to bind the quilt in the same dark brown, you will need a total of ½ yard (0.5m). The Butterfly needs scraps of black, pinks and a dash of green. The gum blossoms are embroidered with 2 strands of bright pink embroidery thread (DMC 3731) and the Butterfly's antennae are black thread (DMC 310). Templates for the appliqué have no seam allowance. Please add this if you wish to do needleturn appliqué. All seam allowances on the blocks are ¼". Backing material needs to measure 2'6" x 3'6" (76cm x 107cm). Wadding to measure approximately 2'6" x 3'6" (76cm x 107cm) also. Finished Quilt Size: Finished Dimensions are: Blocks are 12" square and whole quilt is 24" x 36". Preparation: All fabrics are pre-washed and pressed before use. It is assumed a quarter-inch seam is used throughout. Printing Templates: Please note to print out your templates and designs at the correct size, you will need to ensure that you print on Borderless A4 format, from the Adobe Acrobat file that you receive the designs in. To do this, please ensure firstly that the picture is at 100%. (Check the box in the top middle toolbar, and click on the small black arrow beside it to change, if necessary.) Click "File" in the top left hand corner, then "Print" from the drop down box menu. Click on the "Properties" box at the top of the print information box, then the bottom "Print Layout" tab on the left hand side of the box that next pops up. Under the Heading "Layout" in that new box, you will find a list of print options starting with 'Normal'. The last option on that list is "Borderless" click the small button beside that to select it and ensure you have "A4 Borderless (210 x 297 mm)" showing as the type of paper you wish to print on. When that is all OK, click "OK" to return to the main print information screen. The small preview of your picture should show the FULL design on a white background. If there is any grey area around
the edges, you will need to repeat the above steps until you can see that the whole design will be printed right to the edges of the page where necessary. Many designs will also have a small measurement in inches drawn on them, for you to check against a ruler when you have printed the page, to test the accuracy of the size of your printed design before you start cutting your fabric. Cutting: For Courthouse Steps Blocks: From fabric A cut: 3 x 4 ½" squares From fabric B cut: 2 ½ " strips then cross cut 3 x 8 ½" and 3 x 6 ½" lengths From fabric C cut: 2 ½ " strips then cross cut 3 x 6 ½" and 3 x 4 ½" lengths From fabric D cut: 2 ½ " strips then cross cut 3 x 12 ½" and 3 x 10 ½" lengths From fabric E cut: 2 ½ " strips then cross cut 3 x 8 ½" and 3 x 10 ½" lengths. Layout your pieces according to this photo, and sew each block in the order indicated on the diagram, commencing with the centre 4 ½" square. For Triangles Blocks: From fabric F cut: 3 x 4 ½" squares for centres, then cut 4 7/8" strips and cross cut 12 x 4 7/8" squares. Diagonally cut these 12 squares to make 24 triangles. From fabric G cut Strips 4 7/8" and cross cut 12 x 4 7/8" squares. Cut these squares diagonally to make 24 triangles. Refer to this photo as a guide for constructing the triangle blocks.
Quilt Assembly: Sew completed six 12" blocks together as shown in Diagram. Applique: Trace all leaves and stems on the paper side of Vliesofix or Heat 'n' Bond. Fuse the wrong side of the dark green and dark brown on to the back then cut out shapes carefully. NOTE: the finished shapes will be mirror images of the templates. Position and iron the shapes in place carefully according to the photograph of the finished quilt. Applique carefully around each piece in matching thread. Lay out the quilt backing face down on a flat surface and tape it flat (not distorted). Next lay the wadding on top and lastly the quilt top right side up. Smooth all layers out and spray, pin or tack the layers together in a 4" grid. This quilt was machine quilted with gum leaf shapes after shadow quilting ¼" around all the appliquéd pieces. You might choose to quilt in the ditch, use large stippling or another pattern. Binding: We used the same dark brown as the gum branch. Cut 2 ½" strips, join with an open ¼" seam, press in half and sew to front edge of quilt with a ¼" seam, mitring the corners as you go. Turn the folded edge of the binding to the back of the quilt and slip stitch in place with thread that matches the binding. Sew on a rod pocket across the back at the top, and a label at the bottom.
"At Home Among the Gum Trees" Overall Size: 24.00 by 36.00 inches