Try It! – Cathedral Windows Table Topper by Machine

Have you ever thought about making a Cathedral Window quilt but were afraid to. Well join the club. I had always admired these timeless quilts but was not crazy about the handwork involved in making one. Then I discovered a Cathedral Window can be made by machine. I wanted to try this new way of making one and share how I did it. So let’s get started and join me in my journey in making this fun and easy table topper. I hope you are inspired to Try It and make one using this fast and easy machine method.

I wanted my Cathedral Window table topper to have a summer feel and I wanted it to look like it was made from scraps. I choose to use a mixture of Island Batik neutrals and bright citrus colors. I selected 12 Island Batik “Sweet Tweets” fat quarters and 12 Island Batik Neutral and Background fat quarters. I used only about 1/2 of the fat quarter but I was going for the scrappy look and I know I will use the rest in another project.

There are so many wonderful precut Island Batik collections to choose from. This table topper would look wonderful using any one of the new 2019 Spring Collections.

For the background I selected 1 yard of BE32-C1 for the Island Batik Blenders Collection. It reminded me of sunshine coming through the window to give a warm and inviting feel.

To start the project I cut 100 – 3″ squares from the Yellow Island Batik Blenders fabric for my background.

From the neutral Island Batik fat quarters I cut 200 – 3″ squares. The neutral squares are folded in half on the diagonal and pressed. On each Yellow background square place 2 of the folded neutral triangles making sure the folds are touching each other. Place a dab of Elmer’s washable school glue in the corners to hold them in place and press with a iron to set the glue.

Layout the squares into 10 rows of 10 squares to each row.

Sew the squares in each row together and press seams open.

Then sew the rows together paying close attention to matching the seams. Again, press seams open.

Now to add the wonderful colors from the “Sweet Tweets” collection.

Cut 61 – 3 1/4″ squares and lay them on point beneath the folds. Again, I used Elmer’s glue to hold the 3 1/4″ colored fabric squares in place by placing a dab of glue in each corner. When all the colored fabric squares are in place, check for a nice scrappy, random arrangement before continuing.

Pull the folds of the neutral batik fabrics over the raw edge of the “Sweet Tweets” 3 1/4″ fabric squares and place small applique pins to hold in place. Repeat for all sides until the whole top is pinned and ready for machine sewing.

Press with a dry, warm iron to crease the folds and hold them in place for sewing. If needed place a little glue to hold them down and in place. Remove pins before sewing.

Start in the corner and sew diagonally across the quilt from one edge to the opposite edge.

Use an open toe foot and set the needle position about a needles width from the edge of the fold. Use 50wt. Aurifil thread in a matching color for stitching the folds down.

Sew all the curved folds down paying attention to the corners to ensure nice sharp points at the intersections of the cathedral windows.

When the top has been completely stitched, it can be finished in the traditional manner with batting, backing and binding.

The cathedral table topper is a very thick quilt with all the layers of fabric, so I choose to use Hobbs Thermore batting. It is wonderful batting for a quilt like this. If you click on the link above you can listen to Stephanie Hackney, Director of Marketing and Sales from Hobbs Bonded Fibers tell you all the great uses of this batting.

Using the Hobbs Thermore batting gives this Cathedral Window table topper a timeless, traditional look. I layered the batting and backing to the cathedral window top and spray basted to hold everything together and lightly quilted to hold the layers together. I bound it with the Yellow Island Batik Blender binding to finish the edges.

This beautiful table topper is not ready to enjoy.

I hope I have inspired you to Try It!

Don’t forget to check out all the other wonderful Try It! projects by my fellow Island Batik Ambassadors.

Happy Quilting!!