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American Storm

Did you think all Storm at Sea quilts have a case of the blues? Rebecca Aldrich Bowden's star-spangled "American Storm" (10 1/4" x 13 1/4") shows what a healthy dose of red can do! Here's a quilt bursting with excitement and energy. Rebecca made it entirely by hand, using freezer paper to insure accurate piecing.

QUILT SIZE: 10 1/4" x 13 1/4"

BLOCK SIZE: 2" square

MATERIALS                                                                                          Yardage is estimated for 44" fabric.

• Quilter's quarter red with white stars
• 1/2 yard white with blue stars
• Quilter's quarter blue with white stars
• 12 1/2" x 15 1/2" piece of backing fabric
• 12 1/2" x 15 1/2" piece of thin batting
• Freezer paper
• Thin appliqué needle

PREPARATION

• Cut templates out of freezer paper the size of the pattern piece with no added seam allowance. Cut 1 for each fabric piece needed - 12 A, 48 B, 48 C, 31 D, 124 E, 20 F and 80 G.

CUTTING                                                                                                 Pattern pieces are full size. Add 1/4" turn-under allowance when cutting out. All other dimensions include a 1/4" seam allowance.

• Cut 12: A, red
• Cut 48: C, red
• Cut 2: strips 1" x 12", red, for binding
• Cut 2: strips 1" x 15", red, for binding
• Cut 48: B, white
• Cut 62: E, and 62: ER, white
• Cut 20: F, white  NOTE: If you wish, you can do as quiltmaker Rebecca Aldrich Bowden did and center a star in each F piece.
• Cut 31: D, blue
• Cut 80: G, blue

DIRECTIONS                                                                                               

Lay the freezer paper dull side against the fabric back.
Fold the fabric seam allowance over the freezer paper pattern and press the fabric to the freezer paper using the tip of a hot iron. Baste any seams that don't adhere and trim seam allowance where necessary.
After basting or pressing, the pieces are whipstitched right sides together in pairs from the wrong side. Use a thin appliqué needle to whipstitch; it will glance off the edge of the paper for a perfect seam.
Whipstitch 4 B's to an A, as shown. Make 12.
Complete 12 blocks by adding a C to all sides.
Whipstitch E's and ER's to D, as shown. Make 31.
Whipstitch 4 G's to each F. Make 20.
Layout the blocks referring to the diagram. Rows 1, 3, 5 and 7 alternate G-F and E-D blocks. Rows 2, 4, and 6 alternate A-B-C and E-D blocks. Stitch the blocks into rows and join the rows to complete the top.
When the top is completely whipstitched together, remove the basting and papers. Press the top.
Sandwich the back, batting and top. Baste for quilting.
Quilt "in the ditch" or as desired.
Bind using the 1" strips.

To Printout the full size patterns for American Storm, click here.

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