Designed by Julie Sheckman

Finished Size 86 1/4" x 96 1/4" (Queen)

Number of Blocks and Finished Size
56 Pieced Blocks 10" x 10"

Longing for spring? Capture blue skies, puffy white clouds, and rays of bright sunshine with this refreshing, easy design. Timeless Treasures' Tonga Batiks in chambray blues provide just the right color shadings to get you dreaming of that first warm day…

Click here to download your FREE Bits of Sunshine bed quilt pattern.

Fabric Requirements
White-on-white print (blocks) ... 2 5/8 yds.
Assorted medium blue/white batiks (blocks, outer border) ... 3 1/4 - 3 5/8 yds. total
Assorted light blue/white batiks (blocks, outer border) ... 3 5/8 - 4 yds. total
Bright yellow mottle (block center squares, inner border) ... 1 yd.
Blue batik (binding) ... 1 yd.
Paper-backed fusible web ... 1/2 yd.
Backing (piece lengthwise) ... 7 1/2 yds.
Batting ... Queen size

Planning and Cutting
Julie chose to use fused, raw-edge appliqué for her yellow squares. Our instructions will lead you to do likewise. To speed the fusing process, the fabric is prepared with paper-backed fusible web prior to cutting the squares. If you wish to appliqué the squares in a manner requiring turn-under allowance, you will have sufficient fabric to cut 35 squares 1 1/2" x 1 1/2".

Julie used her binding fabric for some of the medium blue patches in the blocks. Do likewise if you wish. To ensure pieced border fits, use an accurate 1/4" seam allowance throughout construction.

Cutting Instructions
White-on-white print
... 28 strips 3" x width of fabric (WOF)
Assorted medium blue/white batiks
cut 28 sets of:
... 4 matching strips 1 1/2" x 5 1/2"
cut a total of:
... 14 strips 3" x WOF
... 12 strips 6 1/2" x 10 1/2"
... 4 squares 6 1/2" x 6 1/2"
Assorted light blue/white batiks
cut 28 sets of:
... 4 matching strips 11/2" x 5 1/2"
cut a total of:
... 14 strips 3" x WOF
... 8 strips 6 1/2"" x 12 1/2"
... 10 strips 6 1/2" x 10 1/2"
Bright yellow mottle
... *2 strips 2 1/2" x 80 1/2", pieced from 5 WOF strips
... *2 strips 2 1/2" x 74 1/2", pieced from 4 WOF strips
... **56 squares 1" x 1"
*Cut first.
**Cut after preparing fabric with fusible web. See Planning.

Piecing the Blocks
1. Referring to Diagram I, sew white-on-white and medium batik WOF strips together. Make 14 total. Press in direction of arrow. Cut 112 segments 4 1/2" wide. In same manner, sew white and light batik WOF strips together. Make 14 total. Press. Cut 68 segments 4 1/2" wide.

2. Watching orientation, stitch light 1 1/2" x 5 1/2" strip to side of white/medium segment (Diagram II) to make pieced square. Make 28 sets of 4 matching. In same manner, sew medium 1 1/2" strip to side of white/light segment to make pieced square. Make 28 sets of 4 matching.

3. Referring to Diagram III, stitch 4 matching pieced squares together. Following manufacturer's instructions, fuse prepared yellow 1" square to center to make Pieced Block. Make in quantities and arrangements shown.

Quilt Top Assembly
Note: Refer to Assembly Diagram for following steps.
4. Stitch 8 rows of 7 blocks each, alternating. Stitch rows together.
5. Sew yellow 80 1/2" strips to sides of quilt. Stitch yellow 74 1/2" strips to top/bottom of quilt.
6. Alternating color, and watching placement, stitch 2 light 12 1/2" strips, 3 medium 10 1/2" strips, and 3 light 10 1/2" strips together to make side border. Make 2 and stitch to sides. In same manner, stitch 2 medium 6 1/2" squares, 2 light 12 1/2" strips, 3 medium 10 1/2" strips, and 2 light 10 1/2" strip together to make top/bottom border. Make 2 and stitch to top/bottom.

Quilting and Finishing
7. Layer, baste, and quilt. Julie prefers Hobbs Heirloom® Fusible Cotton Batting. She used matching thread to machine quilt a meander on the blocks. Yellow thread was used to stitch squares in the yellow border and squares. The outer border is quilted with parallel lines 1" apart. Bind with blue batik.