Water Lilly Quilt Design

Quilt Overview

Skill Level: Confident Beginner

Finished Quilt Size: Approximately 54 1/2" x 62 1/2"

Yardages

Cutting Instructions

Please read all instructions carefully before beginning. Strips are cut across the width of fabric unless otherwise stated. All seams are sewn with a 1/4" seam unless otherwise stated. Label all pieces.

From Fabric A:

1. Cut 1/4" beyond narrow dark frame of each panel image. This should be approximately 19 1/2" x 23 1/2".

From Fabric B:

1. Cut six 3 1/2" strips. Sew strips together end to end with diagonal seams. Press seams open. Cut this pieced strip into two 3 1/2" x 49 1/2" strips and two 3 1/2" x 51 1/2" strips. (Third Border)

From Fabric C:

1. Cut eleven 1 1/2" strips; subcut thirty-two 1 1/2" x 10 1/2" rectangles. (Blocks)
2. Cut two 2 1/2" strips; subcut thirty-two 2 1/2" squares. (Blocks)

From Fabric D:

1. Cut two 4 7/8" strips; subcut sixteen 4 7/8" squares. Cut each square diagonally in half to yield thirty-two half-square triangles. (Blocks)

From Fabric E:

1. Cut two 8 1/2" strips; subcut eight 8 1/2" x 6 1/2" rectangles. (Blocks)

From Fabric F:

1. Cut ten 1" strips. Sew strips together end to end with diagonal seams. Press seams open. From this pieced strip, cut two 1" x 43 1/2" strips, four 1" x 50 1/2" strips and two 1" x 57 1/2" strips. (Second & Fourth Borders)
2. Cut fourteen 1 1/2" strips; subcut thirty-two 1 1/2" x 8 1/2" rectangles. Cut two of the remaining strips in half. (Blocks and Panel Frames)

From Fabric G:

1. Cut five 1 1/2" strips. Sew strips together end to end with diagonal seams. Press seams open. From this pieced strip, cut two 1 1/2" x 42 1/2" strips and two 1 1/2" x 48 1/2" strips. (First Border)
2. Cut six 2 1/2" strips. Sew strips together end to end with diagonal seams. Press seams open. From this pieced strip, cut two 2 1/2" x 54 1/2" strips and two 2 1/2" x 58 1/2" strips. (Outer Border)
3. Cut seven 2 1/2" strips. (Binding)

Piecing Instructions

Panel Blocks (20" x 24" finished)

1. Sew one full 1 1/2" F strip to sides of panel block centering strips to sides of block. Trim ends even with block. Press toward the strips. Sew one half 1 1/2" F strip to top and bottom of block centering strips. Press toward the strips. Trim block to 20 1/2" x 24 1/2" keeping block centered. Repeat with second panel block. NOTE: there is one and one reversed block in each panel.
   Figure 1: Depicts two panel blocks. The Pink panel block shows a central water lily design with a pink background, framed by a border. The Blue panel block shows a central water lily design with a blue background, framed by a border. Both are labeled with 'F' indicating fabric strips.

Pieced Blocks (Eight 10" x 12" finished)

1. Sew one 1 1/2" x 8 1/2" F rectangle to both sides of one 6 1/2" x 8 1/2" E rectangle. Press toward the F rectangles. Sew one 1 1/2" x 8 1/2" F rectangle to the top and bottom of the E rectangle. Press toward the F rectangles.
2. Sew one 1 1/2" x 10 1/2" C rectangle to both sides of the block from step 1. Press toward the rectangles. Sew one 1 1/2" x 10 1/2" C rectangle to the top and bottom of the block. Press toward the rectangles. Make eight blocks.
   Figure 2: Shows a Pink pieced block and a Blue pieced block, both labeled with 'C' and 'F' indicating fabric placements. Each block has a central rectangular section with surrounding strips.
3. Cut the corners of each block 1/4" away from the corner of the center rectangle using a 45 degree angle. Align the 45 degree line of your ruler with a seam line to determine the correct angle.
   Figure 3: Illustrates the Pink pieced block and Blue pieced block with their corners cut at a 45-degree angle, indicating the trimming process.
4. Sew one 4 7/8" D triangle to each corner of a block. Press toward the triangles. Repeat for eight blocks.
   Figure 4: Displays the Pink pieced block and Blue pieced block with 'D' triangles sewn to each corner, forming a square block with a central rectangle and corner triangles.
5. Draw a diagonal line on the back side of each 2 1/2" C square. With right sides together, place one marked square on one corner of a block. Sew on the line and trim seam to 1/4". Press toward the resulting triangle. Repeat for all corners to complete the block. Repeat for eight blocks.
   Figure 5: Shows the Pink pieced block and Blue pieced block with additional small triangles added to the corners of the central rectangle, indicating the final piecing step for these blocks.

Quilt Assembly: (Refer to Quilt Diagram)

1. Sew two blocks together into a row and press seam to one side. Repeat but press seam to opposite side. Sew rows together and press. Repeat.
2. Sew one framed panel block with one large pieced block. Press toward the panel block. Repeat but sew with blocks in opposite positions. Sew rows together and press.
3. Blue quilt borders: Sew one 1 1/2" x 48 1/2" G strip to both sides of the quilt center. Press toward the strips. Sew one 1 1/2" x 42 1/2" G strip to the top and bottom of the center. Press toward the strips.
4. Sew one 1" x 50 1/2" F strip to both sides of the quilt. Press toward the strips. Sew one 1" x 43 1/2" F strip to the top and bottom of the quilt. Press toward the strips.
5. Sew one 3 1/2" x 51 1/2" B strip to both sides of the quilt. Press toward the strips. Sew one 3 1/2" x 49 1/2" B strip to the top and bottom of the quilt. Press toward the strips.
6. Sew one 1" x 57 1/2" F strip to both sides of the quilt. Press toward the strips. Sew one 1" x 50 1/2" F strip to the top and bottom of the quilt. Press toward the strips.
7. Sew one 2 1/2" x 58 1/2" G strip to both sides of the quilt. Press toward the strips. Sew one 2 1/2" x 54 1/2" G strip to the top and bottom of the quilt. Press toward the strips.

Finishing

1. Cut backing fabric into two equal pieces. Remove selvages on one side of each piece. Sew together along those edges with a 1/2" seam. Press seam open. Seam will run horizontally. Trim backing to 61" x 69".
2. Layer backing, batting and quilt top. Baste layers together.
3. Quilt as desired.
4. Trim layers even with quilt top, squaring corners.
5. Join 2 1/2" G binding strips with diagonal seams. Press seams open. Press strip in half lengthwise with wrong sides together to make double-fold binding. Sew binding to quilt using your favorite method.
6. Make a label and sew to back of the quilt.

Quilt Diagram

The Quilt Diagram illustrates the assembled quilt layout. It shows a central arrangement of four large panel blocks (two pink water lily, two blue water lily) surrounded by smaller pieced blocks and various border strips. The pink version of the quilt is depicted with its specific fabric placements (labeled G, B, F, G for borders). The blue version is noted to be constructed in the exact same way, just with blue-toned fabrics.

Fabric Collection

This section details the fabrics from the Water Lilly collection by Girija Kulkarni for P&B Textiles, used in this quilt design.

*Fabrics used in quilt. +Backing.