NEW Banyan Classics Collection makes for a knockout rail fence quilt

I was beyond excited when asked to write about Banyan Batiks NEW Banyan Classics Collection. After all, what quilter doesn’t love the idea of receiving a box of fabric in the mail, right?

Christmas came early!

Imagine my delight when I saw the beautiful palette of the Banyan Classics Collection in tones of black, white and grey. You can’t get more classic than that! Six dynamic prints in five timeless colorways of Pearl, Opal, Silver, Pewter, and Onyx.

These fabrics definitely appealed to my more masculine sensibilities; no big floral or cutesy prints, so they’d be great to use for that “hard-to-gift” guy in your life. With a classic, neutral palette, they’ll fit in any decor, as well

Quick and easy quilt: great for beginners!

The quilt I designed to showcase these gorgeous fabrics is very quick and easy, with minimal cutting and piecing, so the fabrics really shine. With Classic being the word du jour, a classic Rail Fence pattern came to mind. It’s a great project for the beginner quilter and a great ‘go-to’ project for the more experienced. How many times does an opportunity, or even come up when you need to make a quilt in a hurry? This is perfect! Even more perfect is this fabulous Banyan Classics Collection is available NOW at a quilt shop near you! Visit QUILTsocial for a chance to WIN a delicious Fat Quarter bundle, as well!

To make this quilt you’ll need all 5 colors in the collection. You choose which of the 6 prints you’d like to use in which colorway. They’ll be one print you won’t use, OR, you could choose to use the 6^th print for your backing and binding. It’s YOUR quilt, so you have the permission to play!

Whenever I begin a new quilt, I make a rough sketch so I can make notes and record my fabric choices. It’s a cheat sheet to help me stay organized.

This quilt is a lap size, 60″ wide x 72″ long; five 12″ blocks across by six 12″ blocks long. It’s the perfect size for snuggling under on the sofa or for a twin bed.

I chose the following:

Quilt Top

strip 1     ½yd Pearl 81204-10

strip 2     ⅔yd Opal 81202-990

strip 3     6/8yd Silver 81203-91

strip 4     1yd Pewter 81200-93

strip 5     1½ yds Onyx 81201-99

Quilt backing and binding

I used Pearl 81204-10, the same as used for strip 1, but you can use whichever print, in whichever colorway you choose. You need 4yds, and there’s enough fabric left over from the backing to also make the binding. Alternatively, there’s also enough fabric left over from cutting the strips to sew a scrappy binding. You choose whichever look you prefer. More on binding later

Batting needs to be about 2″ bigger on each side of the quilt, so 64″ x 76″, especially if you’ll finish your quilt using a longarm quilting machine or have someone with a longarm quilt it for you. If you purchase batting in a bag, like Fairfields Natural Cotton Batting, a twin size will do.

You can save the scraps for another project or stuff a pillow or dog bed with it, so you don’t waste a thing.

Grab your fabrics and I’ll meet you at the pressing table.