I am in love with Downton Abbey and was so excited when the I heard we were going to be getting the fabric in the shop. A customer service gal and I squealed like little girls and talked about Downton throughout the day! There is fabric from most of the main female characters: Mary, Edith, Sybil and the Dowager Countess. What do I make with this fabric is always the big question?!
After a bit of consideration I had an epiphany, a Union Jack, what else!
MSQC has a really cute pattern for a Union Jack quilt, but I wanted the whole thing to be one giant flag. I found a website that told me how to draw a Union Jack and so I took their instructions and have edited them for a 40″x80″ quilt. And BONUS, it’s a quilt with no weird angle cutting!
Set your tea and biscuits aside, cause I’m going to tell you how I did it!
Here’s what you’ll need:
3 different shades of fabric for the quilt top: a light, medium and dark. This is what I used,
Light = 1.5 yards
Medium = 1.5 yards
Dark = 2 yards*
*(This also includes enough to bind the quilt)
Backing:
The backing amount is a bit tricky. 2.5 yards is just enough to cover the back, but talk to your quilter before hand to see how much you’ll need for leaders cause you might need to get 5 yards and back stitch.
Step 1: Cut everything
Start with the dark fabric –
Cut 4 rectangles at 13.5″ x 33.25″. The rest will be for binding later.
Medium fabric –
Cut one (1) strip at 8″ x 40″ and two (2) at 8″ x 35″. Next cut four (4) strips at 2.75″ x 36.5″.
Light fabric –
Cut four (4) strips at 2.75″ x 35 and four (4) strips at 2.75″ x 13.5″. Now cut four (4) strips at 8″ x 36.5″.
Step 2: Start Sewing
Break out the pins because they will be your best friends!
Take one of the medium strips that is 2.75 x 36.5″ and pin it on top of the light fabric that measures 8 x 36.5″ so that one side has a 1.25″ border and the other is 4″ border. Sew them together, right on top of each other. Repeat this 3 more times.
Next, you want to pin and sew your new strips to your dark rectangles. Use the link here, to eyeball where the strips should line up. Pin and sew. Trim off the overhang and repeat 3 more times.
Congrats you’ve just created the Cross of St. Patrick!! Now let’s create the Cross of St. George!
Double check yourself that you have each rectangle facing the right way, two of them should have the large light strip up and two has it down, and sew on the light strip of 2.75 x 13.5″. (Don’t be afraid to pick if it’s the wrong way, I did!)
Proceed to sew the light strip measuring 2.75 x 35″ to the top of two and the bottom of two.
This is what your pieces should look like right now:
Add the medium fabric of 8 x 35″ in between two of the rectangles (horizontal). Double check that your rectangles are going the right way with the link above. Repeat for the other side.
Now all you have to do is add the vertical bar of medium fabric, 8 x 40″, to connect the two sides.
Voila! A Union Jack with no angle cutting! Beat that govna!
Step 3: Put the kettle on and enjoy a cup of tea!
Don’t be afraid of the imperfections, mine has them all over the place but that makes me love it even more!
Don’t forget to check out our line of precuts! Downton Abbey Precuts
Cheers!
Kate