Giddy Up

After Samantha Green overcame a few design hurdles and came up with the perfect horse-head blocks, she took the bit between her teeth and, with unbridled passion and skill, created this true thoroughbred of a quilt. Sash that filly!!! 

- Lisa Kerr

MATERIALS

- 12 fat quarters of assorted brown print fabrics (horses)

- 20cm (1⁄4yd) solid dark brown fabric (eyes and nostrils)

- 2.8m (31⁄8yd) solid white fabric (background)

- 55cm (5⁄8yd) plum print fabric (binding)

- 3.7m (41⁄8yd) backing fabric

- Batting at least 210 x 177cm (82 x 70in)

- Rotary cutter, ruler and mat

- Sewing machine with 1⁄4in foot

- General sewing supplies

Finished size: 188 x 157.5cm (74 x 62in)

Finished block size: 22 x 10in

Note: Read all of the instructions before starting the project. It is recommended that fabrics be 100% cotton, pre-washed and well ironed. Requirements are based on fabric 107cm (42in) wide. Seam allowances of 1⁄4in are used throughout.

1 CUTTING

Referring to Diagram 1, from each fat quarter of brown print fabric, cut:

• Two strips, 21⁄2in across the 21in width of the fabric. Crosscut them to yield six squares, 21⁄2in; one rectangle, 21⁄2 x 31⁄2in; one rectangle, 21⁄2 x 61⁄2in; and one rectangle, 21⁄2 x 81⁄2in. Trim the leftover parts of the strips to 11⁄2in, and crosscut four squares, 11⁄2in.

• One strip, 81⁄2in across the 21in width of the fabric. From it, crosscut one rectangle, 81⁄2 x 61⁄2in. Cut the leftover part of the strip to yield two strips, 3in x about 141⁄2in. Crosscut them to yield eight squares, 3in.

• One strip, 3in across the 21in width of the fabric. From it, crosscut another five squares, 3in. Trim the leftover part of the strip to 2in, and from it, crosscut four rectangles, 2 x 3⁄4in.

2 From the solid dark brown fabric, cut:

• Two strips, 2in across the width of the fabric. Crosscut them to yield 24 squares, 2in (eyes)