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Quilt-A-Long for Charity – Tutorial 8 – Quilting

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Well here we are at the next stage – the quilting!  Don’t be worried though because it really is just straight sewing…..

Preparation

1.  Attach the foot:  Now as I have said before, if you have a walking foot that is great but if you don’t, you can still manage – many of us had made many quilts before we had heard of walking feet.  It is one of those ‘tools’ that make life easier but we can live without!

If you have a walking foot, make sure you attach it by placing the arm ‘thingy’ on top of your needle clamp screw.

2.  Select your thread:  I decided to use a variegated thread in colours of green/yellow/blue.
 
This is a Selco thread that I have never used before (it just had the right colours!!)  I quickly realised that to use this thread effectively, you need to cover it with a ‘sleeve’ or it will just run from the spool.  With that sorted I had no further trouble.  You can use any good quality thread.
 
 
3.  Set the Stitch Length:  I have mine set at 3 for quilting – that is the only thing I need to change.
4.  Decide on where/how you want to quilt:  As I said in the last tutorial, I am doing straight sewing and I will start by sewing across the diagonals.  I will start from a corner and sew on through to the opposite corner.  I will repeat that the other way and end up with a big cross.
NOTE:  Don’t worry if your lines aren’t perfectly straight or if you have some little puckers on the back – it won’t be noticed by anyone else but you – others will only see the ‘big picture’ and they will love it!!
 
I will now move across the quilt, sewing through the diagonals that pass through the other double /4 patch green squares.
 
 
I didn’t think I had enough quilting so decided to sew down and across the quilt, along the seam (stitch in the ditch) passing through the centre of each of the diamonds. 
 
I will show you the back:
 
 
I am happy with that now!
 
Congratulations!!  Give yourself a pat on the back and have a break – we only have the binding to go!
 
Until next time
Nanny xx
 

Quilt-A-Long For Charity – Tutorial 7 – Pinning the Quilt

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Now we have finished the Patchwork it is time to do the Quilting! 
1.  Prepare your backing – if you are using quilting cotton like me, you will need to cut the 3m length in half and join it again along the selvedges to make it big enough.  I try to match my pattern but I know that others don’t worry about it. Others join using a strip of contrasting fabric/s – it really is up to you!!
 
2. Press both the backing and the quilt top.
3. Prepare to Pin the quilt – I stated earlier that I pin my quilts as I can’t use any sprays because of my Fibromyalgia. If you prefer to use a basting spray that is fine but I will be pinning.
 
I am now going to refer you to another post to get the details of the process I use: 
 
4.  Spread the backing, face down and tape it. Spread the wadding and smooth it out with your hands.
 
 
5.  Add the quilt top smoothing it as well.
6.  Pin the quilt
 
 
7.  It is now ready to quilt.
Please take a look at this Tutorial to give you some ideas-
8. Roll the quilt – I am going to quilt down through the diagonals of the squares so I roll the quilt from one corner in towards the centre.  The roll will go under my machine – by rolling like this I can manage quite a large quilt on my little Janome Excel!
 
 
9.  It is now ready to take to the machine.  
 
Until next time
Nanny xx

Quilt-A-Long for Charity – Tutorial 6 – Finish the Top

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Hello!  By now I imagine you have had lots of fun turning your blocks this way and that, and, that you now realise that the hardest part is deciding which way to place them!!

It is entirely up to you which layout you choose – take your pile of 16 blocks and play!

This is time to check that your squares are still square as well …..  it makes joining them easier and ensures that your quilt top sits flat when finished.

1.  Decide on your layout – I had trouble deciding what to do with the ‘tiger stripe’ – it was a part of the charm pack – I tried it out in random placements but decided it was so different, I would make it the ‘feature’ – I hope it looks OK!!
This layout is achieved by turning each alternate block to the right 90degrees. and I think will be easily quilted diagonally through the squares.


If you join your blocks all facing the same way, you will have this layout:


Notice the purple ‘whirly gigs’ that are formed in mine – that gives another quilting option as well as the diagonals through the squares.

2.  Join the blocks into rows (press as you go and try to match the seam lines)


3.  Join the rows (press)


4.  Celebrate your Quilt top!!  Well done!!

5.  You will now need to organise:

a)  Cotton wadding
b)  Backing fabric
c)  Binding fabric

If you are having your quilt quilted for you, check with the quilter re the requirements for the backing and wadding sizes.  

If on the other hand, you are continuing along with me you will need:

1.5m of cotton wadding (the wide one)
1.5m of backing fabric or 3m of any quilting fabric that you can join (this is what I am doing)
Binding Fabric:  
Fabric 1 – Main Binding fabric  – 25 cm
Fabric 2 – Trim ( Peeper Flap) Fabric – 30cm 

I am not adding any borders as the quilt is large enough.

Until next time
Nanny xx

Quilt -A- Long for Charity – Tutorial 5 – Sewing New Blocks

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Today we are going to make our new blocks.

1.  Take one set of cut up 9 patch


2.  Turn the top right so that it faces the opposite way – green square to upper right corner and the bottom left one so that the green is in the bottom left corner

3.  Fold the top left down and stitch the seam

4.  Do the same for the other side

5.  Press the seams back and front

6.  Join the centre seam and press back and front.

7.  If you are using scrappy fabrics like me, you will complete 16 blocks in this manner.

8.  Have fun playing with layout patterns…..

Until next time
Nanny xx

Quilt-A-Long for Charity – Tutorial 4 – Cutting the 9 Patch blocks

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Oh how I would love to see your blocks!!  The photo I took of mine didn’t work so I can’t show you my pile either …….

Today we are going to cut our 9 Patch Blocks – Why? So we can sew them back together!!  Isn’t it fun?

1. Take a 9 Patch Block

 
2.  Check the measurement of your middle square – is it 4 and 1/2″ ??
 
3.  Cut through the centre of the block at 2 and 1/4″

4.  Turn the block and cut through the centre again at 2 and 1/4″


5.  Keep the 4 pieces together until the next step

Happy cutting!!

Until next time
Nanny xx

 

 

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