tribal plus

Designed, pieced, and quilted by Paige Alexander

Plus signs combined with other simple piecing give the effect of more complicated Seminole patchwork in Tribal Plus.

Materials

Yardages are based on fabric that is 40˝ wide.

Cream: 1¾ yards

Gray: 1½ yards

Yellow: ⅝ yard

Red: ½ yard

Binding: ⅝ yard

Batting: 59˝ × 71˝

Backing: 3¼ yards

Cutting

CREAM

Cut 3 strips 4½˝ × width of fabric (WOF).

Subcut 1 strip into 2 rectangles 4½˝ × 20˝.

Cut 16 strips 2½˝ × WOF.

Subcut 7 strips into 42 rectangles 2½˝ × 6½˝; each strip yields 6 rectangles.

Subcut 1 strip into 8 rectangles 2½˝ × 4½˝.

Subcut 1 strip into 4 rectangles 2½˝ × 4½˝ and 2 squares 2½˝ × 2½˝.

Subcut 3 strips into 48 squares 2½˝ × 2½˝; each strip yields 16 squares.

GRAY

Cut 18 strips 2½˝ × WOF.

Subcut 9 strips into 54 rectangles 2½˝ × 6½˝; each strip yields 6 rectangles.

Subcut 1 strip into 3 rectangles 2½˝ × 6½˝ and 4 squares 2½˝ × 2½˝.

Subcut 2 strips into 32 squares 2½˝ × 2½˝; each strip yields 16 squares.

YELLOW

Cut 6 strips 2½˝ × WOF.

Subcut 3 strips into 18 rectangles 2½˝ × 6½˝; each strip yields 6 rectangles.

RED

Cut 5 strips 2½˝ × WOF.

Subcut 2 strips into 10 rectangles 2½˝ × 6½˝; each strip yields 6 rectangles.

Subcut 1 strip into 4 rectangles 2½˝ × 4½˝ and 8 squares 2½˝ × 2½˝.

BINDING

Cut 7 strips 2½˝ × WOF.

Fabrics: Good Hair Day by Kim Andersson, Petite Fleur by Carolyn Gavin of Ecojot, and Artisan Cotton by Another Point of View—all for Windham Fabrics

instructions

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

Row A

Sew 2 cream 2½˝ × 4½˝ rectangles, 6 gray squares, and 5 cream 2½˝ × 6½˝ rectangles together to make row A, measuring 2½˝ × 50½˝. Repeat to make 6 rows A.

Row A assembly

Row B

Sew 7 cream squares and 6 gray 2½˝ × 6½˝ rectangles together to make row B, measuring 2½˝ × 50½˝. Repeat to make 6 rows B.

Row B assembly

Row C

1. Sew 2 gray strips and 1 yellow strip together. Repeat to make 3 strip sets. Cut the strip sets into 36 units 2½˝ × 6½˝.

2. Sew together 2 units from Step 1 and 1 yellow rectangle to make a yellow Plus block measuring 6½˝ × 6½˝. Repeat to make 18 yellow Plus blocks.

Yellow Plus block assembly

3. Sew 7 gray rectangles and 6 yellow Plus blocks together to make row C, measuring 6½˝ × 50½˝. Repeat to make 3 rows C.

Row C assembly

Row D

1. Sew 2 cream strips and 1 red strip together. Repeat to make 2 strip sets. Cut the strip sets into 20 units 2½˝ × 6½˝.

2. Sew together 2 units from Step 1 and 1 red 2½˝ × 6½˝ rectangle to make a red Plus block measuring 6½˝ × 6½˝. Repeat to make 10 red Plus blocks.

Red Plus block assembly

3. Sew 1 red square and 1 cream square together. Repeat to make 8 units.

4. Sew together 2 units from Step 3 and 1 red 2½˝ × 4½˝ rectangle to make a partial Plus block measuring 4½˝ × 6½˝. Repeat to make 4.

Partial Plus block assembly

5. Sew together 2 partial Plus blocks, 6 cream 2½˝ × 6½˝ rectangles, and 5 red Plus blocks to make row D, measuring 6½˝ × 50½˝. Repeat to make 2 rows D.

Row D assembly

Quilt Top Assembly

1. Arrange the rows according to the quilt top assembly diagram.

2. Sew the rows together to make the quilt top, which should measure 50½˝ × 54½˝ before the borders are added.

Borders

1. Sew 1 cream 4½˝ × WOF strip and 1 cream 4½˝ × 20˝ rectangle together end to end. Repeat to make a total of 2 top/bottom strips.

2. Measure the average width of the quilt top, and trim the 2 top/bottom strips to fit (approximately 50½˝). Attach the top and bottom borders to the quilt top.

Finishing

Refer to Finishing Your Quilt as needed.

1. To make the quilt back, cut the backing fabric into 2 pieces each 59˝ × WOF, trim off the selvage edges, and sew the pieces together along the trimmed selvage edges. Trim to approximately 59˝ × 71˝.

2. Layer the quilt top, batting, and backing. Baste and quilt as desired. Bind and enjoy! This version of Tribal Plus was quilted using echoing chevron designs to highlight the plus signs.

Quilt top assembly