Abacus is a modern wallhanging which features easy machine applique and simple but effective modern machine quilting. You can make it in your choice of colors and fabrics. Sew more blocks for a larger quilt, or increase the circle size to make a comfy throw. Whatever you choose, I Invite you to make it yourself and make it your own.
PDF pattern available for sale here.
Abacus – 32″ x 32″ by Christa Watson featuring Kona Solids.
Abacus Stats:
- Designed, pieced and quilted by Christa Watson; designed in EQ7
- Finished Size: 32″ x 32; completed October, 2014
- Pieced and quilted on my Bernina 710
- Materials: Kona Solids, Silk Batting, Aurifil cotton thread 50wt 2610
- Specialty notions: Steam a seam light
- Quilting Design: Walking Foot Waves
- Time to complete: 15 1/4 hours – top (9 1/4 hours), quilting & binding (6 hours)
Honors and Publicity:
- Juried into AQS Quilt Week, Chattanooga TN, August 2015
- Juried into QuiltCon, February 2015
Abacus Free Quilt Along Links:
- Abacus Introduction and Supply List
- Week 1 – Fusing & Cutting
- Week 2 – Machine Applique
- Week 3 – Sewing the Top
- Week 4 – Backing and Basting
- Week 5 – Machine Quilting
- Week 6 – Binding to Finish
For those of you who want to play around with the design in EQ7, I’ve included an Abacus EQ7 download. Click here to import it into your EQ7 files.
Abacus was designed in EQ7 by Christa Watson (c) 2014
I also invite you to share your progress on Instagram with the hashtag #abacusqal, or on my flickr group: Christa’s Quilt Along.
Just for fun, here’s another coloring of Abacus, using some of the new 2014 Kona Cotton solid colors with a white background. I call this coloring, “Parfait.”
Christa Quilts 
Hey Christa, I have enjoyed reading you tutorials. You actually have given me courage to try machine quilting again. You speak in a language that is very understandable for us lay people. Those of us who know this wonderful woman, see her energy and life in all that she is doing. I am so glad that we have social media for her to share her knowledge and love of quilting.
I have been printing off each week’s instructions but noticed that the one for October 15 was never made available. Did I miss something or was this just an oversight?
Love the new colors, especially Bordeaux.
I wish I had time to join this quilt along and start a quilt but I don’t so I’m bookmarking it! I love the colors you chose and the quilting design you used!
very interesting design
Oh Christa, I cannot decide which would be my favorite fabric. I love all of the Kona fabric, it feels so nice & so easy to quilt. But, since your wanting me to choose, I love teal or whatever that color is, on my pc its shows as a teal or possibly blue/green color , I would like to do all of the Qult Along. The Pattern is looks so modern. I have EQ5,
can i make the background a diff shade/color? or isn’t it a quilt alogng then?
Yes! You can use any colors and fabrics you like!
I love this quilt and can’t wait to do it in solids which I don’t do much. You seem to like gray backgrounds which I have never done. Thanks for the pattern. Would your download work in EQ 5?
Thank you! Yes, I have been having a thing for grey backgrounds lately! I’m not sure about EQ5 – you can click the EQ link and see if it works 🙂
I love this quilt and can’t wait to do it in solids which I don’t do much. You seem to like gray backgrounds which I have never done. Thanks for the pattern.
SOOOOOO. SUPER !!!!!!