In My Pocket

My latest quilt is up on the Moda Bake Shop and it’s a fun one called In My Pocket! I designed a block in honor of Zen Chic’s latest fabric line, True Blue, that is based on the back pocket on a pair of  jeans. 

The pattern on the Bake Shop uses a layer cake and makes a big, fun block! I thought it would be fun to also design a scaled down version using charm squares.

Referring to the larger pattern for some more details on the block, use the instructions below to make a mini version of In My Pocket. This little quilt finishes at 40” by 49”. Happy sewing!

In My Pocket: Mini Version

Materials Needed

Two charm packs

1 yard of background fabric

½ yard binding fabric

1 ½ yards of backing fabric (Note: This amount of backing fabric only gives two inches of extra fabric on each side, assuming your fabric is 44” wide. If you need more overage, plan accordingly!)

60-degree triangle ruler (optional)

Constructing Pocket Blocks
Take 36 charm squares. Fold in half and trim bottom using 60-degree ruler as shown on the larger version of this pattern. Alternately, you can trim from 1 ½” up the side of the square to the center.

Cut two 3 ½” strips from background fabric. Cut strips into [36] 3 ½” by 2” rectangles. Cut rectangles diagonally to make triangles.

Sew triangles of background fabric to the bottom of charm square as shown on the larger version of the pattern.

Take 36 charm squares. Cut a 2” by 5” piece from each. Set aside the remainder of charm square for the border.

Sew the 2” by 5” piece to the top of the block to make the pocket block.

Your block should measure 6 ½” by 5”. It will finish at 6” by 4 ½”.

Lay out blocks, using the quilt diagram as a reference.

Sashing
From background fabric, cut five strips 1 ½” by WOF. Subcut into [30] 1 ½” by 6 ½” rectangles.

Add 1 ½” by 6 ½” sashing strips between each block. Do not add sashing to the left and right sides.

From background fabric, cut five strips 1 ½” by WOF. Trim each strip to 1 ½” by 32 ½” strips.

Add 1 ½” by 32 ½” sashing strips between each row. Do not add sashing to the top and bottom.

Border 1
From background fabric, cut four strips 2 ½” by WOF. Trim two strips to 41 ½” by 2 ½” and two strips to 36 ½” by 2 ½”. Attach to sides and top.

Border 2
From the remains of the charm squares, cut [36] 2 ½ by 5” rectangles.

Take eight and sew end to end. Repeat. Take ten and sew end to end. Repeat.

From remaining charm squares, cut [4] 2 ½” squares for corner units. Sew to ends of eight rectangle units.

Sew ten rectangle units to the sides of the quilt. Sew the eight rectangle units to the top and bottom.

Finishing
Sandwich, baste, and quilt.

Bind.

The quilt finishes at 40” by 49”.