Bento Box Quilt Pattern?

Question

I am making my 2nd quilt & thinking of doing a Bento Box. Is it fairly easy? I want to make it big enough to fit on a double bed & really need the measurements for the fabric. A FREE website would be great.

Answer 1

The quilt isn't really a hard, but made not a beginning quilt either.  I had never heard of it before, so I looked it up on the internet.  There were no free websites.  I could probably walk you through how to do it.  If you are interested in my help, contact me through my website: http://www.appliquequiltdesigns.com

Answer 2

That pattern is just a traditional half log cabin pattern with three rows and a different color placement. Instead of sewing the "logs" on all four sides of the center, you only add strips to two sides. The pattern requires a high contrast (light and dark) between the strips.

The amount of fabric you need depends on how many different fabrics you want to use and how big you want the quilt to be. Assuming the quilt is 84" x 96", and you're doing a two color quilt using 6" blocks and no borders, you'd need 4 3/4 yards of each fabric. If you're going to use several different fabrics, you need a total of 4 3/4 yards of light fabrics and 4 3/4 yards of dark fabrics.

If you want to do larger blocks, you can increase the width of the strips to whatever you like. You may have to adjust the size of the quilt in order keep the pattern consistent. You need an even number of rows and columns, otherwise you'll have half boxes on one side. For example, if you cut 3 1/2" strips, your finished block will be 9", you'll have 10 across and 10 down, for a finished quilt that is 90" x 90". In that case you'll need 4 3/4 yard each of lights and darks. If you cut 4 1/2" strips, your finished block will be 12", you'll have 8 across and 8 down for a finished quilt that is 96" x 96", and you'll need 4 1/2 yards each of lights and darks.

It really isn't a difficult block, you just have to be consistent in your seam allowances. Because the blocks are turned toward one another, the seams intersect. This means that putting the blocks together into rows and then putting the rows together you'll have a lot of intersections to pin.

In order to construct 6" finished blocks, cut your fabric into 2 1/2" strips. Cut a 2 1/2" square of each fabric and sew them together using a 1/4" seam, then press. Turn them face down on top of the light strip with the dark square at the top. Sew along the right edge using a 1/4" seam. Trim the light strip so it is the same length as the two pieced squares and press the seam to the longer strip. Place the block face down on the dark strip, this time with the new light strip at the top. Sew along the right edge using a 1/4" seam. Trim the dark strip so it is the same length as the pieced square, then press to the longer strip. Turn the block face down on the dark strip one more time, this time with the mixed dark and light side at the top. Sew along the right edge using a 1/4" seam. Trip the dark strip so it is the same length, press, and you've completed one block. Repeat using the same sequence of light and dark until you have 112 squares. Then got through the whole process again, this time switching the position of the light and dark pieces, until you have another 112 squares. When you press these blocks, press IN toward the center of the block instead of out, toward the newly added strip. This will make it easier to nest the seams together when you assemble the top.

Lay the squares out, alternating the two blocks, and turning them so they form the box pattern. Sew the blocks together to form rows, nesting the seams together and pinning on either side of each intersection. Do the same when you sew the rows together.

Here's a link to basic instructions for a half log cabin block: http://www.equilters.com/library/logcabi...

This site uses the traditional color placement of lights on one side, darks on the other, and they have extra rows, but the basic construction technique is described pretty well. Also, you will keep your center square the same size as your other strips.