This easy hand-quilting project is great for beginners! The best part is it is very portable. Each square can be easily slipped into a purse and assembled while waiting at doctor's offices, children's lessons or between innings at little league games!

Materials:

• Approximately 5-1/2 yards of 45" muslin or other solid fabric for backing (you need 108 to 117 - 8.25" squares
• 108 to 117 - 5.25" squares of pattern scraps for centers (the more variation the better.) You can get nine squares from a fat quarter after shrinkage or fourteen squares from a 1/3 yard.
• 108 to 117 - 5.25" squares of polyester batting
• Print out of template from this site
• Firm cardboard or template plastic
• Needle
• 100% cotton thread to match backing material
• Pins
• Chalk, pattern tape or masking tape

Directions:

1. Trace the template onto sturdy cardboard or template plastic and cut out. I recommend sturdy cardboard as you will need to cut many pieces and it is easier to rotary cut or trace around the cardboard. Cut the muslin into 8.25" strips then using the template cut the rounded corners.

2. Turn over 1/4" seam allowance to the wrong side and using an even and close stitch, baste approximately 1/8" from the folded edge. (Pictures 1 and 2 - note: the thread used was in a contrasting color to show the stitching. Be sure to use a color that matches the backing material.)
    

3. Place a piece of batting on the wrong side of the backing fabric. The corners of the square should match the middle of each straight side of the backing fabric. Cover with a square of patterned fabric making sure the right side is facing out and secure with one pin.

4. Fold the rounded edges of the backing over the printed fabric and pin in place. (Picture 3)
   

5. Slipstitch the scalloped edges through the batting, but not through the backing. (Picture 4) Tack down each corner with two small stitches joining the two scalloped sides of the backing. This helps the corners to stay square which helps when you are joining your squares at the end. (Picture 5)
    

6. Mark the diagonals on the square using chalk or a piece of tape (if you use masking tape be sure not to leave it on too long as a residue will be left behind. Pattern tape leaves no residue.) (Picture 6) Quilt through all layers using a running stitch. (Pictures 7 and 8 show the front and back of a completed square.)
   

7. When all quilt squares are complete lay two squares with right sides together, and stitch together with a close whip-stitch along one side (or use a joining stitch on a machine.) Join other squares in this fashion for a 9 square by 12 (or 13) square quilt.

   

Additional Notes:

• The template can be shrunk down to desired size on a copier. A nice variation is to use a template size 2/3 (66.7%) the size of the example (which gives a 3 1/2 inch finished size square.)

Do you have and idea for another Project of the Month? We'd love to hear from you. Email Caryl & Miche with your ideas!

Visit our Crafts for Kids area of StorkNet or visit our Heart of the Home message board for more terrific ideas!

Exploring Womanhood > Heart of the Home > Craft Projects