BEHIND THE QUILT
A MOUSE AND HER QUILTS
“Florence lives in an old tree stump house with her squirrel friend, Miss Poppy, who on occasion jests with Florrie about whether they actually need another quilt. Obviously, Florrie pays no attention to this kind of talk. There is always a good reason for a new quilt.
“In this block, Spring is here and Florrie is having a good Spring clean. Her quilts have been washed and she is out among the tulips, hanging the washing on the line. Of course, these are her small quilts and there is another line higher up where Poppy hangs the bigger quilts – because a squirrel could hardly cuddle up under a mouse-sized quilt! Florrie is rather proud of the turquoise quilt with its half-square triangles in such lovely colours. In addition, the delicate colours of the flowers really add some zing to the block.
“With lots of children and a frequently muddy dog, I don’t tend to wait until Spring to wash my quilts. Florrie doesn’t have a tumble dryer, so Spring is a great time to give her quilts a freshen-up and make the most of the lovely blustery days that are so good for drying! Let’s hope she pegged them down well!” – ANDREA GORMAN
You will need
■ Fabric A*, Background fabric: Kona Champagne (warm cream plain) – One (1) 13in square For the appliqué (all watercolour/hand-dyed style batiks):■ Fabric B: 1895 Patriot (mid blue batik) – 6in x 8in■ Fabric C: Sew Simple Batiks SSB101 (light blue) – 3½in x 6in■ Fabric D: Island Batiks White (white) – 5in x 3in■ Fabric E: 1895 Funnel Cake (beige) – 2½in x 2½in■ Fabric F: 1895 Taupe (brown) – 2½in x 2in■ Fabric G: Sew Simple Batiks SSB080 (warm lilac) – 3in x 2½in■ Fabric H: Sew Simple Batiks SSB107 (bold blue purple) – 1½in x 1½in■ Fabric I: Sew Simple Batiks SSB092 (cool lavender) – 1½in x 1½in■ Fabric J: 1895 Dusty Blue (light blue) – 1½in x 2½in■ Fabric K: 1895 Spinach (soft spinach green) – 1½in x 2½in■ Fabric L: Timeless Treasure Batik Air (warm white) – scraps measuring 1½in x 1in■ Fabric M: Sew Simple Batiks SSB001 (light yellow) – 2in x 2in■ Fabric N: 1895 Mimosa (soft light orange) – 2in x 2in■ Fabric O: 1895 Raspberry (red/pink) – scraps of 1in x 1in■ Fabric P: Sew Simple Batiks SSB013 (mid green) – 6in x 2½in■ Fabric Q: Sew Simple Batiks SSB030 (mid pink) – 3in x 3in■ Fabric R: Ten (10) scraps of mixed coordinating colours each 1½in x 1½in■ Fabric S: 1895 Lemonade (very light pink) – 2in x 2in■ Fabric T: SSB029 (light pink) – 1½in x 1½in■ Fabric U: 1895 Viridian (dark cool green) – 2in x 2in■ Fabric V: 1895 Grape (dark purple) – 2in x 2in■ Fabric W: Sew Simple Batiks SSB002 (yellow) – 1½in x 1½in■ Fabric X: Sew Simple Batiks SSB062 (cool blue green) – 2½in x 2in■ Fabric Y: 1895 Monstera (soft light green) – 3in x 2in■ Fabric Z: 1895 Spinach (cool green) – 3in x 2in■ Fabric AA: 1895 Mocha (warm brown) – 1in x 6in■ Fabric AB: Moda Kota Tomato Soup (soft red) – 3in x 3in■ Fabric AC: 1895 Papyrus (cool cream) – 2½in x 2½in■ Fabric AD: Sew Simple Batiks SSB039 (red) – 1½in x 1½in■ Fabric AE: Sew Simple Batiks SSB060 (moss green) – 1in x 1in■ Fabric AF: Sew Simple Batiks SSB045 (clay brown) – 1½in x 1in■ Selection of threads in a variety of variegated colours including a full rainbow plus variegated taupe for Florrie the mouse■ Plain black, white and pink-toned beige thread for embroidery■ Tearaway stabiliser: 12in x 12in■ Freezer paper: 12in x 12in■ A free-motion foot for your sewing machine■ Florrie’s spring clean template
