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Home » Rainbow Machine Cover – Tutorial 3 – Sewing the Squares

Rainbow Machine Cover – Tutorial 3 – Sewing the Squares

May 26, 2013 by Nanny 2 Comments

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How exciting!  Our squares are all trimmed so Let’s Sew Along!!  🙂

NOTE:  This is not the only way to do this but it is the way I have chosen to: explain; demonstrate; and keep it simple.  If you prefer to follow a different method, that’s fine!  Enjoy!!

1.  SEW – Take your board with squares laid out to the machine.  Start with the two left hand rows and take the first square from each row.  Using a 1/4″ seam, sew them together but don’t remove them from the machine. Instead, take the next two and continue sewing – keep doing this to the end of the rows.  This is called ‘Chain Piecing’ and it is a great technique – time saving, cotton saving and a huge help in remembering what goes where!!


When you are finished, they can get all over the place but will still be ‘chained’ in the correct order! Don’t cut them apart until you are ready to move on to the next step.


2. PRESS – Lay your chain along the ironing board the same way up that you sewed, and press. ( I haven’t cut them apart yet – it will make showing you another step easier) This will set the seam.  Remember don’t iron back and forwards – just press down and up.



3.  OPEN – Open the squares up so that the seam is on top and press one seam to the right and the next to the left and so on along the chain. This is a difference between regular sewing and Quilting/Piecing – you rarely press the seams open unless the design/quilting work requires it. Usually, you try to press the seam towards the darker fabric, so that seams aren’t as visible through the fabric, but for this exercise, I am not worrying! 

4.  CUT – Cut the first two from the chain and  put right sides together, matching the seam lines. (Make sure you have them right way up to get the layout to match the colour chart)  

You will notice, that when one seam is pressed one way and the other the opposite way, that it forms a little ridge that lets you ‘lock’ the seam join in place.


While holding the seam joins together, place the pieces in the machine and sew.  Keep your finger on the seam join so that the lock is in place as it enters the needle area.

Take the next two and chain and then the next two.  You will have one left over.

5.  PRESS – Press as  before to set the seam and when you open it out, you will see that your seams match!!  No pinning required! (Please give it a try but if you feel you need to pin, then of course that is up to you)



If they are a little bit out, you have two choices – Don’t worry about it OR unpick and redo!  Like anything, you will get better as you go but, if it’s any help, I won’t be undoing any of mine! ( I’m not putting the cover in a competition or anything and you won’t notice little differences in the overall effect!)

NOTE:  I am referring to a mismatch of a stitch width – it is important to keep your edges matching and of course, it is preferable to have your joins precise, as it is this precision that will result in your finished project sitting flat and looking its best!!

Now, before we start on the next rows, we need to take care of the double colours in the green row and the pink row. (remember – we are matching the colour chart)  Take the two greens and two pinks and sew together, press and open.


6.  TRIM – We now have to trim these to a 4″ square.  Place your rule on the rectangle so that the 2″ line runs down the seam line and trim excess away.  Turn and do the other side.



7.  REPEAT – Now repeat the chain piecing for the next two rows.  For the last row, sew the first 2 and so on up the row. How are your seam ‘locks’ going – getting better?


8.  ACROSS – Now work across the chart.  Take the 4 patch on the left and join it to the green/blue one to it’s right and then add the purple.  Continue doing this as you work your way up the chart.


9.  JOIN –  Join the rows right across, locking your seams as you go, and before you know it:


You have a completed rectangle which is a replica of the colour chart for the Quilters Solids.  (Or you have completed the rectangle to fit your project)

10.  CELEBRATE – Well done!  

It is from this point that we will be following different paths according to what we are making.

I will post further instructions for each.

Until next time
Nanny xx

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Filed Under: HOME/DECOR, QUILTING TUTORIALS, SEWING/QUILTING, SIMPLE PROJECTS, TUTORIALS

Trackbacks

  1. Make a 9 patch Sampler with Nanny - Nannycraft4u says:
    February 12, 2017 at 9:20 pm

    […] 2.  Fold the left side squares over onto the centre squares and stitch together.  Chain piecing saves cotton and keeps squares in order, see here. […]

    Reply
  2. Make a Chevron Quilt Block from Charm Squares. - Nannycraft4u says:
    April 10, 2017 at 10:12 am

    […] NANNY TIP:  use chain piecing […]

    Reply

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