Requirements
finished size of quilt: approx 99” x 99”
(All strips are assumed to be width of fabric unless otherwise stated)
· Colours A-P: 10” x WOF, or a Fat Quarter of each colour
· Background (BG) fabric: 5⅞ yards
· Binding fabric: ¾ yard
· Backing fabric: 9 yards
Please read all instructions before starting. All measurements are given for “unfinished” squares/blocks, eg. with ¼”
seam allowance, unless specified. It is recommended that
all fabrics be washed and ironed before starting. Please read
the entire pattern before beginning.
Tools
· Rotary cutter, ruler & mat
· Thread for piecing & quilting
· Iron & ironing board
· Sewing machine with ¼” patchwork foot & walking foot
· Pencil for marking fabric
· Safety pins for basting
Made Using
Outback
Wife Quilt
By nightingale quilts
for
CUTTING TABLE
* Indicates how many you will need of each of the 16
colours ‘A’ through to ‘P’.
** Indicates a square that is to be cut in half to make two
triangles.
^ Scrappy geese can make use of the background fabric
off-cuts. Trim the off-cuts down to 2½”x2½” squares and
they can make up part of the 368 squares needed.
You will need roughly 21 of the squares from colours A-P
and the background.
Using your 32 (4¾”x35”) strips, position them in the following order to
create 8 different groups:
- ABCD, EFGH, IJKL, MNOP
- AFIN, BEJM, CHKP, DGLO
I will be using the ‘ABCD’ group for demonstration purposes.
Once the 8 groups are formed, piece right sides together (RST) with 4”
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THE STAR
graduations as shown.
Page 1
With a quilter’s ruler, line the 45° line (shown in green) with one of the horizontal seams. Cut the unit at the closest edge before reaching the ‘steps’ (shown in red).
NOTE: If you are using fat quarters instead of
yardage, you can cut four (4) 4¾” x 17½” strips of
a single print.
Follow the above steps, however there will be
two (2) of each of the original eight (8) groups.
This will result in 16 total units.
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Rotate the unit 45° and cut four 4¾” strips.
Fussy cutters? There is a template and tutorial at
the end of this pattern.
Page 2
To form one of the eight large diamonds, take a single strip from eight different groups and sew RST.
Sew along this edge and press open.
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When lining up the strips, place the strips RST and mark a ¼” in from the edge on each seam on the wrong side of the fabric. Line up these dots and hold in place with a pin
to make sure seams meet.
By selecting random strips from eight different groups and mixing up their order you can get a truly scrappy feel.
NOTE: The blocks in alphabetical order have been used only to demonstrate the method. You do not need to have them in any order after the first 8 groups.
Page 3
Next, using your background fabric, you will need four (4) 24¾”x24¾” squares and four (4) 17¾”x17¾” squares. Cut the squares diagonally to form two triangles:
NOTE:
| indicates the short side of the triangle
|| indicates the long side.
Once all the triangles are positioned, you can begin to piece the star. Align the
short side of the 24¾”x24¾” triangle along the top of the first panel as shown.
Mark ¼” on the wrong side of the fabric to help line up the two pieces as shown.
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Using the following diagram as a guide, position the 16 triangles
around the eight diamond units that make up the points of the star.
Page 4
Place the pieces RST, sew the two pieces together and press the seam open.
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Line the long side of the 17¾”x17¾ “ triangle along the other side of the star, marking ¼” on the wrong side as in previous steps and press the seam.
Page 5
To begin to piece the star, first mark the ¼” mark in from the seam on the wrong side of the fabric at the positions shown. Sew along the seam and press open.
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Using the construction around the last diamond as a guide, continue taking each diamond and piece the points of the star.
Repeat this step with the four other ‘corners’.
Page 6
Continue by again marking the ¼” points to line up two ‘corner’ panels. Place the panels RST and sew together using a pin to anchor the two marks. Repeat with the other
two ‘corner’ blocks.
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You now have half of the star constructed. Continue by marking the following points on both ‘halves’ as before as well as matching up the centre seams.
Page 7
The star should now measure 81”x81”.
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NOTE: The background triangles may warp slightly due to their
size. Marking ¼” on the leaves and background helps with the
accuracy of the star in cases like this. To square off the star, line
up your points with a ruler and leave a ¼” seam allowance discarding trimmings.
Page 8
BORDER 1
Taking two 4¾” x 29½” strips and one 4¾” x 22” strip of background fabric, place RST and sew along the shortest side to form a long strip as shown.
Repeat this for the other side.
Place the two new strips on the right and left sides of the star and one after the other, place RST with the star and press open the seams.
Attach the borders at the top and bottom, RST with the quilt top and press open.
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With the borders on the right and left in place, piece the top and bottom borders using four 3¾” x22½” strips.
Page 9
FLYING GEESE
The flying geese border is comprised of 184 units. This boils down to 184 rectangles and 368 squares.
What follows are the instructions for a single flying geese block. You will need to cut two 2½” squares for background fabric and one 2½”x4½” rectangle for the ‘goose’.
For demonstration purposes I will label the two background colours A and B and the ‘goose’ C.
1. Draw a diagonal line across the back of both squares and place one square on top of the rectangle, right sides together. Line up the square on one end of the rectangle
(as shown). Sew along the line you have drawn on the back of the square.
2. Trim a ¼” seam allowance behind the stitched line and press open.
For all flying geese borders, begin by lining up eleven (11) units, piece one by one, RST to form a single eleven block strip.
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3. Repeat with the other square. (The two triangles will overlap at the tip of the ‘goose’ pushing the point back to form a ¼” seam allowance).
Page 10
To finish, piece four (4) of these units together to form a strip of 44.
You will find that you have eight (8) flying geese units left. You will need to make up two (2) of the following blocks.
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At this stage, you can two of these strips for the left and right borders. Attach with the point of the geese facing down on the left and the point facing up on the
right as shown.
Once complete, add one block as shown onto the ‘pointy’ end of both the top and bottom borders.
Page 11
BORDER 2
Taking two (2) 2”x23½” strips and two (2) 2”x25½” strips of background fabric. Arrange as shown, place RST and sew along the shortest sides to form a long strip.
Repeat this with the other four (4) strips.
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With these final flying geese border strips, add to the quilt top as shown:
Attach the two new strips on the right and left sides of the flying geese border like you did with the first border.
Once the left and right border are attached, piece the top and bottom borders using three 33½”x2” strips per border.
Attach the borders at the top and bottom, RST with the quilt top and press open.
Page 12
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Next:
Baste, quilt and bind!
When basting, quilting and binding a quilt, you will discover there are many different methods out there to accomplish each step. The aim is to find a style that suits your
abilities, materials/equipment, project and time. You can find step-by-step tutorials in blogs by using a Google search, or find help on sites like Pinterest or YouTube.
If you want to find inspiration, see other versions of this quilt or share yours, there is a #outbackwifequilt tag on Instagram.
This pattern is not to be republished, reproduced, distributed or sold without the express permission of the author. This pattern is for personal use only.
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