Ann Champion's Blog

My Strawberry Fields doll quilt top is together and ready for quilting!
This was a fun little quilt to make. I know it looks big in the pic, but it’s only about 19″x26″.
If you didn’t join us for this quilt along but like the look of a zig zag setting I thought I’d post the formula for figuring the size to cut the setting triangles for anyone that doesn’t know how to figure the cutting numbers. You can do the setting with any size block. You take the finished block size x 1.414 + 1.25 =the size you cut the square to cut the triangles from. In this case it was a 5″ block which would be finished 4.5″ x 1.414 = 6.363 + 1.25 = 7.613 (7 5/8″)
The setting triangles will be cut from a 7 5/8″ square cut on the diagonal from corner to corner or in an X through it.

I had my blocks pinned up on my design wall, so I pinned the setting pieces up as I cut them so I knew I had what I needed. The blocks are sewn together in rows. The triangles at the top and bottom of the row are cut a little differently so the grain of the fabric ends up where you want it. The formula for cutting those is finished block size (4.5″)divided by 1.414 + .875 =4.057 That’s a weirdo number. Always round up to 1/8″ on weirdo numbers. so cut that square 4 1/8″ and cut across on the diagonal once this time.
I had a fat quarter I wanted to use. I had to piece it to get all of the pieces I needed, but it worked. I had just a little scrap left.
Once the rows are pieced you will join them together. I like to fold the setting triangle in half and place a pin in that place. Then I line the pins up with the edge of a block and pin so everything lines up just right when I sew the rows together. Be sure to trim the “dog ears” from joining your pieces. You don’t want that extra bulk in there when you go to quilt your top.

Once I got my top together I had to decide how to quilt it.
I quilted a zig zag setting before and just quilted the blocks in the ditch and did lines down the zig zag. This time I wanted to something a little fancier so I went through my stencils and found a design I could cut in half and flip flop along the zig zag to get a flowing design.
While I was marking, I decided to add a little to the blocks too. I won’t know until I start the quilting if I’ll quilt those lines or just stitch in the ditch? That will have to wait a few days because I have a quilt in the hoop.
Thank you Lori! I really had fun making this little quilt.