Tutorial: Working with Tile and Panel Prints

Recently we showed you Linda Carlson and Diana Henage's new fabric collection, Imagine This! Today, Linda is guest posting on the blog, sharing a tutorial for a quilt that will help you use those cool focal prints from the collection, both the panel collage and the tile yardage. We know you'll enjoy Linda's tutorial! Be sure to read through all the way to the bottom of the post for details on how you can win a bundle of Imagine This to play with yourself!

"Leapin’ Lizards! Where’s Geraldine and Gerald Giraffe?"

Here's Linda:

Hello! I'm here to help you celebrate and use the collage and tile fabrics from Imagine This. Dense collage fabrics are a treat for all eyes to bounce from one intriguing motif to the next; or can delight a child by playing a language learning game to find the jolly giraffes, two big hearts, the big beaked bird, or the long eared bunny! ! 

Running yardage tile and panel fabrics beg to be cut apart singly, in rows for borders, or used whole for a very easy, quick quilt. Our “Imagine This!” collection features both design genres that are at once whimsical, delightful and very easy to incorporate in any quilt design! Let's get started on my quilt design, Leapin’ Lizards! Where’s Geraldine and Gerald Giraffe?

Fabrics And Cutting Directions

3/4 yard Multi-Animal Collage: 

Cut (1) 10-1/2" x 40-1/2" cross grain strip for center row; (5) 2-1/2" x 42" cross grain strips for binding

1/2 yard Red Hot Dots: 

Cut (4) 2-1/2" x 40-1/2" cross grain strips, and (2) 2-1/2" x 38-1/2" strips

1/3 yard Multi-color Animal Tiles:

Cut 2 rows including 1/4" yellow all around

1/3 yard Multi-color Winding Brick Path: 

Cut (4) 10-1/2" squares

1/3 yard Black, White & Gray Winding Brick Path:

Cut (4) 10-1/2" squares

1 fat quarter each: Red, Gray, Black & White Harlequin, Multi-color Harlequin, Blue Nebula, Cool Blue Dots on Green: 

Sub-cut into (2) 8" squares each (totaling 8 squares)

Batting and backing fabric to equal 48" x 54" (I prefer using wide backs.)

1 package Misty Fuse White 20" x 2-1/2 yds. or your favorite paper-backed fusible (I prefer Misty Fuse as it’s light enough for my machine needle to pierce, and won’t gum up the needle.)

Optional: Teflon Goddess Sheets protect your ironing surface and iron from the glue in fusibles. I use one on my board and another on top of the fabric with Misty Fuse ready to be heat set. Parchment paper works, too. 

Notes: All seams should be a scant 1/4". My machine needle sits at 6.

Make the Quilt
1. Cut two rows from animal tile print including 1/4" yellow frame all around. 

2. Lay Misty Fuse (or favorite fusible) over the wrong side. Protect ironing board surface with a teflon Goddess Sheet or parchment paper as well as on top of the fusible to protect your iron. Fuse all tiles according to manufacturer’s directions. Let cool completely before peeling off.

3. Cut out 8 tiles for this quilt with 1/4" yellow all around (You'll see four down below). The remaining 14 tiles will be ready for part of the backing, or in another project.

4. Audition which tiles look best on which 8" squares; then audition both on the 10-1/2" squares.

5. Find center of tiles on 8" squares by gently pressing horizontally and vertically. Repeat with the corresponding 10-1/2" square. Set 10-1/2" squares aside. Align centers, then fuse a tile to the 8" square. Repeat with all remaining blocks.

6. Center 8" unit onto 10-1/2" square. Machine appliqué in place. Use a stiletto to hold the edge down for blanket stitching if needed. I set my machine to a 3 width and 2 length.

7. Turn over and carefully cut out the 10-1/2" square 1/4" inside the stitching to prevent bulk and see through.

8. For the first vertical row, sew 4 blocks together vertically starting with a multi-color winding brick path block. Alternate with gray/white blocks. Repeat with remaining blocks but starting with a gray/white block. Press seams open since you aren’t matching blocks side by side. Set 2 finished rows aside.

9. Match and pin middle of 2-1/2" x 40-1/2" red hot dot strip to middle side of the 10-1/2" x 40-1/2" animal collage strip, working towards ends to insure evenness of the ends. Sew. Press seam towards red strips. Repeat on other side.

10. Match and pin center of first vertical row of blocks to red strip unit, right sides together as in step 9. Sew and press seam allowance towards red strip. Repeat with 2nd vertical row of blocks.

11. With right sides together, match middle of 2-1/2" x 40-1/2" red hot dot strip side border with first vertical row, and pin outward to ends. Sew, and press seam allowance towards red strip. Repeat process on other side. Add 2-1/2" x 38-1/2" top and bottom red borders in same manner.

12. Lay backing right side down, cover with batting, then top right side up. Pin for home machine quilting, or prepare for long arm quilting. Quilt as desired.

13. Join 2-1/2" x 42" animal collage strips end to end for binding. Fold in half, wrong sides together and pin to right side of quilt’s raw edges. Sew. Turn binding to back and hand sew down.

Here's the finished Leapin’ Lizards! Where’s Geraldine and Gerald Giraffe? quilt! Hope you enjoyed the tutorial.

And just for fun, a few more leapin' lizards of another variety. :)

Thanks, Linda, for a fantastic tutorial, as well as inspiration for fun ways to use tile and panel prints!

Now, for a chance to win a FQ bundle of Imagine This, head over to Linda's blog post about this tutorial and leave a comment letting her/us know your favorite fabric in the collection.