Bachelor Buttons Quilt Project

Supplies
- Tri-Recs Tools
- Easy Scallop
- Easy Rule Jr.

Fabrics
- 1/4 yd. White
- Variety of Reproduction Prints
- 1/2 yd. Blue Solid
- 1/2 yd. Border Print

Piecing Directions
Assemble all the Tri-Recs units by sewing one Recs piece right sides together with a Tri piece and pressing the seams towards the Recs piece. Add the second Recs piece to the opposite side of the unit. Press towards the Recs piece.

Join two Tri-Recs units together as shown. Make 2 units just the same.

Join the two units, pinning at the center seam intersection. Press the joining seam open. Make a total of 12 flower blocks.

Sashing
Cut two 1" strips of solid blue. Recut into seventeen 3 1/2" segments. Also cut a 1" x 12" strip of yellow print. Recut this into ten 1" squares for cornerstones.

Arrange the blocks in four rows of three blocks each. Sew a sashing strip between the blocks in each row. Press the seams towards the sashing.

Make three rows of sashing, cornerstone, sashing, cornerstone, sashing. Press toward the sashing strips.

Borders
Cut two 1" strips of solid blue. Measure and cut two borders the width of the quilt. Measure and cut two borders the length of the quilt (without borders added). Sew the top and bottom borders to the quilt. Press.

Sew the remaining four cornerstones to both ends of the remaining two inner borders. Press toward the borders. Sew to the sides of the quilt. Press.

Cut two 3 1/2" wide print border strips. Add to the quilt in the same manner.

Following the directions on the Easy Scallop package, mark the scalloped edge on the outside edge of the border. Do not cut on this line yet!

Quilting
Baste the three layers of the quilt together. The quilt can be stitched in the ditch by hand or machine (using a walking foot) around each of the blocks, and between the two borders. A design can be stitched in the border.

Binding
The curves of the scalloped edge require the use of a narrow, single bias binding. From the remaining blue solid fabric cut 1 1/4" strips on the diagonal. Join the strips with diagonal seams pressed open. (Wrights Wide Single Fold Bias Binding is great for binding scalloped edges.)

To sew the binding onto the quilt, cut the beginning edge at an angle, and press under 1/4". Begin at the top of one of the scallops and matching the raw edge of the binding with the marked line on the quilt, sew a 1/4" seam. The bias binding will easily follow the curve of the scallop. Stop with the needle down at the bottom of the "V", lift the presser foot, and pivot the quilt so the binding is lined up with the mark. Put the presser foot back down. The fabric will be pulled tightly around the V, so be careful not to sew in any tucks or pleats. Continue stitching in this manner around the quilt, ending with a small diagonal overlap.

After checking to see the binding is sewn on correctly, trim the edge of the quilt even with the edge of the binding. Turn the binding under 1/4", turn to the backside and stitch down by hand. There is no need to clip at the "V"s, the binding should just fold over itself like a reverse miter corner.

Don't forget to sign and date your quilt!
Enjoy!

(Click on image for larger view).

Binding Scalloped Edges Tips
by Darlene Zimmerman

• Mark scalloped edge on a quilt but DO NOT cut on that edge until the binding is sewn on. If the edge is cut before binding you risk stretching and fraying of the scallops.
• Baste along the marked edge. This will hold layers together and keep them from shifting while binding.
• Always use a bias binding to bind curved or scalloped edges. A single bias binding cut at 1 1/4" is best. A double binding is too bulky at the inside corner of the scallop.
• To make a softly rounded corner, start marking the quilt edge with Easy Scallop positioned right to the adjacent edge. To make a pointed corner or "ear", begin with half of scallop at the corner.
• A scalloped edge can take an ordinary quilt and make it extra-ordinary!