Quick answer

To piece the Swinging Old Lady quilt from Millefiori Quilts 4, start by gathering your complete piece pack and acrylic templates, then follow the step-by-step assembly order outlined below.

Understanding the Swinging Old Lady pattern

The Swinging Old Lady is a striking medallion-style design from Willyne Hammerstein's Millefiori Quilts 4. It features concentric rings of diamond and jewel shapes that radiate from a central motif. Because the pattern relies on precise angles, English paper piecing (EPP) is the ideal method to keep points sharp and seams accurate.

One common challenge with this pattern is managing the many small pieces in the outer rings. The complete piece pack simplifies sorting, but you still need to plan your fabric placement ahead of time to avoid running out of a favorite print.

Step-by-step assembly guide

  1. 1. Gather your supplies: Collect the Swinging Old Lady complete piece pack, acrylic fabric cutting templates, your chosen fabrics, thread, needles, and a small pair of scissors. Sort the paper pieces by shape and size before you start sewing. Check that you have all the paper pieces listed in the pattern instructions; missing a shape can halt your progress mid-project.
  2. 2. Cut your fabric: Use the acrylic templates to cut fabric pieces, adding a ¼-inch seam allowance around each shape. For fussy cutting, center your desired motif within the template window before cutting. Cut one or two test pieces first to confirm your seam allowance is even; uneven allowances cause misalignment later.
  3. 3. Baste fabric to paper: Place a paper piece on the wrong side of the fabric, fold the seam allowance over the paper, and baste using thread or fabric glue. Keep the paper centered so the fabric lies flat on all sides. Avoid pulling the basting too tight—it can warp the paper and make the piece bulge when sewn.
  4. 4. Assemble the center motif: Sew the central shapes together using a whipstitch, matching edges and entering at the corners. Start with the innermost ring and work outward to maintain the pattern's symmetry. Double-check that the center motif lies flat before adding the next ring; a twisted center will ripple through the entire quilt.
  5. 5. Add the surrounding rings: Continue stitching the concentric rings of diamonds and jewels, one ring at a time. Press seams open or to one side as you go to reduce bulk at intersections. Pin or clip each new ring to the previous one at several points before sewing to distribute any slight ease evenly.
  6. 6. Finish the quilt top: Once all rings are attached, remove the basting and paper pieces carefully. Press the completed top, then layer with batting and backing for quilting. Leave the paper in until the block is fully joined to adjacent blocks—removing too early can distort the shape.

Product facts

  • The Swinging Old Lady found in Millefiori Quilts 4 by Willyne Hammerstein: The Swinging Old Lady pattern found in Millefiori Quilts 4 by Willyne Hammerstein. Complete Piece Pack and Acrylic Fabric Cutting Templates Sold Separately. Buying the complete piece pack saves you the time of cutting your own paper pieces, and the acrylic templates make fabric cutting faster and more accurate for consistent seam allowances.

    The Swinging Old Lady found in Millefiori Quilts 4 by Willyne Hammerstein

    The Swinging Old Lady found in Millefiori Quilts 4 by Willyne Hammerstein