Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Finishing Instructions

Here's my finished quilt top:


Yeah!!!  It's size is 58" x 72"  here are the instructions to make your quilt this size:

Cutting Instructions:

1)  From the background/sashing fabric, cut 12 -- 2 1/2" strips.

2)  Take 6 of the 2 1/2" strips and cut them into 17 -- 2 1/2" x 12 1/2" sashing rectangles.  (There will be one left over.)

3)  From the border fabric, cut 1 -- 2 1/2" strip and 6 -- 7 1/2" strips.

4)  From the border 2 1/2" strip, cut 6 -- 2 1/2" squares.  This doesn't take the whole strip.

Sewing Instructions:

1)  First lay out your quilt.  When you are doing this, try to balance your blocks.  Spread out strong colors.  A design wall is nice to be able to hang the blocks, leave them, and come back with fresh eyes.  Don't worry if you don't have a design wall.  Grab your digital camera and look at your quilt through the camera.  It gives you a different perspective.  One other tip is to squint.  It sounds silly, but I do it all the time. 

2)  Once you have the blocks the way you want, you can start sewing.  Assemble each row sewing a sashing rectangle between each block as shown:

3)  Also sew three sashing rows together with 3 sashing rectangles and 2 of the 2 1/2" squares from the border fabric as shown:

4)  Sew the rows together by sewing a sashing row between each row of blocks as shown below.  This center should measure 40 1/2" x 54 1/2."

5)  Now for the borders.   First the sashing border.  Take the 6 sashing strips.  Sew them into two long strips that are each 3 strips long.  Take one of these long strips and cut the left and right borders from it.  The left and right borders should measure 54 1/2" long.  Sew these on first.   Press and measure your quilt and cut the borders the size of your quilt. 

6)  Then sew on the top and bottom borders.  Take the other long sashing border strip.  Cut two pieces 44 1/2" long from it.  Once again, make the borders the size of your quilt.

7)  Now for the last border.  Once again, sew the outer border strips into 2 sets of 3 strips.  From these strips cut 4 pieces 58 1/2" long.  First sew on the left and right borders.  Then sew on the top and bottom border.

8)  That's it!  For the backing, take the 3 3/4 yards, cut it in half (or two pieces about 67" long) and sew them back together along the selvage.  You will need a twin size batt.  Quilt it by hand, machine, or by checkbook, and then bind.  For the binding you will need 7 -- 2 1/2" strips.  I do have a binding tutorial HERE if you are interested.

Alternate layouts:

For my swanky quilt, I decided to forego the sashing and just sew the blocks together.  I was going to make the borders the same size, but I didn't have enough fabric.  The first border is cut 2."  The second border is 5."  The quilt measures 48" x 60."  I am surprised at how much I like it.


Also, I got this picture from a fellow quilter, Terry.  HERE is her blog post about this quilt.  Terry made just nine blocks.  I think a couple of the blocks are her own design.  I love her pieced border. 


So put your quilt together however you choose.  Did you only finish 3 blocks?  Make a table runner.  4 blocks?  Make a baby quilt or a table topper.  7 blocks?  Make a baby quilt out of 6 blocks and put the 7th on the back as the label.  Just finish it!!!!

Than post your pictures on Flickr so we can all revel in the fun quilts whether you use my finishing instructions or not. 

Drawing Dates:

Monday, August 16th from the Flickr pool
Monday, August 30th from the Flickr pool
Monday, August 30th from the Participants Blog Post

Information for Locals:

For those of you who live around here, I would love to see these quilts in either the Peteetneet Quilt Show in June or the Spanish Fork Pioneer Day Quilt Show on, well, Pioneer Day during their Fiesta Days.  Those are two shows I am involved with.  If you don't live around here, consider putting your quilt in one of your local quilt shows.  It is so fun to see you quilt hanging with other lovely quilts.  You get to see it in a different perspective. 

18 comments:

Diane said...

Thanks so much Konda for hosting this-can't wait to see all the finished quilts!

Terry said...

Thanks for sharing the picture of my quilt! I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone else's put together! :0)

A.J. Dub. (Amy) said...

I wanted to participate in this so badly but have not had the time.I have been following your progress though! I am going to do it this fall and have my quilt ready to send to my mom for Fiesta Days. I live in Texas now but am a native Spanish Forker.

These are such great quilts!

Betsy said...

It looks great!

Sequana said...

Thx again for all your work on this. If it just cools off around here, I'll be able to finish up.

Brooke said...

Love the finished project!

GeeGee said...

Your quilts are lovely. Thanks for sharing and posting setting instructions. My blocks are done, I just need to select sashing and border fabric. Thanks for all your hard work, the quilt-along was fun!

Mia's Cottage said...

I have never used Flickr before. It's loaded, is that all there under my name, or how do I somehow get it under yours so everyone can see. Or don't I? I'm confused??!!
Donna

SheilaC said...

Your quilts look great!! Thank you so much for hosting this and for the finishing suggestions.

I have 9 blocks done, and I like your idea of just making THAT my quilt.... I will play around with them this weekend and think on it.....

SheilaC

Alice said...

I just wanted to thank you for this fun sew along. It has been fun seeing all the different color combinations along the way, so I can't wait to see the finished products.
L,A-

sjoko said...

This has been a wonderfull journey - every monday I have been eager to look for the new block. The first four was done one time. Then work and vacation came in the way. The last eight was therefore done Thursdag - Sunday this week. It was great fun!!!!!
Thank you so much. I am now working on sashing and border - will definetely try to be ready for the August 30th.
I loved it - again THANK YOU !!!!!!

Dandelion Quilts said...

Thank you very much for hosting this fun quilt along. I really appreciate all of the time you put into organizing it, and posting each time. I really like that you included suggestions for alternative finishing ideas. It will be really neat to see what everyone does with their blocks. Thanks again.

Grethe said...

BIG Thank you,Konda from me as well. All the way from Norway!
I have enjoyed making these samplers with my Prairie Paisley. I like my blocks,cann`t wait to sew them all together.
There are so many lovely Jelly Rolls participating. It will be great to seeing everyone soon showing their own quilt.

sandy said...

I have had a great time using up and old jelly roll. Have gotten 9 blocks finished and who knows, maybe get the rest done. It has been a lot of fun and great seeing the different fabrics.

Anne D said...

Thanks for a great quilt along. I have finished all 12 blocks and love them.

crickets said...

Am almost done iwth my quilt top - thx so much for such a fun way to use my 2-1/2" strips! You're awesome and so generous :)

SheilaC said...

Posted my quilt in Flickr :)

Yay!

SheilaC

Ingrid said...

Thank you Konda for making this possible. Just finished my quilttop. Made a big centre-block and put the 12 around it.
Bye Ingrid.