In the short time that I've been quilting I've learned enough to know that I have a lot to learn. I'm still really bad at it but I've been obsessively scouring the internet to bolster my skills.
While I've stuck with simple quilts so far, there's one slightly more advanced quilt that always catches my eye, the Cathedral Windows pattern. The first one I ever saw was here (youtube video). Amazing, right? But jeeze o pete, that's a lot of handwork.
Then I found this tutorial on the Moda Bakeshop site and a whole bunch of the handwork was taken out without losing a lot of what makes the pattern appealing to me. I tried the technique and ended up making this and while I liked it, there were a couple of things about the pattern I didn't love (and I really needed to work on my top stitching).
So based on the techniques I saw online and a few things I wanted to change slightly, I came up with this variation. The one I'm demoing, (shown above) doesn't cut off the edges of the windows around the edge and can be adapted to any size you like. It also has batting behind it, for a little more dimensionality. This could be easily adapted to a table runner, lap quilt or wall hanging. For bags and pillows, you could leave the backing off, if you wanted to.
Supplies
Fabric
- 1 - 14" x 14" backing piece (shown in white)
- 1 - 14" x 14" piece of batting. If you plan to use this as a hot pad, use 100% cotton
- 1 - 14" x 14" piece of border fabric (shown in Moda Cotton Blossoms 55005)
- 4 - 9.5" x 9.5" for windows (shown in white)
- 1 - 5" x 5" or 4 - 2.5" x 2.5" square(s) for window panes (shown in Moda Terrain by Kate Spain in 27092-13)
- Binding fabric (Shown in...heck if I know)
Other supplies
- Sewing machine
- Thread
- Rotary cutter/ruler/mat
- Marking tools
- Pins
- Hand sewing needle
- Point turner
- Iron and ironing surface
- Hand sewing needle
Optional
- Basting glue
- Water spray bottle
- Spray starch
- Scotch Guard
All images may be clicked to view them full size.
