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Dear John Bathroom Quilt

by Ree Babich,  The Quilter's Shop  

Of all the quilts that we have ever had in the shop, the one which draws the most attention, is the one that hangs in the restroom and has been "dubbed" REE'S BATHROOM QUILT!

We have been asked many times for the pattern for this quilt. The block is called "Northern Lights" and consists of 2 squares, a four patch and half square. 

Our quilt is a simple, easy, two-color quilt consisting of a dark and a light fabric. It is not necessary that you select a dark and light fabric with a lot of contrast, they just have to complement each other. 

Please read the entire instructions before cutting. We have made every effort to be accurate with fabric yardage, but sometimes we all make errors. Please allow for the "ERROR FACTOR"! 

When pressing the seams, be consistent, that is, lay out the sewn blocks on the ironing board in the same direction and press all seams in the same direction. Make sure you check your quarter inch seam allowance before starting.

The size of our quilt is approximately 60 "x 84", but this quilt can be made larger or smaller by adding or deleting blocks, borders or both. Each square finishes at 12". The original quilt has one border. You can add as many as you like in different colors that complement your quilt top.

Fabric Requirements for the 2 color quilt (for 60 x 84): (based on at 42" wide fabric)

Dark Fabric:

• 2 1/2 yards for borders and bindings and some leftover for 3 1/2 inch strips for piecing

• 2 1/4 yards for squares and triangles

Light Fabric:

• 2 1/4 yards for squares and triangles

Cutting Instructions: 

Please remember that the borders and binding are cut from the same 2 1/2yard length of fabric. Cut these FIRST! Fold the fabric so that you are cutting down the length of the piece on the selvage side. That way when all of your border and binding strips are cut, you can open the fabric piece up at the fold and start cutting for blocks or strips, depending on the width of the leftover fabric.

Borders: Dark Fabric from the 2 1/2yd length of dark fabric
-- 4 strips 6 1/2" wide x LOF (length of fabric) 
-- Put them aside so that you don't cut into them!

Binding: Dark Fabric
-- 4 strips 2 1/2" wide x LOF 
-- Put them aside

Dark Fabric: Blocks A & B
-- 8 strips 3 1/2" wide x WOF (width of fabric) these strips are for the four patch

Before going on with the next cutting set please * Remember the rule! Take the size of the finished block, in this case 6 inches and add 7/8�� for half square triangles 6+ 7/8 = 6 7/8" .

If you are not sure of your seam allowance, you may cut your squares 7", but remember; you must square up all of your blocks to 6 1/2 after you have made your half square triangles. Decide how wide you will cut the strips for the half square triangles, either 6 7/8 or 7 and follow through with that size!

Dark Fabric:  
--Cut 4 strips 6 7/8" wide x WOF.  
Subcut these into 6 7/8" squares for a total of 24 squares

Light Fabric: (Blocks A & B)
--8 strips 3 1/2" wide x WOF
--4 strips 6 7/8" wide x WOF 
Subcut these into 6 7/8"squares for a total of 24 squares

FOUR-PATCH SQUARE BLOCK A 

• The first block is a four patch, layer a light and dark 3.5" strip right sides together and sew using a quarter inch seam. Open the strips and press seams to the dark side.     

• Make 8 strip sets. 

• Cut strip sets into 96, 3.5 inch x 6.5 inch segments.  (see diagram 1)

• Place 2 segments right sides together light to dark sew using a quarter inch seam. (see diagram 2)

• Make 48 four patches. blocks should be 6.5" square unfinished  

HALF SQUARE TRIANGLES BLOCK B

• Position a 6 7/8" light and dark square right sides together.

• Draw a diagonal line and sew 1/4 seam on either side from the line. Cut apart on the drawn line and press open towards the dark side. (see diagram 3)

• You will need a total of 48 half square triangles. 

• It is at this point that if you cut your squares 7", you should now square up the blocks to measure 6.5".

• Now lay out the four patches and half squares as shown and sew! (see diagram 4)

• These blocks should measure 12.5 inches when sewn together.

• You will need 24 - 12.5 inch blocks

For our quilt, we laid the blocks out 4 ACROSS and 6 DOWN. Remember, when adding borders, to measure in several places across the quilt and always cut borders to size. 

HAPPY QUILTING

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