We’re celebrating our 35th anniversary here at American Quilter’s Society, and it has us looking back at the trends that have shaped the quilting world and the trends of the moment fueling the future of quilting. This month, we’re trying Lettering.
Lettering has grown in popularity and is seen on more and more quilts, wall hangings, and pillow projects. Lettering can by paper pieced, appliqued, painted, embroidered, or pieced using traditional patchwork methods.
How to Try This Trend
We’ve put together a pattern for a seasonal word project using traditional patchwork methods below. You can try it out, or check out the bottom of the post for more methods and projects to try for Lettering.
Hop
15″ x 30″
H Block – 9″ x 9″ Finished
Use the letter chart as a guide for cutting.
From the green fabric, cut: A: (12) 1 ¼” x 1 ¼” squares B: (2) 2” x 9 ½” rectangles E: (1) 2” x 5” rectangle
From the background fabric, cut: C: (2) 4 ¼” x 5” rectangles D: (2) 1 ¼” x 9 ½” rectangles
Assembly:
Mark the wrong side of the green A 1 1/4” squares diagonally once. Lay a marked square on the corner of a background D 1 ¼” x 9 ½” rectangle using the diagram above as a guide for orientation and sew on the marked line. Trim a quarter inch from the marked line and press. Repeat for the other corner.
Unit measures 1 1/4″ x 9 1/2″ rectangle. Make 2.
Mark the wrong side of the green A 1 1/4” squares diagonally once. Lay a marked square on the corner of a background C 4 ¼” x 5” rectangle using the diagram above as a guide for orientation and sew on the marked line. Trim a quarter inch from the marked line and press. Repeat for all the other corners.
Unit measures 4 1/4″ x 5″ rectangle. Make 2.
Using the block diagram above as a guide, lay out the units and remaining pieces to create the block. Sew the three center units together then sew the side units.
O Block – 9″ x 9″ finished
Use the letter chart as a guide for cutting.
From the green fabric, cut:
From the light pink fabric, cut:
From the bright pink fabric, cut:
From the cream fabric, cut:
From the background fabric, cut:
Assembly
Mark the wrong side of all the B 2″ squares in half diagonally once. Make Flying Geese using the Corner Flip Method.
VIDEO
2 Flying Geese with a light pink A 2″ x 3 1/2″ rectangle, and background B 2″ square. 3 Flying Geese with background A, and light pink B.
Sew the Flying Geese and background C 2″ x 3 1/2″ rectangle into the first two rows using the guides above for placement.
Mark the wrong sides of the background K 3 1/4″ squares in half diagonally once, and then a quarter inch from each side of the marked line. Lay a background K square with a green K 3 1/4″ square right sides together, and sew on the quarter inch lines. Cut apart on the marked center line. Make 4 Half Square Triangles, trim to 2 3/4″ square.
Mark the wrong side of the light pink L 1 1/4″ squares in half diagonally once. Lay over the green K side of the Half Square Triangles and sew on the marked line to make a Corner Flip. Repeat with the remaining marked L squares and Half Square Triangles to make 4 K/K/L units.
Sew a light pink E 1 1/4″ x 5” rectangle to the bottom of a green D 2″ x 5″ rectangle. Make 2 D/E units.
Sew a K/K/L unit to each end of a D/E unit. Make 2 for row 3 and row 5.
Bunny Face
Mark the wrong side of all the J 7/8″ squares in half diagonally once. Lay a bright pink J 7/8″ square over the right upper corner of a cream I 1 1/4″ square and sew on the marked line. Trim and press. Repeat this step with the other I square, but on the left upper corner. Sew the light pink J squares on in the same manner in the corner horizontally and diagonally across from the bright pink triangle. Make 2 J/I units. Sew the units together so the two corners of the I squares without triangles meet in the middle.
Add a light pink H 1 1/4″ x 2″ rectangle to the top of the J/I units.
Sew a green F 2″ square to a light pink G 2” x 2 3/4″ rectangle. Make 2 F/G units. Sew F/G units to either side of the H/J/I unit from previous step to make row 4.
Assemble the O Block by row in numerical order.
Optional: Create eyes for the bunny with fabric markers, embroidery, or buttons!
Block P – 9″ x 9″ finished
From the green fabric, cut:
From the background fabric, cut:
Assembly
Mark the wrong side of the green A 1 1/4” squares diagonally once. Lay a marked square on the corner of a background G 1 ¼” x 9 ½” rectangle using the diagram above as a guide for orientation and sew on the marked line. Trim a quarter inch from the marked line and press. Repeat for the other corner.
Mark the wrong side of the green A 1 1/4” squares diagonally once. Lay a marked square on the upper left corner of a background F 4 ¼” x 7 1/4” rectangle and sew on the marked line. Trim a quarter inch from the marked line and press. Repeat for bottom left corner.
Mark the wrong side of the green A 1 1/4” squares diagonally once. Lay a marked square on the corner of a background H 2 3/4” x 5 3/4” rectangle and sew on the marked line. Trim a quarter inch from the marked line and press. Repeat for all the other corners.
Mark the wrong side of the background D 2″ x 2″ squares diagonally once. Lay a marked square over the end of a green C 2″ x 7 1/4″ rectangle and sew on the marked line. Trim a quarter inch from the marked line and press. Make 2.
Using the block diagram above as a guide, lay out the units and remaining pieces to create the block.
Word Assembly
From the background fabric, cut:
Sew the 1″ x 9 1/2″ rectangles between the letters. Add the 1 1/2″ x 9 1/2″ rectangles at the beginning and end of the word. Sew the 3 1/2″ x 30 1/2″ rectangles to the top and bottom to make a HOP Letter Runner 15 1/2″ x 30 1/2″ unfinished.
Finish it by turning it into a pillow, or quilt and bind it for a cute table runner!
Ready for more inspiration?
Watch this video about Whimsical Letters from teacher and artist Joanne Sharpe. (Her class totally changed how I design handwritten lettering!)
VIDEO
You can also try some of our other free lettered projects!
https://dev.americanquilter.com/free-project-love-pillow
https://dev.americanquilter.com/free-pattern-joy-pillow
And check out our Must-Try Pinterest board full of trendy eye-candy to get inspired.
Have you tried this trend? Show us your creations in our Facebook group, AQS Quilting Project Parade . We can’t wait to see what you make!
eBook An English Paper-Pieced Sampler