From McCall's Quilting - June 1999 Issue

"Rhapsody in Blue" Quilt designed by Lynn Dash Fabric designed by Bonnie Benn Stratton Machine quilted by Pat Burnham Rhapsody" Block Finished Quilt Size 82 1/2"x 99 1/2" For the past two years, McCall's Quilting has teamed with fabric designer Bonnie Benn Stratton's Quilt For a Cure™ program in the fight against breast cancer. This year is no exception as we once again offer you a specially designed quilt featuring fabrics from Bonnie's new collection, Fine China Blue, manufactured by Northcott-Monarch. A percentage of all sales of this fabric, as well as proceeds from the raffle of the original quilt at the American Quilter's Society Show in Paducah, Kentucky, will go directly to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Many thanks go to two women who graciously gave their time and talents to us in an effort to end this life-threatening disease --- Lynn Dash, who designed and pieced this year's quilt, and Pat Burnham, who quilted it. We hope you will join Bonnie, Lynn, Pat, and the McCall's Quilting staff to make a difference and find a cure. Template Diagrams *PDF file format (9KB) Number of Blocks and Finished Size 20 Rhapsody Blocks 12" x 12" 12 Alternate Blocks 12" x 12" Fabric Requirements White/blue floral (Rhapsody Block) *1 1/4 yds. Dark blue print (Rhapsody Block, inner border, binding) 2 1/2 yds. 5 assorted light/medium blue prints (Rhapsody Block) 3/4 yd. each White print (blocks, background) 5 1/2 yds. Large blue floral (Alternate Block, outer border) 2 3/4 yds. Light blue print (Alternate Block) 5/8 yd. Backing (piece widthwise) 8 yds. Batting Queen size *Yardage determined by design. Other Materials Sewing thread Quilting thread (hand quilting) Monofilament thread (machine quilting) *Template diagrams are provided in PDF format. PDF files were used in an effort to make accurately-sized Rhapsody template diagrams available to you. Note: When printing template diagrams via Acrobat Reader, make sure the "Print To Fit" option is unchecked in the Print dialog box. Click Here to get Free Acrobat Reader Planning, Cutting, and Marking Lynn's beauty was created from Northcott-Monarch's lovely Fine China Blue collection. Notice the center of each Rhapsody Block is identically cut from the same floral print. Since there are 20 Rhapsody Blocks, make sure to purchase enough of your selected fabric to repetitively cut 20 octagons. Make a template from clear plastic, including seamlines, so you can center the motif. With right side of fabric facing up, lay template over motif, tracing guidelines directly on the template. Remember that the design area within the seamlines is what shows after piecing. Mark around edge of template and cut out. Using guidelines drawn on template, mark and cut 19 more identical pieces. The same dark blue print is used in all the Rhapsody Blocks for the small triangles surrounding each central octagon (Template B and C fabrics). However, the remaining blue fabrics in the block vary, creating a sparkling effect. Lynn interchanged five more blue prints to make her Rhapsodies. The Alternate Blocks are uniformly constructed from the same fabrics, making them quick and easy to piece.