Tute-Happy Summer: Melon Mini

We're continuing our Tute-Happy Summer series today with a tutorial for a watermelon mini quilt! The reds and greens in Ro Gregg's Gemstones, Jewels and Quartz collection reminded us of watermelons, and this fun little 12-1/2" square mini quilt was born. It's super-easy to make--just one Courthouse Steps block cut in quarters and reassembled! Enjoy the tutorial and then find the details at the bottom of this post for a chance to win a bundle of Gemstones, Jewels and Quartz prints to play with!

Materials:

1 fat quarter each 3 red prints, 1 green print, and 1 black print

1 fat eighth white solid

15" square of backing fabric

15" square of batting

Here are the Gemstones, Jewels and Quartz prints we used that inspired this project--don't they just scream, "watermelon!" to you?! 

Cutting:

From the light red:

One 3" square

From the medium red: 

Two 3" x 7" strips and two 3" x 12" strips

From the dark red: 

Two 2-1/2" x 4" strips and two 2-1/2" x 8" strips

From the green:

Two 2-1/2" x 11" strips and two 2-1/2" x 15" strips

From the white: 

Four 1" x 12" strips

From the black:

Three 2-1/4" x 21" strips for binding

Step 1: Sew the two 2-1/2" x 4" dark red strips to opposite sides of the 3" light red square, press open, and trim.

Step 2: Sew the two 2-1/2" x 8" dark red strips to the remaining sides and press open. Trim to measure 6" square, making sure that you center the light red square as you trim. Note: Squaring up after adding each round of strips will create the most accurate Courthouse Steps block. 

Here's what it looks like after the dark red round is added:

Step 3: In the same way, add the 3" x 7" and 3" x 12" medium red strips. Trim the unit to measure 10" square.

Step 4: Press each 1" x 12" white strip in half lengthwise. Pin folded strips to opposite sides of the red unit, matching raw edges, and baste in place with a 1/8" seam allowance. Trim white strips even with the red unit. 

Step 5: Pin folded white strips on the remaining sides and then pin a 2-1/2" x 11" green strip on top, right sides together. Stitch, securing both the green strip and the white flange to the red unit. 

Step 6: Press the green strip open. The white flange should rest on the red fabric. Repeat on the other side to add the second green strip.

Step 7: Sew the 2-1/2" x 15" green strips to the top and bottom, making sure to stitch inside the basting stitches to cover them up. Press the green strips open and square to measure 13".

Step 8: Cut the block in half in both directions to create four quarter blocks. 

Step 9: Rearrange the blocks into a layout you like and stitch them together. Optional: Use the remaining black print to add watermelon seeds!

Step 10: Layer the quilt top with backing and batting and quilt as desired. Trim the backing and batting even with the quilt top. 

Step 11: Use the three 2-1/4" x 21" black strips to bind the mini quilt. 

Enjoy! 

For a chance to win a bundle of Gemstones, Jewels and Quartz prints, leave us a comment letting us know that you follow us on the blog or on Facebook. Also let us know if you've ever competed in a watermelon seed spitting contest (even in your backyard!). Giveaway is open through Sunday, July 5th at 11:59 pm EST. This giveaway is now closed, but be sure to check out our other tutorials, as we'll be sharing a tutorial and hosting a giveaway each week!

Check out each week of our Summer of Tutes!
Week 1: Sunglasses case  featuring Graphix 3
Week 2: The overnight bag featuring Who's Who

Week 3: Tablet case featuring Jungle Party 

Week 4: Patriotic pennants featuring Tone on Tone 
Week 6: Lunch bag featuring Graphix 3
Week 7: Placemats featuring Marblehead Pleasing Pastels

Week 8: Table topper featuring Marblehead Pleasing Pastels

Week 9: Elegant clutch featuring Jungle Party 
Week 10: Modern table runner featuring Prairie Cloth Solids 

Week 11: Striped table runner featuring Gemstones, Jewels and Quartz

Week 12: Nautical mini featuring Prairie Cloth Solids
Week 13: Stair Stepper Runner featuring Gemstones, Jewels and Quartz

Gemstones, Jewels & Quartz, oh my!

Ro Gregg has done it again with a veritable treasure chest in her newest Marblehead collection, Gemstones, Jewels & Quartz! These rich prints have so much depth and play so nicely together, as well as with her previous Marblehead collections. Take a look and see what Ro has to say about these beauties!

Gemstones

Jewels

Quartz

Q. You’re back with a new collection of Marbleheads.

Ro: These three patterns are coming out as a sequel to the Marblehead story. Again, inspired by nature, specifically the popularity of natural stone. These fabrics are infused with what I call “jewel mania.”

Q. What did you really focus on when designing these prints?

Ro: The most important thing is the jumps of color. Quilters have told me that when they’re selected fabrics they want to see a light, a medium and a dark. The jewel pattern serves as the light pattern. Quartz falls into the medium category. The gemstone pattern sort of punches the color in quilts—it’s dark. It’s a myriad of color, which gives the illusion of depth. 

These prints will also meld with the Original, Global and Pastel Marblehead collections, creating a tremendous basic for quilting.

Q. Looking at these prints is like going to a jewelry store.

Ro: I took inspiration from gems and stayed with a luminous jewel-tone theme—amethyst, aquamarine, garnet, sapphire, emerald, pearl, onyx… The depth of color and saturation of brightness varies through the three patterns.

We're offering a free pattern on our website featuring Gemstones, Jewels & Quartz:

"Marblehead Gems" designed by Pine Tree Country Quilts

See the entire Gemstones, Jewels & Quartz collection here.

Download the free Marblehead Gems quilt pattern here.