plus surround

Designed, pieced, and quilted by Paige Alexander

Plus Surround is a graphic lap-size quilt with a bull’s-eye layout. The design would pop with lighter plus signs on a darker background.

Materials

Yardages are based on fabric that is 40˝ wide.

Aqua: ½ yard

White: 4⅛ yards

Blue: ⅓ yard

Orange: 1 fat quarter (18˝ × 20˝)

Binding: ⅔ yard

Batting: 76˝ × 76˝

Backing: 4¼ yards

Cutting

AQUA

Cut 4 strips 3½˝ × width of fabric (WOF).

Subcut 2 strips into 8 rectangles 3½˝ × 9½˝; each strip yields 4 rectangles.

WHITE

Cut 5 strips 14˝ × WOF.

Subcut 2 strips into 4 squares 14˝ × 14˝ and 4 rectangles 14˝ × 5˝; each strip yields 2 squares and 2 rectangles.

Subcut 2 strips into 8 rectangles 14˝ × 8¾˝; each strip yields 4 rectangles.

Subcut 1 strip into 4 rectangles 14˝ × 6½˝ and 4 rectangles 14˝ × 3½˝.

Cut 2 strips 5¾˝ × WOF.

Subcut into 8 rectangles 5¾˝ × 8¾˝; each strip yields 4 rectangles.

Cut 4 strips 5˝ × WOF.

Subcut 2 strips into 8 rectangles 5˝ × 9½˝; each strip yields 4 rectangles.

Subcut 2 strips into 12 squares 5˝ × 5˝; each strip yields 8 squares.

Cut 4 strips 3½˝ × WOF.

Cut 2 strips 2¾˝ × WOF.

Subcut into 8 rectangles 2¾˝ × 9½˝; each strip yields 4 rectangles.

Cut 4 strips 2˝ × WOF.

Cut 3 strips 1¼˝ × WOF.

Subcut 2 strips into 8 rectangles 1¼˝ × 5¾˝; each strip yields 6 rectangles.

Subcut 1 strip into 8 rectangles 1¼˝ × 5˝.

BLUE

Cut 4 strips 2˝ × WOF.

Subcut 2 strips into 16 rectangles 2˝ × 5˝; each strip yields 8 rectangles.

ORANGE

Cut 2 squares 5˝ × 5˝ and 1 rectangle 5˝ × 14˝.

BINDING

Cut 8 strips 2½˝ × WOF.

Fabrics: Doe by Carolyn Friedlander for Robert Kaufman Fabrics and Cotton + Steel Basics

instructions

Seam allowances are a scant ¼˝ unless otherwise noted. Press all seams open unless otherwise noted.

Aqua Plus Units

1. Sew 1 aqua strip and 2 white 3½˝ × WOF strips together. Repeat to make 2 aqua strip sets.

2. Cut the aqua strip sets into 16 aqua strip units 3½˝ × 9½˝.

Aqua strip set

3. Sew 2 aqua strip units and 1 aqua rectangle together to make an aqua plus unit measuring 9½˝ × 9½˝. Repeat to make a total of 8 aqua plus units.

Aqua plus unit

Blue Plus Units

1. Sew 1 blue strip and 2 white 2˝ × WOF strips together. Repeat to make 2 blue strip sets.

2. Cut the blue strip sets into 32 blue strip units 2˝ × 5˝.

Blue strip set

3. Sew 2 blue strip units and 1 blue rectangle together to make a blue plus unit measuring 5˝ × 5˝. Repeat to make a total of 16 blue plus units.

Blue plus unit

Block 1

1. Sew 2 white 5˝ squares and 1 orange square together. Repeat to make a total of 2 units.

2. Sew 1 orange rectangle and 2 units from Step 1 together to make Block 1, measuring 14˝ × 14˝.

Block 1 assembly

If using directional prints, rotate the plus units within the blocks before assembling the blocks, referring to the quilt top assembly diagram

Block 2

1. Sew 1 aqua plus unit and 2 white 2¾˝ × 9½˝ rectangles together.

2. Sew the unit from Step 1 and 1 white 5˝ × 14˝ rectangle together to make Block 2, measuring 14˝ × 14˝. Repeat to make 4 of Block 2.

Block 2 assembly

Block 3

1. Sew 1 aqua plus unit and 1 white 5˝ × 9½˝ rectangle together.

2. Sew 1 blue plus unit and 1 white 5˝ × 9½˝ rectangle together.

3. Sew the units from Steps 1 and 2 together to make Block 3, measuring 14˝ × 14˝. Repeat to make 4 of Block 3.

Block 3 assembly

Block 4

1. Sew 1 blue plus unit and 2 white 5˝ squares together.

2. Sew together the unit from Step 1, 1 white 3½˝ × 14˝ rectangle, and 1 white 6½˝ × 14˝ rectangle to make Block 4, measuring 14˝ × 14˝. Repeat to make 4 of Block 4.

Block 4 assembly

Block 5A

1. Sew 1 blue plus unit and 1 white 1¼˝ × 5˝ rectangle together.

2. Sew together the unit from Step 1, 1 white 1¼˝ × 5¾˝ rectangle, and 1 white 5¾˝ × 8¾˝ rectangle.

3. Sew together the unit from Step 2 and a white 8¾˝ × 14˝ rectangle to make Block 5A, measuring 14˝ × 14˝. Repeat to make 4 of Block 5A.

Block 5A assembly

Block 5B

Block 5B is the mirror image of Block 5A.

1. Sew 1 blue plus unit and 1 white 1¼˝ × 5˝ rectangle together.

2. Sew together the unit from Step 1, 1 white 1¼˝ × 5¾˝ rectangle, and 1 white 5¾ × 8¾˝ rectangle.

3. Sew together the unit from Step 2 and a white 8¾˝ × 14˝ rectangle to make Block 5B, measuring 14˝ × 14˝. Repeat to make 4 of Block 5B.

Block 5B assembly

Block 6

Each Block 6 is a white 14˝ square.

Quilt Top Assembly

1. Arrange and rotate the blocks according to the quilt top block numbers diagram (at right) and quilt top assembly diagram (below).

2. Sew the blocks and fabric pieces into rows. Sew the rows together to make the quilt top, which should measure 68˝ × 68˝.

Quilt top block numbers

Quilt top assembly

Finishing

Refer to Finishing Your Quilt as needed.

1. To make the quilt back, cut the backing fabric into 2 pieces each 76˝ × WOF, trim off the selvage edges, and sew the pieces together along the trimmed selvage edges. Trim to approximately 76˝ × 76˝.

2. Layer the quilt top, batting, and backing. Baste and quilt as desired. Bind and enjoy! This version of Plus Surround was quilted in straight lines radiating from the center, with selected fillers enhancing the wedges formed by the straight lines.