Dancing Squares

For the "Dancing Squares" quilt I am doing something a little different. The other quilts on this site are all my own creations. I have used applique patterns either alone or with traditional blocks. I needed to make a quilt quickly, so I went through some of the ideas I had jointed down from other sources and decided to make this quilt. This quilt is a disappearing nine-patch. This quilt is fun, because it looks difficult, but it's not. Here are my directions for making this quilt.

Fabric for the "Dancing Squares"

A variety of fabrics - for this size quilt you will need 72 squares 4.5 inches eachBorder & Binding - 1 1/2 yard - I did the binding and the border from the same fabricBacking - 1 3/4 yardsBatting - 1 3/4 yards

Directions for the Dancing Squares:

1. Cut your fabric into squares 4.5 inches each.

2. Make your nine patch

a. For each nine patch, set out your square in the order you like b. On your sewing machine, chain stitch the first 2 squares in each row together. Cut the thread to separate the three rows. c. add the third square onto each row. d. Press the middle seams on rows one and three toward the edges e. Press the middle seams on row two toward the middle. f. Sew rows one and two together. Make sure the seams butt up against each other for good points. g. Sew row three onto rows one and two. Press block flat

3. Cut the first block into fourths

4. Place the four pieces into a pattern you like. It should not be the same as the original block.

5 Sew the block as you would a four-patch.

a. Sew two block together to make row one and two blocks together to make row two. b. Press the seams in each row. Make sure you press them in opposite directions. c. Sew row one to row two. Press

6. Repeat steps 2 thru 5 for each of your 12 blocks

7. Set out your 12 blocks. There should be three across and four down.

8. Sew the first block to the second block for all four rows

9. Sew the third block onto the first and second block in all four rows.

10. Press your rows. Press rows 1 & 3 in one directions and rows 2 & 4 in the opposite direction.

11. Sew row 1 to row 2 and row 3 to row 4. Press

12. Sew unit 1&2 to unit 3&4. Press

Adding Borders to "Dancing Squares"

1. Cut your border fabric 2 1/2 inches by the length and width on your top.

2. Using a 1/4 inch seam allowance, sew your borders along the length of your quilt. Press border out.

3. Sew your borders along the width of your quilt. Press

Layering Dancing Squares

1. Lay backing fabric right side down on a large flat surface. (I use the floor.) Smooth flat and pin or tape to keep smooth.

2. Lay batting on top of backing fabric. Smooth flat.

3. Lay quilt top on top of batting. Smooth flat. Pin with quilter safety pins or baste with contrasting thread the three layers together.

4. Quilt "Dancing Squares".

BINDING "Dancing Squares":

1. Trim your batting and backing evenly with your quilt top.

2. Measure the width of your quilt, add 1 inch

3. Cut 2 strips 2 inches by the width of your quilt. Repeat the the length. Fold the four strips in half and press.

4. Pin your binding to the top and bottom of your quilt top with right sides together and raw edges together. Machine quilt with a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Repeat for remaining 2 sides.

5. Fold binding to the back of the quilt and stitch in place using a slanted hem stitch. Press binding flat.

6. Remove quilting pins or thread.

I used flannel material for this quilt, because I love flannel for baby quilts. The size of the quilt can easily be changed by cutting larger squares, wider border or more squares in each row. I hope you enjoyed making "Dancing Squares".

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