Folk Art Fantasy Blog Hop: Day 2

We've introduced you to Amanda Murphy's new fabric collection, Folk Art Fantasy, and given you a behind-the-scenes look at the prints, as well as plenty of inspiration from Amanda's quilt patterns. But we're not done! Follow along on our blog hop as four different designers share projects they've made using Folk Art Fantasy fabrics! 

Today's post will be right here on the blog, created by our blog design team. When we think "folk art," penny rugs come to mind (helped, no doubt, by Amanda's fun rug print, which we used as the backing for our runner!). Below we are featuring a tutorial for a scrappy Penny Rug Runner. Enjoy!

Finished size: 62-1/2" x 20-1/2"

The fabrics used in this project: 

Materials:

1 fat quarter each: black leaf print, turquoise leaf print, pink diamond print, black diamond print, turquoise diamond print, green stars and horses print, red stars and horses print, and periwinkle medallion print

1/2 yard each white and periwinkle wedding ring print

7/8 yard red leaf print (includes binding)

1/2 yard black medallion print

1-1/2 yards for backing (we used the turquoise rugs)

25" x 67" piece of batting

Fusible web

Paper or clear plastic template material for creating circle templates

Cutting:

Note: Click here to download the quarter circle templates.

From the black leaf print:

(1) 13" square

From each of the turquoise leaf print and pink diamond print: 
(1) 10" square

From each of the black diamond print and turquoise diamond print: 

(1) 7" square

From each of the red and green stars and horses prints:
(1) 13" square

From the periwinkle medallion print:

(2) 5" squares, fussy-cut to center a medallion

From the red leaf print: 

(1) 13" square

(4) 2-1/4" x 42" strips for binding

(4) 1-1/2" x 42" strips

From each of the white and periwinkle wedding ring prints:

(2) 14-1/2" squares

From the black medallion print:

(2) 5" squares, fussy-cut to center a medallion

(5) 2-1/2" x 42" strips

From the fusible web:

(4) 13" squares

Making the Runner:

Step 1 Download the quarter circle templates here and print out. Cut out along all four curved lines (you'll have one quarter circle and three sizes of quarter rings). 

Step 2 To create the 4" diameter circle template, fold a 5" square of paper in half and in half again. position the right angle corner of the smallest curve on the two folded edges and trace the curve. Cut along the curve through all four layers and unfold to see your 4" circle template. Repeat with remaining three circle sizes, using a piece of paper 1" larger than the circle size. Note: We conserved paper by tracing multiple sizes of templates onto one 13" folded square of paper. You'll end up with template rings for the larger sizes, but that's fine--you only need the curved outer edge for tracing.

Step 3 Trace the 12" diameter circle onto a 13" fusible web square. Center and trace the 9" circle inside. Center and trace the 4" circle inside. This will allow you to nest templates on the fusible web and use it more efficiently. Make 2 sets of fusible shapes. Draw dotted circles roughly 1" in from both the 12" and 9" circle templates as shown below. Draw another dotted line roughly 1/2" beyond the 4" circle line. These will be your cut lines, allowing you to use the window technique and eliminating bulk in your blocks. Note: If this seems too confusing, you can simply trace each circle onto a separate piece of fusible web and cut out roughly 1/2" outside the circle line and 1" inside the circle line. You'll use more fusible web and have more scraps left this way, but it's simpler if you're having trouble visualizing the nesting and dotted line cutting we've shown. 

Tip: If you're not familiar with the window method of fusible web, basically rather than adhering fusible web to the entire back of a large shape (like the 12" circle), you fuse a ring to the back of the fabric. The inner edge of the fusible ring doesn't need to be perfect--it won't show. The outer edge of the fusible ring should be roughly 1/2" past the drawn circle line to allow for smooth cutting like in typical fusible applique techniques. (See the photo after step 6 for a visual). This reduces bulk in your finished project and keeps it softer than it would be if you used multiple layers of fusible web, which become stiff.

Step 4 Cut along the dotted lines of both sets, creating (2) 12" diameter ring fusible shapes, (2) 9" diameter ring fusible shapes, and then (2) 4" diameter circle fusible shapes.
Step 5 Repeat steps 3 and 4, substituting a 7" diameter ring for the 9" ring. Make 2 sets of fusible shapes and cut as directed in step 4. 
Step 6 Fuse one 12" ring to the wrong side of a 13" red stars and horses square. Cut on the drawn line, creating a circle. Repeat with smaller two sizes of circles, adhering each to a square 1" larger than the fusible shape (refer to photo and cutting list to match up correctly sized templates with fabric squares). 

Step 7 Repeat step 6, creating the following layered circle combinations (note: they're not fused together yet--this is just for show). You'll have (2) 12" circles with a 9" and a 4" circle on top, and (2) 12" circles with a 6" and 4" circle on top.

Step 8 Fuse the periwinkle medallion circle to a 6" black diamond circle, folding each circle into quarters and matching up finger pressed fold lines to ensure centered placement. Use a blanket stitch to secure in place. In the same manner, fuse the black diamond circle to the 12" green horses and stars circle and blanket stitch to secure.

Step 9 Flip the layered circles over and cut out the green background fabric inside the blanket stitched line as shown below. Be VERY CAREFUL not to cut through the center fabric. 

Step 10 Repeat with remaining sets of circles for a total of (4) circle sets. Fuse (2) circle sets to 14-1/2" white wedding ring squares and (2) circles to 14-1/2" periwinkle wedding ring squares as shown. Blanket stitch to secure.

Step 11 In the same manner as in step 9, flip each block over and cut out the wedding ring backing fabric inside the stitching line. 

Step 12 Sew the 4 blocks together into a row, alternating background colors. 

Step 13 Sew (3) 1-1/2" x 42" red leaf strips short ends together into one long strip. Cut into (2) 56-1/2" lengths. Sew to the long sides of the runner. Cut the remaining strip (2) 16-1/2" lengths and sew to the short ends of the runner. 

Step 14 Sew (5) 2-1/2" x 42" black medallion strips short ends together into one long strip. Cut into (2) 58-1/2" lengths and (2) 20-1/2" lengths. Sew the longer strips to the long sides of the runner and the remaining strips to the short ends to complete the runner top.

Step 15 Layer the backing right side down, batting, and quilt top right side up.Baste the layers together and quilt as desired. Trim the batting and backing even with the quilt top. Use the (5) 2-1/4" x 42" red leaf print strips to bind the runner. 

You're done! This concept would make a fun quilt as well--just a few (or a lot!) more circles to cut! 

You can really have fun quilting the different rings in this runner.

Click here to see the entire Folk Art Fantasy collection. 

Click here to visit Amanda's website--see her patterns, read her blog, and follow her on other social media platforms. 

For a chance to win a fat quarter bundle of Folk Art Fantasy, leave a comment below letting us know your favorite print in Amanda's Folk Art Fantasy collection. Giveaway is open through Saturday, June 30 at 11:59 pm EDT. We'll announce all four blog hop winners next week. 

Follow along for all four days of our Folk Art Fantasy Blog Hop! 
Tuesday: Mandy of Mandalei Quilts
Wednesday: Benartex Blog Design Team
Thursday: Alison of Little Bunny Quilts
Friday: Amanda of Material Girls Quilts