Materials Needed & Cutting Instructions:
Blue scraps, charm squares or at least 18 different fat eighths or fat quarters – each separate bird body should be cut from the same fabric and each bird can be cut from different fabrics for a more scrappy look or you can make several birds from like fabrics and space them throughout the quilt.
72 2 ½” x 2 ½” squares for bird heads
72 2 ½” x 4 1/2” rectangles for bird bodies
144 1 ½” x 1 ½” squares for tail feathers (2 per bird)
Off white fabric – 2 yds
432 ~ 1” squares – to make the bird heads into snowball blocks and also to snowball block the top shoulders of the bird body.
90 2” x 8 ½” – 5 for each row sashing between individual birds
72 2 ½” squares for bottom of birds under tail feathers
18 1 ½” x 16” strips – top of each row of birds
Green scraps for leaves or at least 10 fat eighths to give variety in the leaves
90 Use template to cut leaves
Green geometric pattern for inner border and sashing fabric – 1 yd
8 2 ½” x 27 ½” strip for vertical sashing
5 2 ½” x width of fabric for horizontal sashing and piece together to make 3 strips 55” long.
Blue, green and yellow leaf fabric for outer border - 2 yds.
2 6” x 60 ½” strips for side borders
2 6” x 67” strips for top and bottom borders
Backing fabric – 4 ½ yds.
Brown Rick Rack – 10 yds.
Assorted small buttons for eyes – 72 total
90 2” x 8 ½” – 5 for each row sashing between individual birds
72 2 ½” squares for bottom of birds under tail feathers
18 1 ½” x 16” strips – top of each row of birds
Green scraps for leaves or at least 10 fat eighths to give variety in the leaves
90 Use template to cut leaves
Green geometric pattern for inner border and sashing fabric – 1 yd
8 2 ½” x 27 ½” strip for vertical sashing
5 2 ½” x width of fabric for horizontal sashing and piece together to make 3 strips 55” long.
Blue, green and yellow leaf fabric for outer border - 2 yds.
2 6” x 60 ½” strips for side borders
2 6” x 67” strips for top and bottom borders
Backing fabric – 4 ½ yds.
Brown Rick Rack – 10 yds.
Assorted small buttons for eyes – 72 total
Black and neutral colored thread
Construction:
General instructions. All seams are ¼”. Seams should be pressed at each stage of construction.
General instructions. All seams are ¼”. Seams should be pressed at each stage of construction.
Mark a diagonal line on the wrong side of each 1” square. Using the snowball block method place a 1” off white square at each corner of the 2 ½” bird head square (right sides together) and sew on the marked diagonal line. Repeat for all 4 sides. Turn block over and trim seam allowance to ¼” and press seams of off white corners of the block outward. Repeat this method for all 72 bird heads. (see above illustration)
To make the shoulders of the birds repeat the above snowball block method placing a 1” off white square on the top two corners of the 2 ½” x 4 ½” bird body rectangles (right sides together). Stitch on the marked line, trim seam allowance and press corners outward. Repeat for all 72 bird bodies. (see above illustration)
To make the tail feather use the same above method placing a 1 ½” blue print square on the corner of each 2 ½” off white block. Stitch on the marked line, trim seam allowance, press and then repeat for the opposite side. The blue fabric corners will overlap some to make the tail feathers. (see above illustration)
To make the shoulders of the birds repeat the above snowball block method placing a 1” off white square on the top two corners of the 2 ½” x 4 ½” bird body rectangles (right sides together). Stitch on the marked line, trim seam allowance and press corners outward. Repeat for all 72 bird bodies. (see above illustration)
To make the tail feather use the same above method placing a 1 ½” blue print square on the corner of each 2 ½” off white block. Stitch on the marked line, trim seam allowance, press and then repeat for the opposite side. The blue fabric corners will overlap some to make the tail feathers. (see above illustration)
Now you are ready to attach all 3 pieces of the bird together. Make sure the head, body and tail feathers are all the same fabric. Attach the head to the body where the shoulders have been created and then attach the tail to the bottom end of the bird body. (see above illustration)
Next attach 5 of the off white 2” x 8 ½” rectangles to sash between each bird and on both sides. Each group of birds should have 4 birds and 5 connecting strips.
Then stitch the 1 ½” x 15 ½” strip to the top of the block of 4 birds and 5 connecting strips. You will now have 18 blocks with 4 birds each.
String the rickrack along the bottom part of the line of birds making gentle waves with the rickrack and stitch in place with dark thread. Keep in mind the rickrack is a little tree branch and the birds are supposed to be sitting on the branch. (see above illustration)
The next step is outlining the birds using your sewing machine, black thread and a slightly larger stitch length. This is called sketch machine embroidery and it is a very unstructured technique. The black outline stitching should be made outside the seam lines either on outside or inside of the seams. This is an artistic touch and every bird will be unique. Start stitching at the top right corner of the birds head and stitch down forming the beak and outlining the bird up to the left shoulder. At the left shoulder stitch into the bird body and create the wing feathers. Remember this is like sketching and each wing will be unique.
After forming the wing continue stitching up into the bird head and back around to stitch just past the beak. Some machine sketch embroidery can involve making 2 stitching lines around the object. It is up to you if you want to stitch twice or once. Relax and enjoy this step. It should be fun and easy using your machine to draw detail and character in the birds body. (see above illustration)
Use your favorite method of appliqué; appliqué 5 leaves, each next to the rickrack positioning them in a random pattern as if they are growing out of the tree branch. (see above illustration)
Sketch machine embroider the leaves stitching in the same manner as when outlining the birds. Stitch them so it looks like leaves are growing out of the rickrack.
You will need 72 buttons for the birds eyes that should be smaller in size but can be any color. Position the eye as shown on the diagram and attach the eyes to the bird head. Remember buttons should not be used in quilts for small children. Alternatively the eyes can be embroidered with a satin stitch.
Collect the blocks of birds into groups of 3 and connect the 3 rows of birds stitching together at the top and bottom of the rows.
Sash the groups of 3 rows of birds into 2 sections. The top section of the quilt will have 3 sets of 3 bird rows each across and the bottom section of the quilt will have 3 sets of 3 rows of birds each across. Then join both sections of the quilt with sashing in between each section. There will be 6 groups of birds when your sashing is complete.
Attach the outside border to the sides of the quilt and then attach the top and bottom border pieces to the quilt. Make a finish press.
Machine or hand quilt and bind.
You will need 72 buttons for the birds eyes that should be smaller in size but can be any color. Position the eye as shown on the diagram and attach the eyes to the bird head. Remember buttons should not be used in quilts for small children. Alternatively the eyes can be embroidered with a satin stitch.
Collect the blocks of birds into groups of 3 and connect the 3 rows of birds stitching together at the top and bottom of the rows.
Sash the groups of 3 rows of birds into 2 sections. The top section of the quilt will have 3 sets of 3 bird rows each across and the bottom section of the quilt will have 3 sets of 3 rows of birds each across. Then join both sections of the quilt with sashing in between each section. There will be 6 groups of birds when your sashing is complete.
Attach the outside border to the sides of the quilt and then attach the top and bottom border pieces to the quilt. Make a finish press.
Machine or hand quilt and bind.
