Quilting has always been a way for me to connect with family and commemorate special relationships through my craft. Naming my quilt patterns after my nieces and nephews has added a personal touch to each creation, making them even more meaningful. The “Kendra” pattern, named after my fifth niece who lives in Texas with her family, is a vibrant and dynamic design that combines bold colors with striking black and white prints.
Celebrating Family with the “Kendra” Quilt
The “Kendra” quilt pattern is a beautiful reflection of my niece’s lively personality and the joy she brings to our family. This quilt is perfect for those who want to create a stunning, eye-catching piece that also carries sentimental value. With its bold color blocks and intricate black and white prints, the “Kendra” quilt is a wonderful project to showcase your quilting skills and create a memorable gift for a loved one.
Materials and Preparation
Gathering Your Fabrics
The “Kendra” quilt is designed to be both visually striking and a great way to use a variety of prints and colors. The interplay of vibrant Kona Cotton Rollup strips with contrasting black and white prints creates a dynamic look that is sure to stand out.
Materials Needed
To make the “Kendra” quilt, you will need the following materials:
- Kona Cotton Rollup: Contains 42 strips, each 2.5 inches wide.
- Pull 30 strips from the rollup for this project.
- Black Print Fabric:
- 4 yards total, using different black prints if desired.
- These will be used for the blocks and binding.
- White Print Fabric:
- 1 yard for the block centers.
- Backing Fabric:
- 5.25 yards.
- Batting: 72 x 86 inches.
- Thread: Coordinating colors for piecing and quilting.
Cutting Requirements
- Kona Cotton Rollup:
- Cut 30 strips into 4 pieces, each 10 inches long (total 120 strips).
- Black Print Fabric:
- Cut 30 length-of-fabric (LOF) strips, each 2 inches wide. Subcut these into 4 pieces, each 10 inches long (total 120 strips).
- Cut 30 LOF strips, each 1.25 inches wide. Subcut these into 4 pieces, each 10 inches long (total 120 strips).
- Cut 8 LOF strips, each 2.5 inches wide for binding.
- White Print Fabric:
- Cut 5 LOF strips, each 5.75 inches wide. Subcut these into 30 squares, each 5.75 inches.
Full Pattern: Click Here
Preparing Your Materials
- Sewing Strip Sets:
- Sew one 1.25-inch and one 2-inch black print strip to each side of a 2.5-inch Kona Cotton strip.
- Press the seams towards the black print fabric.
- Using a Design Wall:
- As you sew the strips, use a design wall to arrange each strip set. This helps visualize the layout and ensure a pleasing color distribution.
Getting Ready to Sew
With all your strips cut and arranged, and your sewing machine ready, you are set to begin piecing the blocks for your “Kendra” quilt.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Assembling the Blocks
- Starting with the Center:
- Attach the center white print square (5.75 inches) to the first Kona Cotton strip set using a “half-seam” method. Sew the seam halfway down the block and stop.
- Adding the Strip Sets:
- Press the seam open towards the center block.
- Add the top strip set next, followed by the right and bottom strip sets, always pressing seams open.
- Notice that the half seam remains open until all strip sets are attached.
- Completing the Block:
- Sew the open area of the half seam to complete the block.
- Repeat the process to create a total of 30 blocks (5 blocks across, 6 blocks down).
Step 2: Piecing the Quilt Top
- Joining the Blocks:
- Arrange the blocks on your design wall in a 5 by 6 layout.
- Sew the blocks together to form rows, then join the rows to complete the quilt top.
- Adding Borders:
- If desired, add borders to frame the quilt top and enhance its overall look.
Step 3: Finishing the Quilt
- Quilting:
- Sandwich the quilt top, batting, and backing.
- Quilt as desired. You can follow the pattern of the blocks or choose a complementary quilting design.
- Binding:
- Use the 2.5-inch black print strips to bind the quilt.
- Sew the strips together diagonally to create one long binding strip, then attach it to the quilt.
The “Kendra” quilt is a vibrant and heartfelt project that combines bold colors and intricate prints to create a stunning finished piece. Reflect on the joy and satisfaction of creating a quilt named after a loved one, and enjoy the beauty of the finished product. This quilt is not only a wonderful addition to any home but also a meaningful gift that carries a piece of your heart.
