Fourth of July
Judy Niemeyer Quilting
www.quiltworx.com

Pre-cutting the fabrics is a mandatory requirement prior to taking this course. Please begin preparing for class at least 3-WEEKS prior to the class to make sure that you are able to get the pre-cutting completed before hand. This process will take you from 8- to 12-hours to complete, which does not count the time spent at the fabric store selecting the fabrics to use in the quilt. If this step is not completed, you will have a very difficult time keeping up and participating in the instruction. I do not want anyone to feel as though they have wasted their money and time.

Foundation Papers: The foundation papers used in this pattern are also used in other patterns that our company has published. For this reason, the units will not always follow each other in alphabetical order. This quilt is made using six different foundation units. Please take time to become acquainted with each unit before starting. To make this pattern you will need 24 foundation papers for each unit. Prepare the foundation papers by trimming the excess paper from around the outside cutting line by approximately 1/8”. It is much easier to position the fabric under the foundation papers when the excess paper has been trimmed away. Place a large paper clip on each group to keep the units together.

Caution! The KM Units have a trim line for the 4th of July. Do not trim the papers on that line before class. All the paper piecing must be completed before that line is trimmed. If you trim it before the paper piecing is completed you will need to buy new papers!

Templates: The templates were arranged and grouped together on “Template Layout Sheets.” Each foundation unit uses one layout sheet for the background fabrics and another layout sheet for the dark fabrics. In class, I will show you how the layout sheets are used to cut out your fabric pieces.

How to make the templates: Photocopy the template pages on 11” by 17” paper. Make two copies of each page. Find the templates for S3, A2, and the B-Spike. Cut these three templates out and adhere them onto a piece of template plastic. The rest of the templates are grouped together onto what I call “Template Layout Sheets.” The Template Layout Sheets are cut out by trimming on the black lines around the outside of each grouping. Don’t cut the single templates apart, bring the full sheets to class for each unit.

Caution! Always check your templates for accuracy after photocopying or scanning to the original templates in the pattern. If the templates are not sized properly before cutting your fabrics, the fabric pieces you cut could end up the wrong size and you may need to re-cut and start over with new fabric.

The following items will be used in class:

Sewing Machine with a quarter-inch foot and Accessories
Steam Iron
Ironing Board
Two pieces of Template Plastic (3″ by 18″ piece and 3″ by 12″ piece)
12″ Add-a-quarter ruler
18″ Add-a-quarter ruler (optional)
Purple Thang (optional)
6″ by 12″ ruler
Medium size cutting mat (18” by 24”)
Rotary cutter 45mm or 60 mm
New rotary blade
Size 70 needles (Microtex recommended)
Scissors
Seam ripper
Surge protectors
Extension cords
Fabric glue UHU stic
Glue Pen (Fons and Porter, Sewline, or Avery recommended)
High quality cotton sewing thread
Flower pins
Scotch Tape
Large Ziploc Bags
Stapler
Binder Clips
Large Paper Clips

Cutting Instructions for Unit S: Bag #5:

• Foundation Papers: Place twenty-four (24) foundation papers for Unit-S into Bag #5.
• Templates S1 and S2: The templates for S1 and S2 are positioned on a 6” by 7-1/2” layout sheet labeled “Background-Unit S”. Cut around the layout sheet on the dark solid lines but do not cut the templates apart.Place these in Bag #5.
• Unit S: Background Pieces: Choose six (6) medium light batiks for the background pieces.
• Cutting Fabric: Cut one (1) 6-1/2” by 42″ strip from each of the six (6) medium light colors. Cut twenty-four (24) 8” by 6-1/2” rectangles from the six (6) medium strips. Place all twenty-four (24) 8” by 6-1/2” rectangles into Bag #5.
• Template S3: Template S3 is used to cut out the fabric pieces for the dark spikes. Choose six (6) dark batiks for the center spikes.
• Cutting Fabric: Cut one (1) 5” strip from each of the six (6) dark fabrics. Cut twenty-four (24) 5” by 7” rectangles from the six (6) dark fabrics. Place all twenty-four (24) rectangles and Template S3 into Bag #5.

Cutting Instructions for Unit A: Bag #4:

• Foundation Papers: Place twenty-four (24) foundation papers for Unit A into Bag #4.
• Templates A1 and A3: The templates for A1 and A3 are positioned on a 2-1/4” by 11” layout sheet labeled “Background-Unit A”. Cut around the layout sheet on the dark solid lines but do not cut the templates apart.
• Unit A – Background Pieces: Choose four (4) dark batiks for the background pieces.
• Cutting Fabric: Cut one (1) 5-1/2” strip from each of the four (4) dark colors. Cut twelve (12) 5-1/2” by 12” rectangles from the four (4) dark background strips. Place the layout sheet for Templates A1 and A3 into Bag #4 with the twelve (12) 5-1/2” by 12” rectangles.
• Template A2: Template A2 is used to cut triangles from the bright fabrics.
• Unit A – Triangle Pieces: Choose eight (8) bright fabrics for the triangle pieces.
• Cutting Fabric: Cut one (1) 3” by 42” strip from each of the eight (8) colors. Crosscut the strips into twenty-four (24) 3” by 12” rectangles. Place the twenty-four (24) strips and Template A2 into Bag #4.

Cutting Instructions for Unit B: Bag #6:

• Foundation Papers: Place twenty-four (24) foundation papers for Unit B into Bag #6.
• Templates B1 and B2: The templates for B1 and B2 are positioned on a 5-1/2” by 10” layout sheet labeled “Background-Unit B”. Cut around the layout sheet on the dark solid lines but do not cut the templates apart.
• Unit B – Background: Choose six (6) dark batiks for the background pieces.
• Cutting Dark Background Pieces: Cut one 6” by 42” strip from each of the six (6) dark colors. Cut twenty-four (24) 6” by 10” rectangles from the six (6) dark background strips. Place the layout sheet for Templates B1 and B2 into Bag #6 with the twenty-four (24) 6” by 10” rectangles.
• Template B-Spike: Template B-Spike is used for the bright spikes on both Unit B and H.
• Unit B – Spikes Pieces: Choose twelve (12) bright fabrics for the spikes.
• Cutting Fabric: Cut one (1) 6” by 42” strip from each of the twelve (12) bright fabrics. Crosscut the strips into forty-eight (48) 6” by 8” rectangles. Place half of these rectangles into Bag #6 for Unit B. Place the other half into Bag #1 to be used with the H Units below.

Cutting Instructions for Unit H: Bag #1:

• Foundation Papers: Place twenty-four (24) foundation papers for Unit H into Bag #1.
• Templates H1 and H2: The templates for H1 and H2 are positioned on a 6-1/2” by 10” layout sheet labeled “Background-Unit H”. Cut around the layout sheet on the dark solid lines but do not cut the templates apart.
• Unit H – Dark Background Pieces: Choose six (6) dark batiks for the background pieces.
• Cutting Fabric: Cut one 7” by 42” strip from each of the six (6) dark colors. Cut twenty-four (24) 7” by 10-1/2” rectangles from the six (6) dark background strips. Place the layout sheet for Templates H1 and H2 into Bag #1 with the twenty-four (24) 7” by 10-1/2” rectangles.
• Template B-Spike: Template B-Spike is used for the bright spikes on both Unit B and H.
• Unit B – Spikes: These pieces were cut with Unit B.

Cutting Instructions for Unit J: Bag #7 and Bag #3:

• Foundation Papers: Place twenty-four (24) foundation papers for Unit J into Bag #7.
• Templates J1, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12: The templates for J1, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 are positioned on a 6” by 13-3/4” layout sheet labeled “Background Unit J”. Cut around the layout sheet on the dark solid lines but do not cut the templates apart.
• Unit J Dark Background Pieces: Choose eight (8) dark batiks for the background pieces.
• Cutting Fabric: Cut one (1) 7” by 42” strip from each of the eight (8) dark colors. Cut twenty-four (24) 7” by 14” rectangles from the eight (8) dark background strips. Place the layout sheet for Templates J1, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12, into Bag #7 with the twenty-four (24) 7” by 14” rectangles.
• Unit J and KM Spikes: Choose twelve (12) bright fabrics for the spikes.
• Templates JKM 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, and 13: These templates are used with both Unit J and Unit KM. The spike templates for Unit J are positioned onto a 7-3/4” by 10” layout labeled “Unit J and Unit KM.”
• Cutting Fabric: Cut one (1) 8” by 42” strip from each of the twelve (12) bright fabrics. Crosscut the strips into forty-eight (48) 8” by 10-1/2” rectangles. Place these forty-eight (48) 8” by 10-1/2”rectangles into Bag #3 along with the template layout sheet for “Unit J and Unit KM”.

Cutting Instructions for Unit KM: Bag #2:

• Foundation Papers: Place twenty-four (24) foundation papers for Unit KM into Bag #2.
• Templates KM 1, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12: The templates for KM 1, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 are positioned on a 16” by 10” layout sheet labeled “Background Unit KM”. Cut around the layout sheet on the dark solid lines but do not cut the templates apart.
• Unit KM Dark Background Pieces: Choose six (6) dark batiks for the background pieces.
• Cutting Fabric: Cut one (1) 17” by 42” strip from each of the six (6) dark colors. Cut twenty-four (24) 17” by 10-1/2” rectangles from the six (6) dark background strips. Place the layout sheet for Templates KM into Bag #2 with the twenty-four (24) 17” by 10-1/2” rectangles.
• Templates JKM 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, and 13: These templates are used with both Unit J and Unit KM. They were cut and placed in Bag #3.

In this class you will have the opportunity to learn most of the techniques that I teach and write about in my patterns. I teach a chain-piecing process of foundation paper-piecing that uses pre-cut fabric pieces, cut from pre-designed over-sized templates. I also teach speed-cutting techniques for both paper and fabric. I teach sewing, pressing, and stacking techniques, designed to speed up the process of foundation paper piecing. Curved piecing, traditional piecing and appliqué techniques are also demonstrated in my classes. I teach fast and easy ways on how to cut out foundation paper, how to make templates, how to use them, and how to design them. The 4th of July class will also include a short lecture on color.

Extra foundation papers are available for this quilt in three sizes – Double, Queen and King. The information required to order the extra foundation packages can be found on my web page. If you would like to have the extra foundations available to you during class, you must order them from me before class. If you are signed up to take this class through a quilt shop, please place your order through the store in advance so they will have time to place an order with me.

If you have any questions regarding this class, please contact your instructor directly. Contact information for Judy and her Certified Instructors is available on our website at http://quiltworx.com. Please include your correct email address, phone number, and name. You may also want to check out our website www.quiltworx.com and our facebook page quiltworx.com prior to selecting fabrics. There are many samples, slide shows, and color-changing quilts available for you to enjoy. We also have corrections and helpful hints posted for most of the patterns we have published.

Judy Niemeyer and the Certified Instructors