Here is a fun wallhanging easily done by a group of needleworkers. Fundraisers at the Alden Depot Museum (Alden, Michigan) added a couple of rows and a couple of cars per row to make a larger wallhanging, and held a successful raffle.

Plans are afoot with yet another group to use the trains as borders “running around” a bed-size quilt. The process will be detailed on this website in early 2004.

The pattern is out of print. Designer Gerry Kimmel-Carr has generously given us permission to place the instructions here, for your use. For more patterns from Gerry Kimmel-Carr, visit the Red Wagon website.

Size - 32" x 41 1/2"
Fabric Requirements -
1/2 yard black plaid or stripe for tracks
1/2 yard light for background
1/2 yard dark print for border and binding
1/4 yard black solid
1/8 yard 6 - 12 different fabrics for railroad cars
Scrap plaid for engine window

Instructions

Cut 5 engines - Piece #4 needs to be reversed for the three engines headed West. Pieces 1, 3, 4, 7, small wheel, large wheel and smoke stack are solid black. Piece 6 is print. Piece 3a is window. Pieces 2, 4 and 8 are background.

Piecing A - 1) Applique small wheel on background Piece 8 – refer to pattern for placement. Remember three trains will be headed in the opposite direction. 2) Applique smoke stack on Piece 2. 3) Piece 1 and 2 together. 4) Piece 3, 3a and 5 together and join to above unit. 5) add Piece 6 to above unit. 6) Piece 4 and 7 together and add to side.

7) Piece 8 to bottom of this unit. 8) Applique large wheel in position. Piecing B - Coal Car - Cut 5. Pieces 9 and 11 are background. Piece 10 and wheel are black solid. 1) Applique small wheel on background 11. 2) Piece 9, 10 and 11 vertically.

Piecing C - Connection - Piece 13 is black solid. Pieces 12 and 14 are background. Cut 20 and piece vertically.

Piecing D - Freight Car. Pieces 15 and 19 are background. Two 16's and 17 are print. Piece 18 and 2 wheels are black. Cut 10. 1) Applique wheels in position on 19. 2) Piece 17 and 18 together and add a 16 to both sides. 3) Piece 15 on top of this unit and 19 below.

Assemble Train as follows -
Train #1 heading West A c B c D c D c
#2 heading East c D c D c B c A
#3 heading West A c B c D c D c
#4 heading East c D c D c B c A
#5 heading West A c B c D c D c

Tracks - Cut 5 - 2 1/2" x 27" (+sa). Sew below each train.

Outside Border – Cut 2 - 2 1/2" x 27" (+sa) for top and bottom.
Cut 2 - 2 1/2" x 41 1/4" (+sa) for sides.
Add borders to quilt top and bottom first.
Quilting is outline with straight lines on tracks and track lines on outside borders.
Sign and date.

BINDING: Seam allowance is included in these measurements.
Cut on straight of fabric
Cut 2 - 1" by width of quilt plus 5"
Cut 2 - 1" by length of quilt plus 5"
Pin right side of binding to right side of quilt leaving 2 1/2"
extra binding at each end. Stitch through 1) binding, 2) front of
quilt, 3) batting and 4) backing. Sew all 4 borders, making sure
the stitches meet at corners. If stitches do not touch, correct
with hand stitches. Miter the corners, hand sew miter, trim and
turn. Turn back 1/4" allowance on raw edge and stitch.
Sign and date.

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS (+sa) means "plus 1/4" seam allowance. "All pattern pieces and measurements need to have 1/4" seam allowance added. Your pencil line is the sewing line, not the cutting line. Pattern pieces for applique are marked on the right side of fabric.

Red Wagon

Made in the U.S.A.
1989 - Red Wagon TRAINS Copyright Gerry Kimmel 1988