Spring Freestyle Quilt Wall Hanging

This project can become a colorful wall hanging to “Welcome Spring!” Use your creativity in selecting a bright, spring inspired color scheme. Personalize this project by choosing interesting fabrics for the inner squares, appliqué stars or make your own.

Supplies

Quilting fabric of your choice
Coordinating thread
Batting

Cutting the fabric

Using your rotary cutter cut and mat, cut the following pieces.

You’ll also need to cut borders and bindings:

Inner Squares (Green)*

8” x 8”

Inner border (Lilac) 1 ¾”

28” x 1 ¾” – cut 2
8” x 1 ¾”– cut 2
12 x 1 ¾”– cut 2

Outer Border (Dark Purple) 2 ¾”

15” x 2 ¾” – cut 2
36” x 2 ¾”

Creating the Inner Squares

Fussy Cut
Appliqué
“Stargazey” Style 1

Fussy Cut
This is the quickest and simplest way to create the focal point this project. Just find a fabric with a large design you like. Place your square template over the portion of the design you like, and cut an 8” square. Cut 3 squares.

Appliqué
Another way to create the center squares is using appliqué technique. Cut out freehand or using a template, any shape you desire. Hand or machine stitch to your square and trim to 8”.

Stargazey Style
In this style of quilting, you won’t need to measure precisely to come out with a great result. You’ll need the Spiky Stars pattern available at most quilt shops for this method. Instead of a pattern there is a recipe. Follow the steps to make a series of uniquely different patches for your wall-hanging.

Once you’ve cut your large squares, the fun begins. Stack squares of different fabric on top of each other. Visually divide your square into thirds. Using your rotary cutter and straight edge, you’ll cut and reassemble the squares in portions.

When you’ve reassembled the squares, you’ll need to trim them to 8”x 8”. The fastest way to do this is with a clear plastic square template that is marked (see resources).

Using a square template is the easiest way to do this precisely.

Final Assembly
Join the inner squares by attaching the lilac 1 ¾” border between your large star squares.

Then, attach the lilac 1 ¾” border to the sides, top and bottom of the joined squares. You can miter the corners if you are comfortable doing this. However, the hand made style of this quilt looks great when you randomly overlap the corners.

Next, attach the outer purple borders in the same manner.

Finishing your quilt
With right sides together, stitch the backing and top together on 3 sides.
Pull the quilt through the opening to get the right sides out.
Press and topstitch the 4th side opening
For a wall-hanging, stitch a length of ribbon to the top corners or use quilt clips.

Variation - Pillow

Follow directions above.

Insert the batting into the quilt before stitching the opening.

Top stitch or hand stitch the final side.

Resources:

Tools

Templates and cutting aids:

OmniGrid Square Templates:

dritz.com

save-on-crafts.com

CreativeGrids Square Templates

Portable Mat/Pressing Board by OmniGrid

Fabric and Inspiration

Quilter’s Palette, Morton Grove, IL

Inspired by patterns of Jan Mullen, Stagazey Quilts

“Spiky Starz”