Chinese Lantern

Try Asian themed fabrics for the large lantern pieces, and black or tone-on-tone fabrics for the narrow accent patches. If Asian fabrics aren't your thing, how about making your lanterns from kids prints or novelty prints? Small to medium scale prints would be perfect for creating a whimsical lanterns quilt.

Finished Quilt Block Size: 12-inches square

Cutting Chart for One Chinese Lantern Quilt Block

The cutting chart assumes you will make a scrappy quilt, where each block is different.

Lantern Fabric: Cut two 3-1/2" x 12-1/2" bars and one 2-1/2" x 12-1/2" bar

Contrast Stripe Fabric: Cut two 1-1/4" x 12-1/2" bars

Background Fabric: Cut four 3-1/2" x 3-1/2" squares and two 3-1/2" x 4" bars

Black for Lantern Top/Bottom: Cut one 6-1/2" x 4" bar

Directions:

1. Sew a 3-1/2" x 4" background to the 6-1/2" x 4" black fabric along the 4-" sides. Repeat on the opposite side of the black strip.
2. Press seam towards the black strip. Square up one end of the strip and cut two 2" segments from it.*
3. Use the easy Snowball Block method to sew 3-1/2" x 3-1/2" squares to each end of both 3-1/2" x 12-1/2" lantern bars. Orient squares so that triangles are as shown above when they are flipped right side up.
4. Sew a 1-1/4" x 12-1/2" accent bar lengthwise to one side of a 2-1/2" x 12-1/2" lantern bar. Sew an accent bar to the opposite side of the lantern bar. Press seam allowances towards the lantern bars.*
5. Arrange components as shown above. Sew the rows together, matching edges. Press seam allowances towards the background/bar strips.

   Lanterns Quilt Layout Ideas

   Arrange your Chinese Lantern quilt blocks in any type of layout you desire. They can be sewn together side by side, or into vertical or horizontal rows, with sashing between rows. You can also add sashing between all blocks (not shown).

Cat's lanterns