Row 7 - Seminole Piecing
It's finally here! The final row of our quilt top, Yeah!
I really love the look of Seminole piecing. Inspired by the American Indian tradition, this style of
piecing is quick and surprisingly accurate. I had to include the strips as when I was researching the
traditional designs I found that they are called the Storm design J quite fitting really. I hope you
enjoy this row as much as I enjoyed designing it!
If you'd like to print out the tutorial, just click here to download the printable PDF written Instructions and pattern pieces, or watch this video for a step by step tutorial.
Finished Size: 7” x 60”
Unfinished Size: 7 ½" x 60 ½"
Requirements:
• Strips of all of the fabrics used so far
• 20” x Width of Fabric – Background Fabric
Start by giving your fabrics a really good press before cutting, I also like to use spray starch when pressing. You’ll get a much neater finish if you spray your fabric with starch before you cut it.
Please note: Images are not to scale!
Part 1 Cutting:
Fabric 1 (background fabric):
• 6 x 4” strip x 22”
Fabric 2 (variety of rainbow fabrics):
• 6 x 4” strip x 22”
Part 1 - Constructing the ‘Storm’ Seminole piecing:
1. Take the rainbow fabrics and number them from 1 to 6. Group fabrics 1, 3 and 5 together and group fabrics 2, 4 and 6 together.
2. Take a 4” x 22” background fabric and join it to one of the ‘odd’ numbered rainbow fabrics. Be sure to stagger the start by at least 4” so that when you cut the fabrics you don’t have too much wastage. Press the seam allowance toward the background fabric. Repeat with the other ‘odd’ numbered fabrics
3. Take a 4” x 22” background fabric and join it to one of the ‘even’ numbered rainbow fabrics. Be sure to stagger the start by at least 4” in the opposite direction! Press the seam allowance toward the background fabric. Repeat with the other ‘even’ numbered fabrics. You should have a total of 6 pairs of fabric.
4. Take your odd number fabrics and make a cut on the 45 degree angle.
5. Make a second cut 1 ½" from the 45 degree edge. Repeat until you have a total of 6 x 1 ½" strips from each of the three odd numbered fabrics.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 with the even numbered fabric sets however the 45 degree angle is cut in the opposite direction. You will have a total of 36 x 1 ½" strips when finished.
7. Take one of the Fabric 1 strips and one of the Fabric 2 strips and line them up so they meet in the centre. Sew the seam and then press the seams open to prevent bulk at the centre points. Repeat with all of the fabric 1 and fabric 2 strips. You should have a total of 6 pairs.
8. Repeat step 7 with the fabric 3 and fabric 4 strips. Finally Repeat step 7 with the fabric 5 and fabric 6 strips.
9. Join 3 of the pairs together until you have 6 sets of 6 strips.
10. Join the 3 sets of 6 into 2 x groups of 3. These will be placed on either side of the centre blocks.
11. To trim the block you need to measure from the high point of the join in the centre. Measure 3 .” from the top of the centre join. Once you have trimmed one side you can just trim the row to measure 7 ½".
12. Set aside the strips for now.
Part 2 - Constructing the centre blocks:
Requirements:
Fabric 1 (yellow):
• 1 x 1 ¾" x 12”
Fabric 2 (purple):
• 1 x 1 ¾" x 12”
• 1 x 1 ¾" x 6”
Fabric 3 (green):
• 1 x 3” x 6”
• 3 x 1 ¾" x 3”
Fabric 4 (blue):
• 1 x 1 ¾" x 40”
Background fabric:
• 6 x 5 ½" x 6” squares
1. Take the Fabric 1 and Fabric 2 - 1 ¾" x 12” strips and join them together using a scant ¼" seam. Press to the darkest fabric.
2. Cut the strip into 6 x 1 ¾" x 3” strips.
3. Take two of the strips and flip one upside down, sew them together making sure to nest the centre seam. Repeat to make a total of 3, 4 patch blocks.
4. Take the Fabric 2 – 1 ¾" x 6” strip and the Fabric 3 – 3” x 6” strip and join using scant ¼" seam. Press to the darkest fabric.
5. Trim the strip into 3 x 1 .” x 4 .” pieces.
6. Take the original 4 patch block and add one of the 1 ¾" x 3” strips to one side. Take note of the colour placement.
7. Add one of the strips you created in step 5, making sure the purple fabrics are placed in the right order.
8. Repeat steps 1 – 7 to make a total of 3 blocks.
9. Take the blue strip and sew the 3 blocks to the right hand side of the blocks.
10. Trim the blocks apart and trim the blue strip to be flush with the top and bottom of the blocks.
11. Take the last of the blue strip and sew the 3 blocks to the strip, take care of the colour placement.
12. Trim the blocks apart and trim the blue strip to be flush with the top and bottom of the blocks.
13. Turn the block ‘on point’ and take one of the background fabric pieces and add one to the top left edge. Add another to the bottom right hand side of the block. Repeat with the other 2 blocks.
14. Join the three strips together, make sure to line up the blocks and pin well to get nice points in the middle.
15. Trim the piece, make sure you trim ¼" from the points on both the top and bottom. This will keep your points intact when you sew the row into your quilt.
16. Take two of the scraps you have left over from the trimming in step 11 and add them to the corners.
17. Trim the corners so the row measures 7 .” x 22 .”.
Finishing your row.
Join the strips you made in Part 1 to either side of the centre blocks. You may need to remove a few of the strips on either end to make it fit into your quilt.
Joining your rows
Don’t join your rows yet if you want to make your quilt a Quilt As You Go project.
If you do want to join the two rows, join a 1 .” strip of the background fabric between each of your rows. You will need to cut 2 x Width of Fabric strips, but you will only need one and a half of the strips.
Sit back and admire your quilt top because you are done!
Congratulations! The quilting starts soon!
