From Quick Quilts March 2004

Delft Blue designed by Brenda Groelz

Finished Quilt Size
40 1/2" x 40 1/2"

Number of Blocks and Finished Size
32 Flying Geese Blocks 5" x 5"

Plan!
Nothing could be simpler (or more classic) than blue and cream. Choose two values of blue prints and coordinate with a border stripe for simple elegance. Foundation piecing helps you achieve pointed perfection!

Prepare!
Note: Download foundation master. It is printed reversed and is meant to be traced or photocopied. First, make 5 copies of foundation master on regular paper to create your color guides. Refer to Color Guides below and label each number with the color of fabric (dark blue, medium blue or cream).

Now, make 4 A copies, 16 B copies, 4 C copies, 4 D copies and 4 E copies on foundation paper of your choice. Cut out each foundation along outside line. Do not leave any extra paper beyond the printed lines. All paper gets pulled away eventually, and having paper hidden in the seam allowance is just added work.

1. Before starting, read through Piece by Piece - Part 3 for instructions on foundation piecing. Some important things to remember:

1. The foundations are printed in reverse, so the printed side goes in the opposite direction of how the fabric is stitched on the other side;
2. You must follow the number order when sewing;
3. Use a small, sharp needle (Brenda uses Schmetz Microtex size 11) with a short stitch (15-18 stitches per inch);
4. There is no seam allowance on the paper foundation. Allow more than 1/4" of fabric beyond the perimeter of the block and do not trim along the paper's edge.

2. Foundation piece Blocks A-E in numbers indicated on Color Guides. Trim fabric blocks 1/4" from edge of paper foundation. Do not remove the paper until borders have been added. Change sewing machine stitch length back to normal piecing length (10-12 stitches per inch). Refer to Assembly Diagram and arrange and sew 6 rows of 6 blocks. Watch placement and orientation of blocks. Sew rows together.

Color Guides
Shown from printed side of foundation

Delft Blue

3. Measure exact width of quilt center (from raw edge to raw edge). Trim 2 floral stripe 5 1/2" x 35" strips to this measurement and sew dark blue 5 1/2" squares to ends. Stitch untrimmed floral strips to sides; trim even with top and bottom. Sew pieced strips to top/bottom. Remove papers.
4. Layer and baste quilt top for quilting method of your choice. Brenda machine quilted hearts in the open cream texture areas and filled in the background with a meander. She stitched curved lines through the flying geese units and outlined the floral design in the border. Bind quilt with medium blue print fabric.