Kick 'em, throw 'em or hit 'em, but please join the fun!

This is the eighth pattern Quiltmaker has published in support of Project Linus, an organization that provides handmade blankets for seriously ill or traumatized children. Balls play a happy part in childhood for boys and girls in every culture and in every time period, so have fun making yours as creatively as you please. Learn more about Project Linus at projectlinus.org or by writing to Project Linus, P.O. Box 5621, Bloomington, IL 61702-5621.

This year's design was created by Theresa Eisinger, QM Graphic Artist and mom to four boys. She's spent her fair share of time at ball games.

Complete directions for Play Ball! also appear in Quiltmaker January/February 2007 (No. 113).

Download the pdf.

QM Patterns: Play Ball!

Instructions

See complete quiltmaking instructions, including foundation piecing, see Basic Lessons.

Step 1 Making the Quilt Center

Make a total of 13 paper copies of the block foundation or alternate block foundation. Foundation piece each ball in numerical order, pressing and trimming after each patch addition. Join the blocks and the A patches into row 1's and row 2's. Remove the foundation papers. Sew the rows together as shown.

Block Foundation

Alternate Block Foundation

Step 2 Adding the Borders

Sew the border side strips to the quilt and trim any extra length. Add the top and bottom border strips in the same way.

Step 3 Quilting and Finishing

Layer and baste together the backing, batting and quilt top. Quilt large continuous figure 8's over the quilt as shown. Bind the quilt.