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!