Pie in the Sky designed by Brenda Groelz Finished Quilt Size 35 1/2" x 35 1/2" Number of Blocks and Finished Size 5 Fruit Pie Blocks 7" x 7" 4 Cream Pie Blocks 7" x 7" Pie in the Sky Potholder

Plan!
This delightful slice of pie pattern has been waiting for the perfect fabric line and Ami Simms provided it. Her Pie a la Mode fabrics from Troy Fabrics look good enough to eat.

Prepare!
Note: Download foundation master. It is printed in reverse and is meant to be traced or photocopied. Make 9 copies of foundation master on foundation paper of your choice. This is a dual use foundation, used to make either fruit pies with a top crust, or cream pies with cream topping. Five will be used for fruit pies and 4 for cream pies. Pay close attention and sew on the correct line for cream topping or pie crust. Cut out each foundation along solid bold lines. Note: Each block is made of two foundation units. Be sure to cut apart along bold line that separates crust rim from remainder of pie slice (Diagram I). 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.

You Need:

Cut!
Fabrics for foundation piecing ... cut at least 1" larger all around than area to be covered

Sew!
Step 1. Before starting, read through Piece by Piece, Part 5, for instructions on foundation piecing. Some important things to remember:

1. The foundation is printed in reverse, so the printed side appears opposite of the way 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 each foundation and trim 1/4" beyond the paper's edge.
5. Each Pie Block is made from 2 foundation units (Diagram I). Sew and trim each unit separately, then change sewing machine stitch length back to normal piecing length (10-12 stitches per inch) and stitch together as shown on page 24.

Step 2. Referring to Piece by Piece, Part 5, foundation piece and assemble 5 Fruit Pie Blocks and 4 Cream Pie Blocks. Do not remove the paper until quilt top is complete. Referring to Assembly Diagram, arrange and sew 3 rows of 3 blocks each, using Pie Blocks and light blue print 2" x 7 1/2" strips. In same manner, stitch 2 rows, using 3 light blue strips and 2 red print 2" squares each to make sashing rows. Alternating block rows and sashing, sew rows together

Diagram I

Assembly Diagram

Step 3. Sew red print 2" x 34" strips to sides of quilt; trim even with top and bottom. Stitch remaining red strips to top/bottom; trim even. In same manner, sew dark blue print 4 1/2" x WOF strips to sides of quilt; trim even. Stitch remaining dark blue strips to top/bottom; trim even. Remove paper from Pie Blocks.

Step 4. Layer and baste quilt top for quilting method of your choice. Brenda machine quilted in the ditch around the pie slices, the sashing lines, and the cloud pattern in the sky print. A modified cable design fills the borders. Bind quilt with light blue print fabric.