Confession. I often makes quilts in a fit of fabric passion and then I can't tell you exactly how I did it. That said, so many of you wanted the directions for this quilt that I decided to try to give you the low down. I promise you can do this. And you can improvise and make it better too. I'm not a quilt pattern writer, but I am a really good winger of all things. I hope you will bear with me here. I love improvising most things and I recommend it because it causes you to come up with creative projects and solutions.

For this Virtuosa Fabrics quilt I wanted a really modern feel with large pieces. I knew I wanted a huge center square on point (turned like a diamond) for this quilt. When I started, I had no bloody idea how I was going to do the corners, but I decided I'd figure it out. So off I went on my sewing journey.

The center square is one piece of Prima Flora - Amour. It's 42"x42" 

You'll need 1 1/2 yards approximately.

After I cut that square, I treated it like it was an extra large log cabin block. I started with one 6 1/2" wide by 42" strip of Theatre Resonance - Iris on one side. Next I added a strip of Episodic Blooms - Aqua that was that was 6 1/2" x 48 1/4". And around I went with another Theatre Resonance Strip and another Episodic Blooms strip to finish off the square. The next go round I used Chorus Mirror - Terra and Cadence Winds - Tang. I'd say get up to two yards of each of these fabrics. You'll need long strips. And yes, you'll have a bunch left over to create matching pillows etc.

Next I used Plot's Fiori - Classico for wider corners. I literally put on strips that were wth width of the fabric. I then cut the ends of these long strips to make corners that were 90 degrees. After I did that, I realized that I didn't like so much of the black and white right there and that it needed some sort of framing. I then used the four fabrics that I made the log cabin section from to create the corners. One of each of those prints in the corners. I cut squares of each of these and set them on the corner right sides facing. (This is like a snowball block.) I sewed diagonally across corner to corner. I then I flipped the fabric and trimmed off the excess. 

Disclaimer: these techniques wasted a lot of fabric. Like a lot a lot. If you do it like this, be sure to buy several yards each and then use the excess for pillows etc. 

In all, except for the center, I'd have 2 to 2 1/2 yards on hand.

I hope all of this helps! I really want to emphasize that improvising quilt making can make for a really fun and creative time as well as gorgeous results.

I made two other quilts for this collection.

The first, I simply added piece after large piece for a very random improvised, patchy look. I paid zero attention really to which fabric I was picking up. I just cut it so the corners were squared and sewed equal lengths together. Some points I sewed strips together and to make the length I needed and then sewed those on. As you can see below, I also made loads of pillows. This collection is SO conducive to home decor.

The other is a simple charm square quilt. 4 1/2" squares. I randomly chain pieced them and made 16 square blocks which I then sewed together to form 8 - 16 square blocks. Chain piecing is when you sew pair after pair without cutting the thread in between. It makes it faster. When you're done sewing the chain you snip the thread between the pairs. Both of these quilts make great table toppers and/or throws.

Let me know if you have any questions! I will try my very best to answer them.

Happy sewing!

Want to know where to get Virtuosa fabrics?

Click here!