Nautical Quilts: 12 stitched and quilted projects celebrating the sea

ISBN-13: 9781446307274

Media Type: Paperback

Publisher: David & Charles

Publication Date: 05-14-2019

Pages: 128

Product Dimensions: 8.20(w) x 10.70(h) x 0.50(d)

Read an Excerpt

CHAPTER 1

Nautical Flag Quilt

This bold quilt is inspired by nautical flags, a unique way that seafarers can send messages to other boats or back to shore and which can be used singularly or in combination with other flags. There is a different flag for each letter of the alphabet and each letter also has a specific meaning such as 'diver down' or 'keep clear'. Here, I have included block patterns for all the letters of the nautical alphabet, but you could have fun making the relevant letter blocks to spell out a name or word. I decided to make my quilt with a coordinated scrappy feel and had lots of fun selecting the fabrics from my stash.

You will need ...

* Selection of fabric for the blocks (see individual block instructions)

* Light beige tonal fabric for the sashing and borders 2 5/8yd (2.5m)

* Selection of prints for the pieced border, a total of 1 1/8yd (1.1m)

* Grey fabric for the outer border 1¼yd (1.2m)

* Wadding (batting) 100in (254cm) square

* Backing fabric 100in (254cm) square

* Dark green fabric for the binding 7/8yd (0.8m)

Finished size

94in (239cm) square approx.

Each block is 12in (30.5cm) square

Use ¼in (6mm) seams unless otherwise stated

A TO Z OF NAUTICAL FLAGS

When used singularly these square flags send an important message back to the shore or to other ships at sea. Their meaning can also vary, for example when used at a regatta or if flown in combination with other flags. Here are some of the standard one-flag signals:

CUTTING AND CONSTRUCTION FOR ALPHABET BLOCKS

Making Letter A

1 From Fabric A1 cut:

• One 6½in x 12½in (16.5cm x 31.8cm) rectangle.

• One A shape using the template provided.

2 From Fabric A2 cut:

• One 1½in x 12½in (3.8cm x 31.8cm) strip.

• One B shape using the template provided.

• One C shape using the template provided.

3 Sew the Fabric A2 B and C shapes to opposite sides of the Fabric A1 A shape to create a rectangle (Fig 1a).

4 Arrange and sew the Fabric A2 strip to the left of the sewn unit, followed by the Fabric A1 rectangle (Fig 1b).

Making Letter B

1 From Fabric B1 cut:

• One 6½in x 12½in (16.5cm x 31.8cm) rectangle.

• Two 6½in (16.5cm) squares.

2 From Fabric B2 cut one 6½in x 12½in (16.5cm x 31.8cm) rectangle.

3 Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of one Fabric B1 square. Place the square, right sides together, at a corner of the Fabric B2 rectangle. Sew on the drawn line. Trim ¼in (6mm) away from the line and press open. Repeat with the other Fabric B1 square on the opposite side to complete the flying geese unit (Fig 2a to 2c).

4 Sew the Fabric B1 rectangle to the left of the flying geese unit (Fig 2d).

Making Letter C

1 From Fabric C1 cut one 12½in x 3in (31.8cm x 7.6cm) rectangle.

2 From Fabric C2 cut two 12½in x 2 7/8in (31.8cm x 7.3cm) rectangles.

3 From Fabric C3 cut two 12½in x 2 7/8in (31.8cm x 7.3cm) rectangles.

4 Arrange and sew together a Fabric C2 rectangle to the top and bottom of the Fabric C1 rectangle, followed by a Fabric C3 rectangle.

Making Letter D

1 From Fabric D1 cut two 12½in x 4½in (31.8cm x 11.4cm) rectangles.

2 From Fabric D2 cut one 12½in x 4½in (31.8cm x 11.4cm) rectangle.

3 Arrange and sew together a Fabric D1 rectangle to each side of the Fabric D2 rectangle.

Making Letter E

1 From Fabric E1 cut one 12½in x 6½in (31.8cm x 16.5cm) rectangle.

2 From Fabric E2 cut one 12½in x 6½in (31.8cm x 16.5cm) rectangle.

3 Arrange and sew together a Fabric E2 rectangle to the bottom of the Fabric E1 rectangle.

Making Letter F

1 From Fabric F1 cut four 6½in (16.5cm) squares.

2 From Fabric F2 cut one 12½in (31.8cm) square.

3 Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of one 6½in (16.5cm) Fabric F1 square. Place the square, right sides together, at a corner of the Fabric F2 square. Sew on drawn line. Trim ¼in (6mm) away from the line and press open (Fig 3a and 3b).

4 Repeat with the other three Fabric F1 squares, sewing one to each corner.

Making Letter G

1 From Fabric G1 cut three 2½in x 12½in (6.4cm x 31.8cm) rectangles.

2 From Fabric G2 cut three 2½in x 12½in (6.4cm x 31.8cm) rectangles.

3 Arrange and sew together, alternating the Fabric G1 and G2 rectangles.

Making Letter H

1 From Fabric H1 cut one 6½in x 12½in (16.5cm x 31.8cm) rectangle.

2 From Fabric H2 cut one 6½in x 12½in (16.5cm x 31.8cm) rectangle.

3 Arrange and sew together a Fabric H2 rectangle to the right-hand side of the fabric H1 rectangle.

Making Letter I

1 From Fabric I1 cut one 12½in (31.8cm) square.

2 Using your favourite method of appliqué, take Fabric I2 and prepare a circle using the template provided. I used the needle-turn method (see Basic Techniques: Appliqué).

3 Position the circle in the centre of the Fabric I1 square. Once you are happy with the placement, appliqué the circle in place.

Making Letter J

1 From Fabric J1 cut two 4in x 12½in (10.2cm x 31.8cm) rectangles.

2 From Fabric J2 cut one 5½in x 12½in (14cm x 31.8cm) rectangle.

3 Arrange and sew a Fabric J1 rectangle to the top and bottom of the Fabric J2 rectangle.

Making Letter K

1 From Fabric K1 cut one 6½in x 12½in (16.5cm x 31.8cm) rectangle.

2 From Fabric K2 cut one 6½in x 12½in (16.5cm x 31.8cm) rectangle.

3 Arrange and sew together the Fabric K2 rectangle to the right-hand side of the fabric K1 rectangle.

Making Letter L

1 From Fabric L1 cut two 6½in (16.5cm) squares.

2 From Fabric L2 cut two 6½in (16.5cm) squares.

3 Arrange the squares in a four-by-four arrangement. Sew together to make two rows, then sew the rows together.

Making Letter M

1 From Fabric M1 cut:

• Two A shapes using the template provided.

• One B shape using the template provided.

2 From Fabric M2 cut four C shapes using the template provided.

3 Sew a Fabric M2 C shape to the opposite long sides of a Fabric M1 A shape. Repeat to make a second unit.

4 Sew the units to the opposite long sides of the Fabric M1 B shape.

Making Letter N

1 From Fabric N1 cut eight 3½in (8.9cm) squares.

2 From Fabric N2 cut eight 3½in (8.9cm) squares.

3 Arrange and sew the sixteen squares into rows as follows:

• Row 1 and 3 – Fabric N1, Fabric N2, Fabric N1, Fabric N2

• Row 2 and 4 – Fabric N2, Fabric N1, Fabric N2, Fabric N1 4 Sew the rows together.

Making Letter O

1 From Fabric O1 cut one 13in (33cm) square.

2 From Fabric O2 cut one 13in (33cm) square.

3 Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of the Fabric O1 square using a suitable fabric marker (I prefer a 2B pencil). Place the square on top of the Fabric O2 square, right sides together. Sew ¼in (6mm) away from, and on both sides of, the drawn line.

4 Cut along the drawn line. Open and press to yield two half-square triangle units. You will only use one in this quilt so put one aside (or you can use it for your quilt label). Align the diagonal seam of the half-square triangle unit to the 45-degree line on your quilting ruler and trim the unit to measure 12½in (31.8cm) square.

Making Letter P

1 From Fabric P1 cut one 6½in (16.5cm) square.

2 From Fabric P2 cut:

• Two 3½in x 6½in (8.9cm x 16.5cm) rectangles.

• Two 12½in x 3½in (31.8cm x 8.9cm) rectangles.

3 Sew the two 3½in x 6½in (8.9cm x 16.5cm) Fabric P2 rectangles to opposite sides of the Fabric P1 square.

4 Sew the two 12½in x 3½in (31.8cm x 8.9cm) Fabric P2 rectangles to the top and bottom of the unit.

Making Letter Q

1 From Fabric Q cut one 12½in (31.8cm) square.

Making Letter R

1 From Fabric R1 cut four 5½in (14cm) squares.

2 From Fabric R2 cut:

• Two 2½in x 5½in (6.4cm x 14cm) rectangles.

• One 12½in x 2½in (31.8cm x 6.4cm) rectangle.

3 Sew two 5½in (14cm) Fabric R1 squares to the opposite long sides of a 2½in x 5½in (6.4cm x 14cm) Fabric R2 rectangle to make a row. Repeat to make a second row.

4 Sew the rows to the top and bottom of the 12½in x 2½in (31.8cm x 6.4cm) Fabric R2 rectangle.

Making Letter S

1 From Fabric S1 cut one 6½in (16.5cm) square.

2 From Fabric S2 cut:

• Two 3½in x 6½in (8.9cm x 16.5cm) rectangles.

• Two 12½in x 3½in (31.8cm x 8.9cm) rectangles.

3 Sew the block, following the instructions for the Letter P block.

Making Letter T

1 From Fabric T1 cut one 4½in x 12½in (11.4cm x 31.8cm) rectangle.

2 From Fabric T2 cut one 4½in x 12½in (11.4cm x 31.8cm) rectangle.

3 From Fabric T3 cut one 4½in x 12½in (11.4cm x 31.8cm) rectangle.

4 Arrange and sew together the Fabric T2 and T3 rectangles to the opposite sides of the Fabric T1 rectangle.

Making Letter U

1 From Fabric U1 cut two 6½in (16.5cm) squares.

2 From Fabric U2 cut two 6½in (16.5cm) squares.

3 Sew the block, following the instructions for the Letter L block.

Making Letter V

1 From Fabric V1 cut:

• Two A shapes using the template provided.

• One B shape using the template provided.

2 From Fabric V2, cut four C shapes using the template provided.

3 Sew the block, following the instructions for the Letter M block.

Making Letter W

1 From Fabric W1 cut one 4½in (11.4cm) square.

2 From Fabric W2 cut:

• Two 2½in x 4½in (6.4cm x 11.4cm) rectangles.

• Two 8½in x 2½in (21.6cm x 6.4cm) rectangles.

3 From Fabric W3 cut:

• Two 2½in x 8½in (6.4cm x 21.6cm) rectangles.

• Two 12½in x 2½in (31.8cm x 6.4cm) rectangles.

4 Sew the two 2½in x 4½in (6.4cm x 11.4cm) Fabric W2 rectangles to opposite sides of the Fabric W1 square.

5 Sew the two 8½in x 2½in (21.6cm x 6.4cm) Fabric W2 rectangles to the top and bottom of the unit.

6 Sew the two 2½in x 8½in (6.4cm x 21.6cm) Fabric W3 rectangles to opposite sides of the unit, followed by the two 12½in x 2½in (31.8cm x 6.4cm) Fabric W3 rectangles to the top and bottom.

Making Letter X

1 From Fabric X1 cut four 5½in (14cm) squares.

2 From Fabric X2 cut:

• Two 2½in x 5½in (6.4cm x 14cm) rectangles.

• One 12½in x 2½in (31.8cm x 6.4cm) rectangle.

3 Sew the block, following the instructions for the Letter R block.

Making Letter Y/Z

MAKING THE Y UNIT (TOP LEFT)

1 From Fabric Y1 cut the following:

• One A shape using the template provided.

• Two C shapes using the template provided.

• One E shape using the template provided.

• One F shape using the template provided.

2 From Fabric Y2, cut the following:

• Two B shapes using the template provided.

• Two D shapes using the template provided.

• One G shape using the template provided.

3 Arrange and sew the fabrics together to complete the Letter Y unit (Fig 4).

MAKING THE Z UNIT (BOTTOM RIGHT)

4 From Fabric Z1 cut one shape using the template provided.

5 From Fabric Z2 cut one shape using the template provided.

6 From Fabric Z3 cut one shape using the template provided.

7 From Fabric Z4 cut one shape using the template provided.

8 Lay out the triangles to form a square. Sew them together in pairs, then sew the pairs together (Fig 5a and 5b).

ASSEMBLING THE BLOCK

9 From Fabric YZ1 cut two 6½in (16.5cm) squares.

10 Arrange and sew together the Y and Z units and the two squares in a design two across and two down (Fig 6).

CUTTING OUT THE BORDERS

1 From the light beige tonal fabric cut the following:

• Seven strips 2½in (6.4cm) x width of fabric. Sub-cut the strips into twenty 2½in x 12½in (6.4cm x 31.8cm) strips for the sashing.

• Seven strips 2½in (6.4cm) x width of fabric. Join the strips and sub-cut into four 2½in x 68½in (6.4cm x 174cm) strips for the sashing.

• Seven strips 4in (10.2cm) x width of fabric. Join the strips and sub-cut into two 4in x 68½in (10.2cm x 174cm) strips and two 4in x 75½in (10.2cm x 191.8cm) strips for Border 1.

• Nine strips 3in (7.6cm) x width of fabric. Join the strips and sub-cut into two 3in x 81½in (7.6cm x 207cm) strips and two 3in x 86½in (7.6cm x 219.7cm) strips for Border 3.

2 From the selection of prints cut a total of 104 3½in (8.9cm) squares for Border 2.

3 From the grey fabric cut nine 4½in (11.4cm) x width of fabric strips. Join the strips and sub-cut into two 4½in x 86½in (11.4cm x 219.7cm) strips and two 4½in x 94½in (11.4cm x 240cm) strips for Border 4.

ASSEMBLING THE QUILT

1 Lay out the blocks into five rows, each with five blocks, placing a 2½in x 12½in (6.4cm x 31.8cm) light beige tonal strip between each block. Make sure your blocks are in alphabetical order and facing the same way as shown in Fig 7. Sew each row together.

2 Sew the rows together, placing a 2½in x 68½in (6.4cm x 174cm) light beige tonal strip between each one (Fig 8).

ADDING THE BORDERS

1 Sew the two 4in x 68½in (10.2cm x 174cm) light beige tonal strips to the sides of the quilt. Sew the two 4in x 75½in (10.2cm x 191.8cm) light beige tonal strips to the top and bottom of the quilt.

2 Arrange and sew together twenty-five assorted 3½in (8.9cm) squares to make a pieced row. Repeat to make a second row. Sew to the sides of the quilt.

3 Arrange and sew together twenty-seven assorted 3½in (8.9cm) squares to make a pieced row. Repeat to make a second row. Sew to the top and bottom of the quilt.

4 Sew the two 3in x 81½in (7.6cm x 207cm) light beige tonal strips to the sides of the quilt. Sew the two 3in x 86½in (7.6cm x 219.7cm) light beige tonal strips to the top and bottom of the quilt.

5 Sew two 4½in x 86½in (11.4cm x 219.7cm) grey strips to the sides of the quilt. Sew two 4½in x 94½in (11.4cm x 240cm) grey strips to the top and bottom of the quilt. This completes the quilt top.

QUILTING AND FINISHING

1 Lay the pressed backing right side down on a surface, with the smoothed wadding (batting) on top. Lay the quilt top right side up on top, making sure there is wadding and backing showing all around, and then secure the layers together (see Basic Techniques: Making a Quilt Sandwich).

2 Quilt as desired. My quilt was custom quilted with an all over design called Plaid, designed by Patricia E. Ritter.

3 When all the quilting is finished, tidy up the thread ends, square up the quilt and prepare the binding. Cut ten strips of binding fabric, each 2½in (6.4cm) x width of fabric. Join the strips together using 45-degree seams. Press the seams open. Fold the strip in half all along the length, wrong sides together, and press. Use this strip to bind your quilt (see Basic Techniques: Binding). Add a label to your quilt recording your name and the date it was sewn.

Storm at Sea Picture

I have promised my husband a Storm at Sea quilt for as many years as I have known him but to date have still not made it, so this beautiful English paper pieced block with its sweet stitched border is my gift to him. There are sixty-five tiny pieces in the block which is just 4in (10.2cm) square when finished. It was sewn using the English paper piecing method and the small patches can make this block a little bit fiddly to make, but I hope you agree the end result is worth it. My frame was custom made using recycled fencing, but a shopbought frame with the glass removed would work just as well.

You will need ...

* Cream tonal fabric for the embroidery background 10in (25.4cm) square

* Assorted fabrics for the pieced block, each one a minimum size of 2½in (6.4cm) square

* Pack of pre-cut paper templates for a 4in (10.2cm) Storm at Sea block (finished size)

* Fabric glue pen (optional)

* Fusible stitchery stabilizer (optional)

* Valdani stranded embroidery cotton (floss): #0511 black sea, #0126 old cottage grey, #0178 tea, #JP12 seaside, #P5 tarnished gold, #078 aged wine, #548 blackened khaki, #0578 primitive blue

* Fine-tipped fabric marking pen (removable if you prefer)

* Frame to suit: I used one with an inside measurement of approx. 7in (17.8cm) square

Finished size

6½in (16.5cm) square approx. (unframed)

MAKING THE BLOCK

1 Following the main image, select your fabrics and decide where each one is going to be placed.

2 Prepare the shapes using an English paper piecing technique (see Basic Techniques: English Paper Piecing). Cut the fabric pieces approximately ¼in (6mm) larger than the templates. Centre a template on the wrong side of the fabric, wrap the fabric around the template, and either tack (baste) in place or use a glue pen (Fig 1).

3 Using a whip stitch, join the pieces together to make one centre and four corner units (Fig 2a and 2b), and four side units (Fig 2c).

4 Sew the units together to make three rows, then sew the rows together (Fig 3). Press the work firmly and remove the paper templates.

Tip

It is essential to buy pre-cut paper templates as they will ensure the tiny pieces fit together accurately. Cut your fabric ¼in (6mm) larger than the paper. Although it's tempting to cut the seam allowance smaller it is actually easier if it is ¼in (6mm). Use a fine thread and needle to stitch the pieces together, and remove the templates once the block is joined.

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Table of Contents

Introduction 7

Materials & Equipment 8

Projects 12

Nautical Flag Quilt 14

Storm at Sea Picture 26

Ship Ahoy Needleroll 34

Ship Ahoy Snip Cover 40

Far Horizon Duffle Bag 42

Seagull Quilt 50

All Aboard Wall Quilt 58

All Aboard Pillow 64

Seafarer's Journal 70

Seafarer's Pencil Case 74

Sail Away Quilt 80

Sail Away Pillow 86

Techniques 90

Basic Techniques 92

Embroidery Stitches 100

Templates 102

Suppliers 125

About the Author 126

Acknowledgments 126

Index 127