Tutorial: Modern Subway Tile Quilt

Here's the thing about me and quilting.  I don't really know the official names of blocks (aside from Churn Dash, Log Cabin and Virginia Star) and I don't ever follow a pattern. I'll figure out the names eventually, but I'll probably never follow a pattern because I just really enjoy sitting down with pencil in hand and a fresh sheet of graph paper.  Call me a glutton for punishment, I mean I'm terrible at math.  Absolutely hopeless.  I have no business attempting it without a calculator.  Terrible.

Yet, somehow I've been successful with every attempt, so that's good.  

Today, I'm bringing you a tutorial for a quilt that I've decided to call "Modern Subway Tiles" because to me that's exactly what it looks like. 

Blend Fabrics sent "Maisie" by Maude Asbury to me and I couldn't wait to make something with it.  At first I thought I'd make a shower curtain, but then after I started putting it together, my little girl asked if it was going to be a quilt for her.  How could I resist?

For this quilt top, you will need 13 different fabrics, approximately 1/2 yard of each.

 You will be creating rows with 9 tiles, so will need to keep track of the fabrics you are using for a successful pattern repeat of 18 rows.  Arrange your fabric however you like, 

but then label them #'s 1-13.

Cut three 8 1/2"x WOF strips from each fabric.

Follow the chart below to cut 4 1/2"x 8 1/2" Full Tiles (F)
or 4 3/4"x 4 1/2" Half Tiles (H) of the following:

(F= 4 1/2"X8 1/2" H= 4 3/4"X 4 1/2")

Fabric 1: 13/F     1/H

Fabric 2: 12/F     2/H

Fabric 3: 11/F     2/H

Fabric 4: 12/F     1/H

Fabric 5: 12/F   1/H  

Fabric 6: 11/F     2/H

Fabric 7: 12/F     1/H

Fabric 8: 12/F     1/H

Fabric 9: 11/F     2/H

Fabric 10: 11/F   2/H

Fabric 11: 12/F   1/H

Fabric 12: 12/F   1/H

Fabric 13: 12/F   1/H

tiles laid in coordination to keep organized. full tiles below, half tiles above

Now, I hope this doesn't get confusing.  If you labeled everything, it should be fairly easy to follow.  Since I am not very good with computers, I have no idea how to make a grid for you to follow.  

So, instead, I am going to break it down for you row by row.  Ready?  Here we go:

**Remember, "H" means "Half Tile".  Assume all tiles are full if there is no "H"**

Row One

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Row Two

10H, 11, 12, 13, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6H

Row Three

7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 1, 2

Row Four

3H, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12H

Row Five

13, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Row Six

9H, 10, 11, 12, 13, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5H

Row Seven

 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 1

Row Eight

2H, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11H

Row Nine

12, 13, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Row Ten

8H, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 1, 2, 3, 4H

Row Eleven

5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13

Row Twelve

1H, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10H

Row Thirteen

11, 12, 13, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Row Fourteen

7H, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 1, 2, 3H

Row Fifteen

4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Row Sixteen

13H, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9H

Row Seventeen

10, 11, 12, 13, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Row Eighteen

6H, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 1, 2

Stitch each tile into rows, then label the row (1-18) on the left side when you are finished.

As you finish rows, lay them out on your design wall (or design floor, as the case may be) in numerical order.

 Of course, you'll want to watch out for any "helpers" that may be sewing with you...

(thank goodness you numbered those rows, huh?)

Stitch rows together, one by one.  Before you know it, you'll be finished!  And then you'll be running around trying to capture the ever-elusive perfect shot of your new quilt top!

attempt for the perfect shot, number one.  someone said it looked like it had nipples. oy.

attempt number two.  hey bushes! down in front, geez!

attempt number three.  good enough, i guess.

I hope that wasn't awfully confusing.  Remember, add your projects to the schnitzel & boo Flickr group when you finish them!  I'd love to see what you make from my tutorials.

Happy Quilting!

-Kristi-

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