Projects

Trip Around the Block Quilt

Created By: Janome Educator Kelley McKenzie
Skill Level: Advanced

In early 2014, Janome issued a fabric design challenge to three of our educators. Take the same peice of fabric, and turn it into whatever you want. Kelley’s first love is quilting, so when she saw the Design Challenge fabric, it was simply a choice of what type of quilt she wanted to make. This simple, modern and fun quilt will take you less than a day to piece. Quilting guidelines are provided using the Artistic Quilter 18DX and the Artistic Robot, but can be quilted using traditional methods.

Finished Size - 64" x 78"

Janome Supplies Required
  • Any Janome Sewing machine
  • ¼” Seam foot O
  • Acufeed Flex foot
     
Fabric and Notions Required

Fabric/Notions Required:

  • 3 yds. cotton focal fabric
  • 1 yd. each of three solid coordinating cotton fabrics
  • 1 3/4 yds. solid fabric for inner border
  • 4 ½ yds. coordinating fabric for backing
  • 72” x 90” cotton batting
  • Cotton thread for piecing
  • 6” x 24”quilter’s ruler
  • 12 ½” x 12 ½”quilter’s ruler


 

Instructions

Cutting Instructions:
From each of the focal and three assorted solids cut:

  • Three 12 ½” squares
  • Three 3 ½” x 12 ½ strips
  • Three 3 ½” x 15 ½” strips

From Solid Fabric (inner border) cut:

  • Four 3 1/2” x width of fabric

From focal fabric (outer border and binding) cut:

  • Two 6 ½” x 72” strips
  • Two 6 ½” x 67” strips
  • Six 2 ½” x 80” strips

From coordinating fabric (backing) cut:

  • Two WOF x 72” strips

Piecing Instructions:

  1. Thread machine and wind bobbin with cotton sewing thread.
  2. Attach ¼” Seam foot O. All seams will be sewn using a ¼” seam allowance.
  3. On one side of each of the twelve 12 ½” blocks, attach one 3 ½” x 12 ½” strip of contrasting fabric.
  4. Rotate the block to the next side and attach the 3 1/2” by 15 ½” strip of contrasting fabric.
  5. Press seams after each strip is added.

     
  6. Trim the blocks to create (15 ½” squares) and then lay blocks out and design three blocks across and 4 blocks down to create middle of quilt. Press seams in same direction on row but opposite direction on row above it (this will help the seams to not have bulk where the blocks join). So you now have the middle of your quilt complete.


     

Adding Inner Border: 3 ½’ x length of fabric

  1. Sew 2 strips on the long sides of your quilt middle and then 2 strips on the top and bottom (By doing it in this order you avoid having to piece your border). Press seams after each strip is added.

Adding Outer Border: Focal Fabric

  1. Sew 2 strips that are 6 ½” x 67”on the long side of your quilt. Press seams.
  2. Sew 2 strips that are 6 ½” x 72” on the top and bottom of quilt. Press seams.

     

Quilting:

  1. Sew down the top and sides of quilt in the quilt area using the H and V button at the top of the screen to lock your machine horizontally and vertically.


     
  2. Now set the quilt area for your top outer border. This area should be the width of quilt and depth of outer border.

     
  3. Select home screen> add pattern> and Classic Panto. Now select the edit button (it looks like a paintbrush in the top right corner of screen), and then select repeat. A pop up box will appear asking for how many repeats, select 6 repeats across.

     
  4. This will not fill in compete quilting area. Now select edit button, scale, and smart scale this will now fill in quilt area.

     
  5. Now select the green light to start quilting the border. When finished select edit and then remove. This will remove the pattern.
  6. Now select home and set quilt area. Now set area for inner border. This quilt area should be the width of top inner border and depth. Select home, add pattern, and under Jessica Schick patterns select puzzleJSPANTO23. Repeat this pattern four times and smart scale it. Quilt area and then remove pattern.
  7. For each block select randomly from the patterns in the block category under add a pattern. Always smartscale each block to fill in entire block area.
  8. When quilting the strips it gets tricky. Examine strips and notice that some are longer than others because of the way it is laid out. Select a long strip first (approximately 14.5” x 3”). Set this as the quilt area. Select spiral squared pattern under geometric patterns, repeat pattern 2 times, and then smartscale the pattern.
  9. On the shorter strips keep the same quilt area. While quilting, it will have to be manually stopped since the quilt area set in computer is larger than actual quilt area (this has to be done because the pattern selected is in sets of two per pattern block and the area will only hold three). If this is too difficult then select a pattern of your choice for strip sets.
  10. With pattern used in strips in this quilt you will have to sometimes reverse the pattern so that the two patterns will connect in the strip sets (to do this select edit, and reverse path). When going from a vertical strip to a horizontal strip you will simply rotate pattern (select edit, rotate, 90 degree clockwise). Sometimes this causes the pattern to no longer be in pattern box. When this happens select the notepad, and then auto center. This will put the pattern back inside the quilt area.

     
  11. Once the top borders, inner borders, and middle of quilt is done unpin quilt from frame. The quilt will then need to be reloaded where the side borders can be quilted. Now the quilting is done! Once quilting is complete simple bind the quilt using the Acufeed foot (AD).

     
Everyone is Talking about Trip Around the Block Quilt
Reviews


Tako
Beautiful
Wednesday, November 23, 2016

cpindzola
Around the Table Dresden Placemats
Saturday, December 17, 2016

I like the concept, but the directions are "sloppy." Nowhere in the supply list does it mention the felt or the batting (how much?). Also, I would never use a high loft batting in a placemat, or a table runner, as I think that it would be too unstable for a glass. The next time I make these, I will cut out the batting (I use flannel) and spray baste it to the wrong side of the Dresden plate before I put the Dresden plate on the felt to cut out. I have not yet washed the finished placemat, and am hoping that the single layer of felt does not curl up, or become distorted after washing/drying.
Txmaid
Fun Great Gift!
Tuesday, February 21, 2017

MargieARK
Teatime Quilted Tablecloth
Friday, February 24, 2017

I made this today but your cutting directions need to be changed. You only need 4 of color 1 and color 3 4.5 squares for the triangles. Also the inner border, you only need 2 cuts as WOF is long enough to cut each in half to fit the sides.
MickelSews
Great Machine
Wednesday, August 30, 2017

I've had this machine for only a week now. I bought it used from a lady who makes her own clothes, but she no longer needed the machine. During the purchase, she noted that she is almost sad that it's better to give it away because of how well the machine performed. (I also bought it along side a computerized machine of another brand.} She demoed the machine for us, showing it worked and gave us everything (including the box it came in!) She took amazing care of this machine. I have used it a few times now, and the directions for threading were easy to follow (albeit my hands are quite large so the lower looper was a pain, but that is no fault to the machine or brand.) And I recommend this machine to anyone who wants to learn to serge and wants a machine that can grow with them. I will happily use this machine time and time again.
rvstan
S9 Review
Sunday, February 25, 2018

I love, love, love my S9! It's sews and embroiders beautifully and it's simplicity of use amazes me. I would recommend this machine for both a beginner and an experienced seamstress. If I would ask anything of Janome it would be to upgrade the programming to run a larger hoop size. I understand that it can't get much wider but there is most definitely room for it to go longer. That is the only limitation of this machine.
pjmnana
PJMNana
Monday, February 26, 2018

I purchased a Memorycraft 15000 a few years ago and it was the best purchase I ever made! This machine can do just about anything you would would ever want! I love the capability of using the Acuedit app to set up my embroidery pattern on my Ipad and then download it to the machine! I love how my embroidery looks upon completion and I love all the good lighting it has to light up your workspace. That way you don’t need to worry about where to set up your machine. It also has plenty of room to do machine embroidery on any size quilts! There are many decorative stitches from which to choose that are outstanding! It’s hard to choose which one to use! There are so many great features it is hard to decide what I love the most. If you want to buy only one machine to last a lifetime, I would recommend this one!
KLWash
S9 Review
Sunday, February 24, 2019

The S9 is amazing. I learned to sew by hand when I was just 5 and in my grandmothers way as she was quilting. I took seeing classes in high school until they would no longer let me sign up. The S9 makes me appreciate my current skills as well as motivate me to want to learn more. This machine is awesome.
SewSueMe2002
Horizon Memory Craft 15000
Thursday, November 19, 2020

My Janome Horizon Memory Craft 15000 is fantastic! I love, love, love this machine! When I came across the Eye for and Eye embroidery design today, I wanted to make it. However, the embroidery file is missing. Nothing downloads when I select the download button. Please help!
Jillfmischo
Treat Bag fun!
Monday, August 16, 2021

I made the Halloween treat bag for my new granddaughter and I’m sure it will last for years. No embroidery machine so I appliquéd the lettering. Need a little more skirt fabric for a better gathered look, and I used thin double-bias tape for the skirt hem, over edge stitch on skirt sides. I’m pleased with my results!
elenaz
Very helpful tutorial
Wednesday, October 25, 2023

I want to say thank you for teaching me this method of applique. I was able to do it with a small letters. This method is the best so far from all of those I've seen and tried.
plonkar
So useful
Thursday, November 30, 2023

I'd like to express my gratitude for teaching me this appliqué method. I successfully applied it with small letters, and, so far, it's the most effective among all the methods I've seen and tried.

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