WHICH WAY TO THE FABRIC STORE?
QUILT
TECHNIQUE
Overlap Method
Big, bold arrows come together for a modern block with a lot of impact.
Materials
Yardages are based on fabric that is at least 40˝ wide.
• Solid fabric: 3¾ yards for blocks, sashing, borders, and binding
• Wide-cut selvages: 48 yards
• Scrap fabric: 18 rectangles, each at least 1½˝ × 4½˝
• Backing: 4 yards
• Batting: 70˝ × 70˝
• Glue stick
• White thread
Cutting
WOF = width of fabric
SOLID FABRIC FOR BLOCKS
• Cut 5 strips 4½˝ × WOF.
Subcut 36 squares 4½˝ × 4½˝.
• Cut 12 strips 2½˝ × WOF.
Subcut 36 rectangles 2½˝ × 12½˝.
SOLID FABRIC FOR SASHING
• Cut 6 strips 2½˝ × WOF.
Subcut 2 rectangles 2½˝ × 40˝.
Subcut 6 rectangles 2½˝ × 16½˝.
Subcut 2 rectangles 2½˝ × 13˝.
SOLID FABRIC FOR BORDERS
• Cut 6 strips 5˝ × WOF.
Subcut 4 rectangles 5˝ × 40˝.
From each of 2 strips, subcut 1 rectangle 5˝ × 13˝ and 1 rectangle 5˝ × 22˝ (2 total of each).
SOLID FABRIC FOR BINDING
• Cut 7 strips 2½˝ × WOF.
WIDE-CUT SELVAGES
• Cut 36 strips 7˝ long to start for the points of the arrow blocks. Cut additional strips as you go during construction.
• Cut 200 strips 4½˝ long to start for the straight part of the arrow blocks. Cut additional strips, if needed, as you go during construction.
SCRAP FABRIC
• Cut 18 rectangles 1½˝ × 4½˝.
CONSTRUCTION
Make the Selvage Blocks
1. Referring to the Overlap Method for Half-Square Triangle Blocks, use the 4½˝ solid squares and the selvages to make half-square triangle blocks for the arrow points.
Use a 7˝ selvage strip for the diagonal center of each block. Cut and overlap other selvage strips as needed. Depending on the width of your selvages and how much you overlap them, it will likely take either 3 or 4 selvages to complete each block. If it takes more or fewer strips, that’s fine. You don’t have to use the same number of selvages in each block. Glue, sew, press, and trim. Make 36 blocks.
2. Referring to the Overlap Method, use the scrap rectangles and the selvages to make 4½˝ × 12½˝ selvage rectangles for the arrow stems.
Depending on the width of your selvages and how much you overlap them, it will likely take 11 or 12 selvages to make each rectangle. If it takes more or fewer strips, that’s fine. You don’t have to use the same number of selvages in each block. Glue, sew, press, and trim. Make 18 blocks.
Make the Arrow Blocks
Use a ¼˝ seam allowance and press seams open throughout.
1. Sort the 36 half-square triangle blocks into 18 pairs. Place a pair of blocks right sides together, with the selvage sides aligned. Sew together along a side where the selvages meet so that, when pressed open, the 2 blocks will form a selvage arrow point. Press. Make 18 pairs.
2. Sew a 2½˝ × 12½˝ solid rectangle to each side of a 4½˝ × 12½˝ selvage rectangle to make an arrow stem. Press. Make 18.
3. Sew an arrow point to an arrow stem. Make 18 arrow units.
4. Sew 2 arrow units from Step 3 together with the points in opposite directions, as shown in the Block A and Block B assembly diagrams, to make a 16½˝ × 16½˝ arrow block. Make 8 A Blocks and 1 B Block.
NOTE I chose to use 1 Block B as an interesting modern variation to make the middle row different and to add emphasis to the center of the quilt. (The use of 1 Block B makes both outer arrows along the top of the middle row point inward.) You might want to make 9 blocks like Block A instead for a more typical arrangement. Or mix and match A and B Blocks however you’d like.
Block A assembly
Block B assembly
Make the Long Sashing
Sew a 2½˝ × 40˝ solid rectangle to a 2½˝ × 13˝ solid rectangle to make a sashing strip 2½˝ × 52½˝.Make 2.
Make the Borders
1. Sew a 5˝ × 40˝ solid rectangle to a 5˝ × 13˝ solid rectangle to make a strip 5˝ × 52½˝. Make 2 for side borders.
2. Sew a 5˝ × 40˝ solid rectangle to a 5˝ × 22˝ solid rectangle to make a strip 5˝ × 61½˝. Make 2 for top and bottom borders.
Make the Quilt Top
1. Referring to the quilt assembly diagram, arrange the blocks in a layout of 3 blocks across by 3 blocks down with sashing between blocks and rows. Alternate the direction of the arrows in every other block. The B Block goes in the third position of the second row.
2. Sew the blocks and sashing in each row together. Press.
3. Sew the rows and long sashing together. Press.
4. Attach the side borders to the quilt. Press.
5. Attach the top and bottom borders to the quilt. Press.
FINISH THE QUILT
Quilt and bind as desired.
Point yourself in the direction of the couch.
Quilt assembly
WHICH WAY? COFFEE TABLE RUNNER
TECHNIQUE
Overlap Method
Use the same modern arrow blocks as in the quilt to make this little coffee table runner.
Materials
Yardages are based on fabric that is at least 40˝ wide.
• Solid fabric: 1⅛ yards for blocks, border, and binding
• Wide-cut selvages: 10 yards
• Scrap fabric: 4 rectangles, each at least 1½˝ × 4½˝
• Backing: ¾ yard
• Batting: 24˝ × 40˝
• White thread
• Glue stick
Cutting
WOF = width of fabric
SOLID FABRIC FOR BLOCKS
• Cut 3 strips 2½˝ × WOF.
Subcut 8 rectangles 2½˝ × 12½˝.
• Cut 1 strip 4½˝ × WOF.
Subcut 8 squares 4½˝ × 4½˝.
SOLID FABRIC FOR BORDER
• Cut 3 strips 2½˝ × WOF.
Subcut 2 rectangles 2½˝ × 36½˝.
Subcut 2 rectangles 2½˝ × 16½˝.
SOLID FABRIC FOR BINDING
• Cut 4 strips 2¼˝ × WOF.
CONSTRUCTION
Use a ¼˝ seam allowance and press seams open throughout.
Make the Arrow Blocks
1. Follow the construction steps for the Which Way to the Fabric Store? Quilt to make 8 selvage half-square triangle blocks and 4 selvage rectangles. Use the selvage blocks and solid rectangles to complete 4 arrows.
2. Sew a pair of arrows together to form an arrow block 16½˝ × 16½˝. Make 2 blocks, either Block A or Block B (or 1 of each), whichever you prefer.
Make the Table Runner
1. Place the 2 arrow blocks side by side. Experiment with turning them around until the arrows point in a way you like. Sew them together. Press.
2. Attach a 2½˝ × 16½˝ border rectangle to each side. Press.
3. Attach a 2½˝ × 36½˝ border rectangle to the top and bottom. Press.
Table runner assembly
FINISH THE TABLE RUNNER
Quilt and bind as desired.