How to Sew a Magic Tile Quilt

Cut 24 squares of fabric measuring 16 1/2-inch-by-16 1/2-inch squares from each of the 12 fabric squares. Cut 1-inch strips of the grout material, cutting selvage to selvage. Layer the fabric squares one on top of the other. Take dressmakers chalk or a ball point pen and draw a misshapen 9-square grid. The lines should all be straight, but not vertical or the same length and make sure you do not create triangles or rectangles that are too small to work with. Practice on a piece of paper first until you find an affect you like. Cut all the squares by this pattern, 3 or 4 squares at a time.

Mix and match your tiles to remake the squares. Machine sew the tiles together with a 1/4-inch seam. Press as you sew, generally toward the center of the block. Make the grout for the blocks by taking a grout strip, folding it lengthwise and sewing it with a 1/4-inch seam. Turn right side out into tubes and press to form 1/2-inch wide black strips of grout. Use only about half the strips or whatever you need to separate all the tiles from each other. Machine sew the grout between the tiles of each square. Arrange the squares to form a queen size quilt and machine sew into strips. Machine sew the strips together. Sew several unused strips of grout material together end to end to reach across the breadth of the quilt. Make a long tube as before and press. Pin the grout between the squares and sew. Sew the grout between all the squares.

Decide how wide you want your first border to be, subtract 1/2 inch for seam allowances, and cut as many strips as you need as wide as you need them, selvage to selvage. Sew the strips end-to-end if necessary and press, then pin them around the quilt and sew. Press toward the center. Decide on the width of the next border and repeat as above. Take the remaining grout strips, sew as many as you need end to end and sew 1/2-inch tubes as before. Pin the grout around the quilt and sew. Pin the grout between the borders and sew.

Measure the batting, leaving at least 2 inches extra (and perhaps 4) at the edges just to be sure and cut. Cut and sew the backing fabric to match the size of the front. Assemble your quilt sandwich on large clean area like a kitchen table or basement floor. Protect your kitchen table from pin scratches with a heavy cloth or plywood sheet. Work from the middle of the quilt and put safety pins every 6 inches or so all the way to the edges. Use a clearly contrasting thread and 1-inch long stitches to sew along the rows of pins. Remove the safety pins.