Charlotte's Quilt - Roly Poly Squares

This coming weekend I am headed for Kanuga, the Episcopal Conference Center in Hendersonville, NC for our annual family reunion. In July of every year we take a guest cottage so the whole family can get together. Our newest family member, Charlotte, will be 3 months old and we can't wait to meet her. This morning I finished her quilt and I want to share the quilt and a very simple method to make it with you.

The sixteen patch quilt blocks are made using 10" layer cake squares. You will need 15 layer cake squares, 2/3 yards white fabric, 2/3 yard border fabric, 1-1/2 yard backing fabric and 1/3 yard binding fabric. Here are the steps to make this quilt.

Cut (12) of the 10" layer cake squares into 2-1/2" x 10" strips. (Set the remaining 3 layer cake squares aside for the setting squares.) Arrange the strips you have cut for the blocks in sets of 4 strips per block.

Sew each set of 4 strips together. Press the seams OPEN.

Sew the strips into a roll. Press this final seam open. Using your 2-1/2" wide ruler, cut the roll at 2-1/2" intervals to make (4) 2-1/2" rolls. Unsew one seam to make a strip as shown.

Unsew the remaining 3 rolls one seam in each roll, advancing the seam to unsew to make a progression of squares in the same fabric pattern as shown.

Sew the strips together in order as arranged, maintaining the progression of squares by fabric pattern.

This is a completed Roly Poly Squares block. Make 12 blocks.

• To complete the quilt cut the white fabric into (31) 2-1/2" x 10-1/2" sashing strips. Cut an additional (20) 2-1/2" squares from the 3 set aside layer cake squares set aside for for the sashing squares. Sew 5 sashing strips rows using (4) print setting squares and (3) white sashing strips. Make 5 rows.
• Sew the blocks together in rows alternating 4 white sashing strips and 3 roly poly blocks in each row. Make 4 rows.
• Alternate the (5) sashing rows with the (4) block rows and join them together to complete the quilt center.
• Cut (4) 5" border strips from the border fabric. Sew a border to opposite sides of the quilt top and trim to size as needed. Sew a border strip to top/bottom of the quilt and trim to size to complete the quilt top.
• Layer the quilt top, batting and backing. Quilt the layers together. Bind to finish the outside edges.