MATERIALS

As there are 16 blocks in this quilt, the instructions will be spread over two editions of CE, issues No 23 and No 24.

u Embroidery/sewing machine and accessories u Design software and transfer device u Robyn’s Romance design CD by Jenny Fabric:

− 3.65m x 114cm (4yd x 45in) lime green silk dupioni for blocks and borders

− 3.65m x 114cm (4yd x 45in) double-sided
gridded crimson red and gold brocade for
sashing, narrow borders and binding
− 203cm (80in) square backing fabric
u Sheer Magic to back silk and brocade
u 4.57m x 152cm (5yd x 60in) bolt of Quilt
Magic lightweight fusible batting
u Three packets of Template Magic to print
embroidery placement templates
u Hoop Magic self-adhesive stabiliser
for embroidery
u Jenny’s rayon- 40 embroidery threads;
two each of: Band of Gold No 191,
Positively Pink No 1672, Merlot No 7,
Carnation No 674, Paradise Hill and
three of Summer No 1173
u Construction thread for the needle and bobbin
u Fine pre-wound bobbins
u Machine feet: open-toe, ¹/4in
patchwork/quilting with a guide
u Microtex- 80 needle
u Rotary cutter, self-healing cutting mat and
quilting ruler
u 15in, 13in, 12¹/2in quilting squares
u Water-soluble fabric-marking pen
u Spray bottle
u Glass headed pins
u Small sharp scissors
u General sewing requirements

Robyn’s Renaissance is a very easy quilt to make with the
blocks being straightforward to embroider and the piecing
simple. It has been gloriously custom quilted by the award-
winning quilter Lizzy Allen of Thimble and Thread, email:
p.allen30@bigpond.com (thank you Lizzy). This is an ideal
quilt for a beginner and once again proves Jenny’s adage that
because something looks beautiful doesn’t mean it is difficult!

PREPARATION

1 Use the design software, transfer device and Robyn’s Romance design CD to transfer the embroidery designs to the machine and use the Template Magic to print the designs to be used for embroidery placement on a need-to-use basis. You will need to print four of the same design for each block.

 

2 Iron the Sheer Magic to the back of both fabrics used in the quilt. Remember, if you are using both sides of a double-sided brocade (as was done in Robyn’s Renaissance), check the cutting measurements before you iron the Sheer Magic to either the right (crimson) or wrong (gold) side of the fabric. This amazing product adds not only stability to the fabric (without altering the feel or drape of it) but also adds thread count to the fabric which helps prevent puckering when embroidering soft fabrics such as silk. Sheer Magic also prevents fabrics such as silk and rayon from fraying which is an amazing advantage when working with these fabrics, particularly in quilts when the fabric is handled so much.

 

3 Use the rotary cutter, self-healing cutting mat, quilt ruler and 15in quilting square to cut from:

Lime green silk dupioni (backed with Sheer
Magic) and Quilt Magic:

− 16, 15in squares for the embroidered blocks (cut to piecing size after

embroidery to 13in squares using the 13in quilting square)

− four, 6¹/2in x 63in strips for the wide borders

Double-sided gridded crimson red and
gold brocade (backed with Sheer Magic)
and Quilt Magic:

− 28, 3in x 13in ‘fussy cut’ crimson (right) side of fabric for sashing and narrow border strips

− 25, 3in ‘fussy cut’ gold side (wrong) side of fabric for small cornerstones to join sashing and narrow borders

− four, 6¹/2in ‘fussy cut’ gold (wrong) side
of fabric for large cornerstones to join
wide lime green silk dupioni borders

4 Use the quilting ruler and fabric-marking pen to mark vertical, horizontal and diagonal lines that intersect through the centre of each of the 16, 15in squares of lime green silk backed with Sheer Magic and Quilt Magic. Centre the 12¹/2in quilting square over each lime green silk dupioni square and mark around the square to indicate the block seam line which acts as a guide to ensure the embroidery does not extent past it.

EMBROIDERING THE BLOCKS JENNY’S TIP: The designs on Robyn’s Romance are sized for a 225mm x 140mm hoop or similar sized hoop which will require four hoopings for each block.