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Off to College Bed Quilt

Finished Size: 63” x 87”

Mark a milestone step for your grown child or grandchild with a warm and colorful quilt that will be a loving reminder of home. This bed-sized quilt will decorate a dorm room with style and remind your newly-independent student of his supportive and loving family. With its clean-lined geometry, bright sashing, and unusual “woven ribbon” border, this twin bed-sized quilt is quick and easy to make between graduation parties and summer activities.

Fabric Requirements and Cutting Instructions

Read all instructions before beginning and use 1/4"-wide seam allowances throughout. Read Cutting Strips and Pieces prior to cutting fabric.

Getting Started

This quilt consists of twenty-four simple Four-Patch Blocks, with sashing, measuring 10 1/2" square unfinished. The pieced border gives a woven ribbon effect that can be further enhanced by quilting around the “ribbon” pieces. This is a very easy quilt to make but it is important to sew an accurate 1/4"-wide seam allowance since the border is pieced to the inside quilt dimensions. Directional fabric is used in the Blocks and Outside Border.

Refer to Accurate Seam Allowance. Whenever possible, use the Assembly Line method. Press seams in direction of arrows.

Making the Blocks

  1. Sew one 4 1/2" x 2 1/2" Fabric C piece between one 4 1/2" Fabric A square and one 4 1/2" Fabric B square as shown. Press. Make forty-eight.

  2. Sew one 2 1/2" Fabric D square between two 4 1/2" x 2 1/2" Fabric C pieces as shown. Press. Make twenty-four.

  3. Sew one unit from step 2 between two units from step 1 as shown. Press. Make twenty-four Four-Patch Blocks. Block measures 10 1/2"square.


Assembly

  1. Sew together three 2 1/2" x 10 1/2" Fabric E pieces and four Four-Patch Blocks to make a row, checking orientation of Blocks as shown. Press. Make six rows. Row measures 10 1/2" x 46 1/2".


  2. Sew six 2 1/2" x 42" Fabric E strips end-to-end to make one continuous 2 1/2"-wide strip. From this strip cut five 2 1/2" x 46 1/2" sashing strips.
  3. Referring to layout below, arrange and sew five strips from step 2 between the six rows from step 1. Press seams toward sashing.Referring to layout below, arrange and sew five strips from step 2 between the six rows from step 1. Press seams toward sashing.

Borders

  1. Sew 2" x 42" Fabric E strips end-to-end to make one continuous 2"-wide strip. From this strip cut two 2" x 73 1/2" and two 2" x 46 1/2" First Border strips.
  2. Arrange and sew 2" x 46 1/2" strips to top and bottom of quilt. Press seams toward Border. Sew 2" x 73 1/2" strips to sides. Press.
  3. Sew 1" x 42" Fabric A strips end-to-end to make one continuous 1"-wide strip. From this strip cut two 1" x 74 1/2" and two 1" x 49 1/2" Fabric A Second Border strips.
  4. Arrange and sew 1" x 49 1/2" strips to top and bottom of quilt. Press seams toward border. Sew 1" x 74 1/2" strips to sides. Press.

Pieced Outside Border

  1. Sew one 2 1/2" x 42" Fabric D strip between two 2 1/2" x 42" Fabric C strips to make a strip set as shown. Press. Make five. Cut forty 4 1/2"-wide segments and four 2 1/2"-wide segments.

  2. Sew together eight 4 1/2"-wide segments from step 1 between nine 6 1/2" x 2 1/2" Fabric C pieces as shown. Press. Make two rows. Row measures 6 1/2" x 50 1/2".

  3. Arrange and sew units from step 2 to top and bottom of quilt. Press seams toward Second Border.
  4. Sew one 2 1/2"-wide segment from step 1 between two 6 1/2" x 2 1/2" Fabric C pieces as shown. Press. Make four. Block measures 6 1/2"-square.

  5. Arrange and sew twelve 4 1/2"-wide segments from step 1 between thirteen 6 1/2" x 2 1/2" Fabric C pieces. Press. Make two. Sew row between two units from step 4 as shown. Press. Make two. Row measures 6 1/2" x 74 1/2".

  6. Arrange and sew rows from step 5 to sides of quilt. Press seams toward Second Border.

    7. Layering & Finishing

    1. Cut backing crosswise into two equal pieces. Sew pieces together lengthwise to make one 80" x 93" (approximate) backing piece. Press and trim to 71" x 93".
    2. Arrange and baste backing, batting, and top together, referring to Layering the Quilt.
    3. Hand or machine quilt as desired.
    4. Sew 2 3/4" x 42" binding strips end-to-end to make one continuous 2 3/4"-wide strip. Refer to Binding the Quilt and bind quilt to finish.

Website visitors have permission to print this project for personal use only. This project may not be copied or otherwise reproduced without the express written permission of Debbie Mumm®.