Chinese Lanterns Quilt Block
Chinese Lantern Top/Bottom
- Sew a 3-1/2" x 4-1/2" background to the 6-1/2" x 4-1/2" black fabric along the 4-1/2" sides. Repeat on the opposite side of the black strip.
- Press seam allowances towards the black strip. Square up one end of the strip and cut two 2" segments from it.*
- Use the easy Snowball Block method to sew 3-1/2" x 3-1/2" squares to each end of both 3-1/2" x 12-1/2" lantern bars. Orient squares so that triangles are as shown above when they are flipped right side up.
- Sew a 1-1/2" x 12-1/2" accent bar lengthwise to one side of a 3-1/2" x 12-1/2" lantern bar. Sew an accent bar to the opposite side of the lantern bar. Press seam allowances towards the lantern bars.*
- Arrange components as shown above, lower left. Sew the rows together, matching edges. Press seam allowances towards the background/bar strips.
The Chinese Lantern quilt block should measure 12-1/2" square. If the quilt block is smaller, or skewed, press again and recheck. If it still isn't quite right, use my easy squaring-up method before sewing it to other blocks.
*Strip Piecing for Ten Chinese Lantern Quilt Blocks
Top/Bottom Units
- two 3-1/2" x 42" background strips
- one 6-1/2" x 42" black strip
Sew a 3-1/2" x 42" background strip to each side of a 6-1/2" x 42" black strip. Press seam allowances towards the black strip. Square up one end of the strip set and cut twenty 2" segments from it.
Accent Units
- six 1-1/2" x 42" accent strips
- three 2-1/2" x 42" lantern strips
- two 1-1/2" x 12-1/2" accent strip
- one 2-1/2" x 12-1/2" lantern strip[/ul
Sew a 1-1/2" x 42" accent strip to each side of a 42" long lantern strip. Press seam allowances towards the lantern fabric. Square up one end of the set and cut three 12-1/2" long segments from it. Repeat with remaining long strips. Piece shorter strips together to make a tenth unit.
