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Peppermint Twist is a relatively quick quilt, using big print fabrics and large blocks to showcase those fabrics. I used 2 yards of Blend Gingerbread Lane from Kringle’s Sweet Shop collection, 1 yard Blend Candy Cane Forest from the same line and then 2 yards of Kimberbell white on white snowflake .
From Gingerbread Lane, you will need to cut 11 inch strips by WOF (width of fabric). You will need 3 squares for each row that are 11″ squares (10.5″ final size) so a total of 15 11″ squares. From the left overs you will need to cut rectangles that are 11″ tall by 5.5″ wide, you will need a total of 10 rectangles, 2 for each row.
Out of the white snowflake fabric you will need to cut 35 strips that are 1 1/2 inch x WOF
For each of the gingerbread squares and rectangles there is a border of the white snowflake around each. I sewed to the sides first, pressed and trimmed then attached tops and bottoms.
I saved all scraps because I found that I could use many for the short top and bottoms of the rectangles.
Out of the remaining snowflake I cut 2″ strips x WOF x 12 strips
Pink candy cane forest 2″ strips x WOF x 11
Again save all scraps!
To make the candy cane stripes that connect the gingerbread squares and rectangles, sew the 2″ strips starting with white , alternating the pink and white, ending with white Also you need to offset each strip because we are going to cut them on a 45 degree angle.
After you have the 7 strips sewn use your ruler and line up the 45 degree line with either a seam or the bottom edge of strip set. (I’m right handed so my strips will be to my left and the edge to cut on my right, I’m just trimming a nice edge to cut the remaining strips)
After you make that clean edge cut, turn the strip set to your right and then cut 2 inch strips. You can see the peppermint twist feeling in the picture above. These are the strip sets that connect the squares and rectangles forming the row.
Cut the lower edge of the twist so that it has a straight edge, , right sides together with twist and bordered square sew up from the bottom edge, trim off the excess at the top of the square making edges even . I did pull taut ( not stretch)the twist piece to make sure it went to the top of the square. Because of the bias I really found it was easier to trim off excess versus cutting the twist piece to the size of the square ( I think would be13″ if you decide to do that) I really had no problems constantly trimming up my edges.
I sewed a twist section after the first four blocks. So there is not a twist before the first or after the 5th block. You certainly can add this. I wanted to use white minkee on the back and only had 2 yards so I had to keep the quilt within those dimensions.
Sew each of your 5 rows across.
Row one, three and five start with a big block, rectangle, big block, rectangle and big block.
Row 2 and 4 start with a rectangle, big block, big block, big block and rectangle.
To make the twist in between rows sew 4 strips each pink and white as you did in the beginning, stacking the strips and trimming with 45 degree. Cut them into 2 inch sections like before and then start sewing the sections together for 1 long strip , I think I connected 5 strip sets, and then used the left over for another row.
Sew the rows together alternating with a long twist row and trimming everything up as you go along.
I added no further borders( because I had a measurement that I had to stick to!) You certainly could add borders and the quilt would be bigger. My quilt was about 60″ x 70″
I just trimmed up the quilt and because I used minkee type fabric for the back I quilted it very simply with stitch in the ditch.
Minkee is not a simple fabric to work with. I use a bigger needle, Superior sew fine thread, I hate my walking foot , I probably should have used it but I didn’t . When I pin my quilt for minkee, I heavily pin around the first seam I’m going to quilt, sew and then take it back on the pinning table and re form and repin the quilt. I work away from the first seam. so pick a middle seam to stitch in the ditch, sew it, resin restretch and sew the next one.
I did sew the squares and rectangles in the ditch between the block and border. Again I worked away from what ever was just stitched before. This helps with the crazy stretchiness of minkee. If I messed up and worked toward the last stitched area then you get a little bulge. When that happened, I actually stopped short and did not complete the stitching, It kinda helped the bulge be more spread out.
I know theres no picture of that, my bad, and hope that you can understand what I did. I really cater my directions to comfortable quilters, who know how to sew and quilt. there are lots of amazing blogs that help teach, although I can’t say this enough, support your local quilt shop and take a class there. Yo will get LIVE help which is super important.
Thanks SEW much for stopping by! I hope you have fun making this simple quilt that showcases those big prints! have a great day! Colleen
