Hey, fellow bakers!  Emily here, from Aunt Em's Quilts, happy to be back and sharing another fun quilt.  I'm a desert girl.  I grew up in the second driest state in the union.  I tried a stent in the Northwest, and while it was beautiful, I missed the sun.  So I'm back in the desert.   This project draws it's inspiration from that sunny desert I love.  Nothing says desert like a cactus.  This project combines pairs of layer cake and charm squares to form cactus blocks. The bright happy colors of Zen Chic's Spotted line made for some great cacti.

This quilt finishes at 50" x 55".

1  Charm Pack with matching Layer Cake®,  {Spotted Fabric by Zen Chic}
4 yards backing fabric {1660 90 number optional}
1/2 yards binding fabric {1660 90 }

 

Place each charm square with it's matching layer cake square. Mix and match your matching layer cake/charm square pairs into sets of two so your have 21 sets of two layer cake/charm square combos.

Following the diagram below take a set of two layer cake squares and cut as shown.

Take the corresponding charm square set and cut as shown.

You should have the following pieces from you the above cutting.

From the cut set sew a 1 1/2" square from one fabric and sew it to a 1 1/2" square of the other fabric.

Make 2 of these.

On the left side of one of these units sew a 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" rectangle so that it matches the bottom square.

On the unit sew a 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" rectangle to the right side so it matches the bottom square.

Sew a 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" rectangle of the other fabric to the right side of the one unit as shown

Sew a 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" rectangle of the other fabric to the left side of the other unit as shown.

To the unit with the rectangles sewn on the left side sew a 1 1/2" x 3 1/2" rectangle to the top as shown

To the unit with the rectangles sewn on the right sew a 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" rectangle to the top as shown

To the unit with the rectangles on the left sew a 4 1/2" x 3 1/2" rectangle to the bottom

To the unit with the rectangles on the right sew a 3 1/2" square to the bottom

Sew the 7 1/2" x 1 1/2" rectangle between these units.

Sew this unit between the 7 1/2" x 2" rectangles

Using the remaining pieces repeat this process reversing the fabrics

Repeat with the remaining layer cake/charm square combos

Arrange your cacti into 6 rows of 7 blocks

Sew into rows then sew rows together.

 

This quilt finishes at 50" x 55".

I so wanted to take this little quilt on a trip down south to my parents.  It would have looked so great among the red rock.  Sadly it will have to wait.  If you give this quilt a go please share it with me via email or on Instagram, using #emsscrapbag.  It'd be super if you tagged Moda Bake Shop and myself also.  Thank you!

Moda Bake Shop Chef Emily Bailey

{blog: Em's Scrapbag}
{instagram: emsscrapbag}
{shop: Aunt Em's Quilts}
{facebook: Aunt Em's Quilts}