How to Sew a Crazy Anne Block Lap Quilt

Lap quilts are comfy, and when they are handmade, the sentimental value warms the heart just as the quilt warms the body. The Crazy Anne block pattern became popular in the 1930s and is still one of the most common quilt patterns found today. The pattern is not difficult to sew, because it consists of straight seams and each block is made of only five different sized pieces.

Things You'll Need

• First fabric (main background color): 2 3/8 yards
• Second fabric (highlight color and outer border): 2 5/8 yards
• Third fabric (another highlight color): 5/8 yard
• Fourth fabric (circle highlight and middle border):1 yard
• Backing fabric (same color/pattern as your second fabric): 3 1/2 yards
• Twin size batting
• Thread
• Sewing machine
• Cutting mat and rotary cutter
• Quilting ruler

Instructions

Prep Work

1. Plan your colors/patterns (you'll need to choose four) and buy fabric. You will need four colors/patterns of fabric for the quilt blocks and borders.

2. Cut your border pieces. You'll need two pieces that are 2 1/2 inches x 52 inches and two pieces that are 2 1/2 inches x 44 inches from your first fabric. From your second fabric, you will need two strips that are 4 1/2 inches x 54 inches and two that are 4 1/2 inches x 58 inches. From your fourth fabric, you will need two strips of fabric that are 1 1/2 inches x 46 inches and two that are 1 1/2 inches x 56 inches.

3. Make rectangles. From your first fabric, you will need 96 rectangles that are 1 3/4 inches x 3 3/4 inches, 48 that are 3 3/4 inches x 4 3/4 inches, and 48 that are 3 inches x 5 inches. From your fourth fabric, you will need to cut 96 rectangles that are 2 1/4 inches by 3 3/4 inches.

4. Cut the triangles. The easiest way to do this is to cut out squares, and then cut diagonally across the squares to get symmetrical triangles. From your second fabric, cut out 12 squares that are 6 1/2 inches x 6 1/2 inches each. Cut each of those squares in half, and then cut each of the resulting triangles in half again. You should end up with 48 triangles. From your third fabric, but 24 squares that are 4 3/4 inches x 4 3/4 inches each. Cut each of these squares in half (just once this times). You should also have 48 triangles of this fabric.

Assemble the Individual Blocks

1. Organize the pieces into 12 piles. Each pile should contain the pieces you need for a single block of a Crazy Anne quilt. From your first fabric, each block will use eight of the 1 3/4 inches x 3 3/4 inches, four of the 3 3/4 inches x 4 3/4 inches, and four of the 3 inches x 5 inches rectangles you made in Step 3. From your second and third fabrics, you will use the triangles you made in Step 4. You need four triangles each of your second and third fabrics. From your fourth fabric, you will use four 2 1/4 inches x 3 3/4 inches rectangles you made in Step 3.

2. Assemble the individual blocks of your Crazy Anne lap quilt, using a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Start by sewing the triangles of the second and third fabrics together, alternating the colors in a circular, twirling pattern.

3. Sew in the first fabric rectangles around the twirling triangles, matching sizes as you go.

4. Add the four rectangles of the fourth fabric to form angled corner borders.

5. Add the last of the first fabric rectangles to the outer corners.

6. Trim off any excess fabric to make the block exactly 12 1/4 inches x 12 1/4 inches.

Make the Lap Quilt

1. Piece the blocks together. Sew three of the blocks into a strip. Make four strips of three blocks each, then sew the strips together. When you finish, you should have a rectangle with four rows of three blocks each.

2. Add the inner border, made from the long strips you cut of your first fabric. The two strips that are 2 1/2 inches x 44 inches should line the top and bottom (three blocks across), while the strips that are 2 1/2 inches x 52 inches should line the sides (four blocks down).

3. Sew on the middle border from the fourth fabric. Again, the two shorter strips line the top and bottom, while the longer strips are for the sides.

4. Use the strips from your second fabric to make the final outer border of your quilt.

5. Add the batting and backing in the quilting method you like most to finish your Crazy Anne block lap quilt.

Tips & Warnings

• The pieced squares should go together the same way in each block. If they don't, it will be impossible to sew them together for the final projects, because the sizes of the rectangles will be reversed. Just make sure the twirl of the design is the same in each block.