Traditional Cathedral Windows Mini Quilt

This is the finished piece for QAL #3 - Traditional Cathedral Windows.

Traditional Cathedral Windows Mini Quilt

This project took a while to complete, mainly because I had unexpected guests for most of July and August was very busy as we went on a cruise of the Inland Passage in Alaska.

I like the quilting on the back of this Cathedral Windows (CW) quilt which was accomplished while the frames were being sewn down over the window frames.

Quilting on back of mini quilt

I took a serpentine route, somewhat akin to continuous quilting, down the blocks of the quilt as I stitched the frames in place, folding down the bias sides as I went.  This added more interest to an otherwise mundane process.  The center of the quilt was sewn first in this way and then the top and side edges were sewn in one, continuous step.

There are several reasons why this quilt was so interesting to make, not the least of which is that no batting or backing is required.  It's a quilt-as-you-go (QAYG) project and is perfect for small segments of available time.  Even though I'm very proud of this little quilt as it now looks, it can be expanded to a full size quilt by adding on more CW blocks over time.

On the other hand, it can be converted into a cushion cover, used as a table topper or simply displayed as a mini quilt.

It's now time to pick up my most recent work-in-process (WIP) and finish my Twisted Christmas Wreath quilt.

Until then,

Cheers!

QAL #3 - Cathedral Windows

The Traditional Cathedral Windows
  

Finished Size of Quilt = 16”

Finished Size of Block = 4”

For the third technique in this series for constructing Cathedral Windows, we will be making a cushion cover or a small quilt, comprising 16 blocks arranged 4 blocks across by 4 blocks down.

Traditional Cathedral Windows - A Mini Quilt

The components of a Cathedral Window block are the foundation or background fabric, the frame and the window pane.  In this variation, the foundation and frame are made from the same fabric.  The window panes can be as varied as you wish.

Table for Cutting Instructions

 Note: 

1. The cutting instructions will make 1 CW block.

2. The numbers in parentheses in the column descriptions represent the number of squares required for each CW block. 

3. The window pane should be cut 1/4” smaller than the finished size of the frame.  Measure for and cut the window panes after the first frame is constructed.

Block Size	Foundation (1)	Pane (1) approx.
2”	4 ½“	1 ¼“
3”	6½ “	2”
4”	8 ½”	2 1/4”
5”	10 ½“	3”
6”	12 ½ “	4”

For 16 Cathedral Window blocks that will each finish at 4” square, refer to the table above for the 4” block and cut

16 foundations

16 window panes (not shown – cut after 1^st frame is constructed)

Cut 16 foundation squares

Make an 8” template from cardboard for pressing a ¼“ seam on 4 sides of each foundation square.

Use a box cutter to cut cardboard template

Place the template in the center of the foundation and press ¼“ seam using the template as a guide.

Press 1/4" seam on 4 sides of foundation around template 

Fold the foundation in half and press.  Fold in half again and press to crease a vertical and horizontal line on the foundation.

Create two folds on foundation 

Using the creases as a guide, fold the 4 corners to the center and press.

Fold 4 corners to center and press

Do this again.  Fold the 4 corners to the center and press.  This is your 4” Cathedral Window block.

4" Cathedral Window block

Repeat this process for all 16 foundation squares.  To join the foundations together, open a flap on two blocks and sew them together on the creases. 

Sew adjacent flaps on two blocks

The sewn flaps make 1 frame.  Measure 1 side of the frame and cut 16 window panes ½“smaller than the size of the frame.  My frame measured 2 ¾“, so my window panes were cut 2 ¼“ square.

Four 4 1/2 " fabric squares cut in 4 = 16 window panes

Join all 16 foundations in this way and there should be 8 pairs.  Join 2 pairs together by sewing the two flaps that are between the 2 sewn flaps. 

1 quadrant with 4 flaps sewn together

Join the 4 quadrants together and tack the corners of the frames down with a cross stitch.  Place a window pane in the center of a frame, roll the bias sides of the frame around it and pin in place.

Pin window panes in place

Sew the bias sides of the frame around each window pane and your 16” quilt is done!

Completed Mini Quilt 16" Square

This quilt does not require batting or a backing.  Sewing the frames down over the window panes serves as the quilting. 

Quilting on Back of Mini Quilt

Follow instructions for How to Assemble A Cushion Cover, keeping the following in mind:

There is no need to make a backing for the cushion cover because the back is already done!

Use a 16" pillow insert.

Cheers!

QAL #2 - Cathedral Windows

1 Seam Flying Geese Method

For the second method in this series for constructing Cathedral Windows, we will be making a 20” cushion or table topper comprising 16 blocks arranged 4 blocks across by 4 blocks down.

Cushion Cover

Without the cushion insert

The components of a Cathedral Window block are the foundation/ background fabric, the frame and the windowpane.  It is really simple to make this block using two Flying Geese blocks, each made with just 1 seam.

Cathedral Windows block constructed with 

2 Flying Geese blocks, each made with 1 seam

Table for Cutting Instructions

Note:  

1. The cutting instructions will make 1 Flying Geese unit. 2 units are required for each Cathedral Window block.
2. The numbers in parentheses in the column descriptions represent the number of units required for each FG unit.  
3. The window pane should be cut ¼” smaller than the finished size of the frame.  Measure for and cut the window panes after the first block is constructed.

Block Size	Foundation (2)	Frame (1)	Window Pane (1) approx.
4”	2½”	2½” x 4½”	2”
5”	2¾”	2¾” x 5”	2½”
6”	3½”	3½” x 6½”	3”
8	4½”	4½” x 8½”	4”
10”	5½”	5½” x 10½”	5”
12”	6½”	6½” x 12½”	6”

In the picture below, the patterned squares will form the foundations, the white rectangles the frames and a variety of printed squares (not shown) will form the window panes.  For 16 Cathedral Window blocks that will each finish at 5” square, cut

64 patterned squares 2-3/4" (foundations)

32 white rectangles 2-3/4" x 5" (frames)

16 patterned squares 2-3/4" (window panes – not shown)

Fabrics for Cathedral Windows block are cut and ready to piece

Form two sandwiches as follows:

1. Place 1 patterned square, facing up, on the work surface.
2. Fold 1 white rectangle in half, wrong sides together, aligned at the raw edges with the top of the patterned square.
3. Place 1 patterned square, face down, on top of the white, folded rectangle.

Sandwich - make 2

Begin sewing from the raw edges all the way down the right side only.  Make sure that the folded edge of the rectangle is closest to you and notice it is 1/4" shorter than the two squares.

Sew right sides only

Open up the center rectangle, aligning the raw edges with the bottom edge of the unit, making sure the points on the base meet the left and right edges of the unit.  Also make sure that the tip of the Flying Geese is 1/4" from the top edge.  Pin at the base, opening the seam on the back.

 

 Pin the base and press seam open on back

Press the seam open and sew the base of two Flying Geese units together.

2 Flying Geese units sewn at base

Press the seam open.

Press all seams open to reduce bulk

Place a window pane square in the center of the frame and pin the bias/dimensional sides of the frame over the window pane.

Frame is folded over pane and pinned

Sew the frame in place and a Cathedral Window block is complete.

One block is complete

Here's an arrangement of four blocks.

An arrangement of 4 blocks

Make 16 Cathedral Window blocks, arrange 4 across by 4 down.

Preview arrangement

Sew the blocks together, making sure that the points on each block match points on adjacent blocks,  and the top is complete.

Follow instructions for How to Assemble a Cushion Cover, using an 18" cushion insert.

To make a table topper, cut a square of material the same size as the top, place the two pieces right sides together, sew all the way around the four sides leaving a space for turning, turn it inside out, sew the opening, press the seams and it’s done!

I hope you have as much fun as I did making these Cathedral Windows!


Cheers!

QAL #1 - Cathedral Windows

This first technique makes an Orange Peel Quilt which is a variation of the Cathedral Window pattern. This pattern is also called Rob Peter to Pay Paul.

5 of 16  blocks complete

I'm fascinated by Cathedral Window quilts!  Here's the easiest variation, but it sadly lacks the dimension of the traditional Cathedral Window quilt.  I've decided to make a cushion cover, approximately 14 inches square, for each of the techniques covered by this series of Quilt-Alongs.

14" cushion

You will need:

1 background fabric and a variety of solid or printed fabrics

Hand sewing needle and beige or grey thread to match background fabric

Scissors

A cushion insert approximately 14” square

• 

  5 Batik Fabrics and 1 White Background

  Let's begin by selecting the fabrics for our Orange Peel quilt and tools for making the template.

  • 
    

  

  You will need a piece of paper, a CD and a pencil

  We need to make a template of a circle and a square.  The CD, which measures 4-3/4”, makes the perfect circle template.

  

  Draw a circle around the CD
  on the paper & cut it out

  
  

  Now make a template for a square that fits within this circle. Fold the circle in half, open it and fold again in half.  Mark each crease with a dot.

  

  Draw a line from dot to dot to make a square

  Draw a line from dot to dot and measure one side of this square.  Mine measured 3-1/2 inches.  This will be the finished size of each of the 16 blocks that will be joined to make the Orange Peel cushion cover.  The square template for the pane of the Cathedral Window should be cut 1/4” smaller all around, at 3-1/4”. 

  
  

  Transfer the dimensions of the 3-1/4” square to cardboard, cut it out and set it aside.

  

  
  

  Pick a color of fabric for the window pane and place it face to face with the background fabric.  I’ve chosen white for the background and frame, and green for the pane of the Cathedral Window.

  

  The squares of fabric
  are approximately 6" square

  
  

  Draw a circle on the background fabric.  I was able to draw three circles (using the CD) on the 18” side of a fat quarter.  Cut between the circles to make 3 units. Make one more unit using the remaining fabric to make four circles from each colour for a total of 16 units.

  

  Sew Around the Circle

  Using a needle and thread that matches the background fabric, hand sew around the circle with a running stitch.  Keep your stitches close together to get a good round shape when it is turned inside out.

  

  Mark & Cut Slit

  Place the square template on the coloured/printed fabric within the circle and cut a slit just above the top of the template and under the edge of the circle, without touching the sewn line.

  

  Snip Around Edge of Circle

  Leaving a ¼” seam, cut around the circle.  Snip at ¼” intervals to aid in turning the circle inside out. 
  

  

  Turn Through Slit

  Turn the circle inside out through the slit.

  

  Press

  Press the seam.

  

  Press Over Square Template

  Place the square template within the circle and press the frame over the template.  

  

  One completed Cathedral Windows block

  Pin the frame in place and sew down by hand or machine to form a Cathedral Window block.
  

  

  Make 16 blocks of varying colours and arrange them (4 across x 4 down) to preview the top of the cushion cover. To join the blocks, place two of them right sides together, and whipstitch on the back of the blocks. Whipstitch all 16 blocks together to make the top of the cushion cover.
  

  

  Pieced top of cushion cover

  An alternative method to assemble the Cathedral Window blocks would be to join adjacent blocks and then applique the flaps down.  To do this, first mark the lines along which the blocks will be joined.  (These pictures are from another project.)

  

  Draw lines for sewing

  Align two blocks, wrong sides together, and sew along the drawn line.  Do this in pairs or rows.

  
  

  

  Join two adjacent blocks

  Applique the flaps down.

  

  Sew flaps down

  
  

  Follow instructions for How to Assemble a Cushion Cover and your first Cathedral Windows project is complete!

  
  

  Stand back, admire and enjoy your Orange Peel cushion cover!
  

  

  Orange Peel/Cathedral Window Cushion

  
  

  Introduction to Chumkie's QAL - Cathedral Windows
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
•