The African Quilt

Finished size: 155cm x 201cm (61in x 79in)

The African Quilt by Ann Ferguson of Balmoral Ridge, Qld is a striking single bed size quilt. It has been made from a collection of 5 1/2in squares of genuine African fabrics, sourced from various regions in Africa and purchased in South Africa. A simple sashing, corner squares and borders enhancing the African theme set off these squares. Bold prints and strong colours as well as earthy neutrals work well for this project. We have provided measurements for plain backing fabric but Ann used two Masai panels and fabrics left over from the front. You could use your imagination and do something similar.

Materials

52, 14cm (5 1/2in) squares of vibrant print cotton fabrics

Print fabrics totalling approximately 50cm (5/8yd) for the corner squares. Ann used a variety of small African animal skin print fabrics.

1.4m (1 1/2yd) black and white print fabric (sashings). See note.

60m (5/8yd) white fabric (borders)

80cm (7/8yd) black fabric (borders)

50cm (5/8yd) binding fabric

3.4m (3 3/4yd) backing fabric

Batting at least 170cm x 213cm (67in x 84in)

Neutral-coloured thread for piecing

Quilting thread. Ann used red, yellow, black and white linen thread for quilting. Alternatively, No 8 Perlé thread could be used.

Rotary cutter, ruler and mat

Note: The distinctive black and white sashings and the narrow black and white borders in Ann’s quilt were cut from one black and white print fabric. Ann suggests that hand-dyed fabric, plains or neutrals or an African themed fabric, such as an animal print, would work well.

Alternatively, to create the same black and white effect as Ann’s in your own quilt, we have provided foundation patterns on the pattern sheet. Increase the quantity of each of the border fabrics by approximately 1.3m (1 3/8yd) and use 2.2m (2 3/8yd) of lightweight non-fusible interfacing for the foundations. Using the foundation piecing instructions for the Pickle Dish Quilt in this issue as a guide, foundation piece 134 rectangles for the sashings and long strips alternating black and white for the narrow borders. Because of the extra thickness of the foundation material, as the quilt is assembled, press the seam allowances towards the squares and corner squares instead of the sashings.

Cut the fabric

From the fabric for the corner squares, cut:

• 85, 2 1/2in squares

From the fabric for the sashings and narrow borders, cut:

• 20 strips, 2 1/2in x width of fabric and cross cut 134, 2 1/2in x 5 1/2in rectangles

• 8 strips, 1 1/2in x width of fabric

From the white border fabric, cut:

• 5 strips, 3 1/2in x width of fabric

From the black border fabric, cut:

• 6 strips, 3 1/2in x width of fabric

• 3 strips, 1 1/2in x width of fabric (top and bottom edges)

• 4 strips, 1 1/2in x 9 1/2in (top and bottom panels)

From the binding fabric, cut:

• 7 strips, 2 1/2in x width of fabric

Join the squares and sashings

1. Following the Quilt Assembly Diagram, arrange 36, 5 1/2in squares into six rows each with six squares. Place sashing strips between and around the squares and corner squares at the intersections. Distribute the colours and textures evenly across the surface of the quilt.

2. Arrange two rows, each with eight, 5 1/2in squares for the top and bottom panels of the quilt. Following the photograph of the quilt, add sashing strips and corner squares between and around the squares.

3. Join the rows of squares and sashings and sashings and corner squares and press the seam allowances towards the sashings.

4. Join the rows, butting the seam allowances together at the intersections.

Add the borders

1. Use the five, 3 1/2in strips of white fabric to assemble strips for the first border. Join 3 1/2in x 44 1/2in strips to the left and right edges of the quilt. Press the seam allowances towards the borders.

2. Join 3 1/2in x 50 1/2in strips to the top and bottom edges of the quilt.

3. Use the eight, 11/2in strips for the narrow borders to assemble strips for Border 2 and the vertical strips of Border 4.

4. Join 11/2in x 50 1/2in strips to the left and right edges of the quilt and 11/2in x 52 1/2in strips to the top and bottom edges.

5. Use the six, 3 1/2in strips of black fabric to assemble strips for Border 3. Join 3 1/2in x 52 1/2in strips to the left and right edges of the quilt and 3 1/2in x 58 1/2in strips to the top and bottom edges.

6. Join two, 1 1/2in x 58 1/2in strips to the left and right edges of the quilt.

Add the top and bottom panels

1. Join 1 1/2in x 9 1/2in strips to each end of each of the panels for the top and bottom of the quilt and press the seam allowances towards the strips.

2. Use the three, 11/2in wide black strips to make two, 60in strips and join one of these strips to the outer edge of each panel.

3. Join the panels to the top and bottom edges of the quilt. Press the seam allowances towards Border 3.

Finish the quilt

1. Cut the length of backing fabric in half, remove the selvedges and join the two pieces to make a backing a little larger than the quilt top with one horizontal join. Press the seam open.

2. Following the instructions for Preparing the Quilt Sandwich in QC Basics on page 116, pin or baste the quilt top, batting and backing together.

3. Ann’s quilt was hand quilted with red, yellow, black and white linen thread. After quilting the squares in the ditch she used the printed designs as the inspiration for her stitching. The sashings were quilted with zigzag lines following the design on the fabric. The wide black and white borders were quilted with wavy lines thread to match the fabric.

4. Following Binding the Quilt in QC Basics on page 116, use the seven, 2 1/2in strips to bind the quilt.

For further information on fabrics, designs and classes from Ann Ferguson, see the Stockists & Contacts list. A limited number of packs of African fabric squares are available from Ann.