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| A Tarted Up Pineapple Quilt |
Tackling “A Tarted Up Pineapple” Quilt with Janna Thomas!
If you've ever tried one of the classic Pineapple quilt blocks, you know it's a show-stopper and a daunting challenge! The geometric strips are layered and radiate out like an amazing kaleidoscope. But, if not precision pieced, those bias edges can easily lose their shape.
However, pattern designer Janna L. Thomas, behind Bloc Loc Rulers, takes the game to a whole new level with her pattern "A Tarted Up Pineapple. This pattern is made with smart ruler technology and a new layout to eliminate the frustration of difficult piecing. Naturally, we are going to take a closer look at this dynamic quilt pattern and all things you need to know before reaching in your fabric stash.
Pattern Overview & Specifications
A Tarted Up Pineapple is ingenious because of its contrasting scale from the regular pineapple pattern. Janna alternates bold 12” blocks throughout the top with four-patch units to add interest and movement to the design.
- The finished quilt size is 48" x 84" (a good size throw or twin)
- Block Breakdown:
- (12) Large 12" x 12" Pineapple Blocks
- (12) Four-Patch Blocks are made from Pineapple Blocks in (48) Small 6" x 6" Pineapple Blocks.
- Materials: Pineapple Ruler 1/2" and 1" not required, but helpful.
Fabric Yardage Requirements
The original pattern is a very interesting cool shade of purple and blue in combination with a crisp white contrast:
- White Background: 3 1/3 yards
- Dark Purple: 2 5/8 yards
- Medium Purple/Blue: 1 2/3 yards
- Light Violet/Blue: 1 1/8 yards
- Center Accent (Violet): 1/4 yard (C)
- Binding: 5/8 yard
- Backing: 56 1/2" x 92 1/2" (whole cloth) or 6 1/4 yards (pieced)
Quilting Success – These are some essential tips.
Janna has used clever pro techniques right into the pattern to help keep work flat, square and accurate, which seems like a lot of work, but isn't.
- Starch Heavily Before Cutting: Spray the yardage heavily with starch before cutting the first time. There are many bias angles to be used with pineapple and stiffening the fibers will not allow them to stretch.
- The characteristic feature of Bloc Loc Pineapple ruler is the grooved underside. This will ensure that you can cut each corner angle and strip width without a doubt on the next round, while being secured to the channel's previous seam allowance.
- A genius tip from the pattern: Sewing your blocks with the face-up of the previously cut strip is a great idea, allowing you to keep your 1/4" seam line in sight without guesswork.
- Press, Do not iron: Press seams in the block always to the outside with a straight up/down press. Don't drag the iron as it distorts the geometry.
The pattern also contains a convenient "Sew By Number" layout for the small 6" blocks, which makes it easy to see where to place which color in each of the 10 rounds!
Final Thought
A Tarted Up Pineapple is a show-stopper project that demonstrates that complicated geometric quilts don't need to be daunting. Even if you're a confident beginner, with the assistance of the specialized grooved rulers and the 10-round format Janna Thomas has designed, you can lock out razor-sharp points and get your seams perfectly flat. This is a great pattern to add to your sewing list if you're looking for a project that helps you practice your piecing skills while also producing a contemporary heirloom!
Full Pattern: A Tarted Up Pineapple Quilt Free PDF Pattern
