Now that you have your scraps sorted and the batting cut and marked, you're ready to start!
Who's ready to sew?!!?
Half of the blocks will start with the white/creme fabric in the middle, and the other half of the blocks will start with the colored fabrics in the middle.
The example I am using starts with the white/creme in the middle.
****edited to add, you will be doing these steps with no quilt backing. We will add the backing in a later post, after the blocks are sewn together.
To start:
Place the center fabric (the size is completely your choice) in the middle of the traced square and using your 80/12 topstitching needle, sew it down using 1/4 inch (or so) straight line quilting.
With right sides together, line up the edges of the first fabric with the next fabric (I used strips that were anywhere from 1"-3.5" wide, so use whatever size you like) you are using
finger press the seam open, and quilt the second piece of fabric down using 1/4 inch straight line quilting.
Continue on in this manner, adding fabric along each edge, sewing it down with a 1/4 inch seam, and then quilting it with a straight line, until the white/creme fabrics fill the marked square.
At this point, you will start using the colored fabric pile and continue on adding pieces and quilting it until the square of batting is covered.
Congratulations, you've made your first quilt as you go block!
Continue making the blocks until you have enough for the size of quilt you desire.
Remember, half of the blocks will start with white/creme in the center square and finish with the colored fabrics on the outside. The other half of the blocks with start with the colored fabrics in the center square and finish with the white/creme fabrics on the outside.
I used a walking foot for making my blocks and it worked well. I also adjusted the stitch length to 3 instead of the normal 2.
Also, you could get a little crazy with the quilting if you want, and do waves, or another design if you choose. There are so many possibilities!
I will be posting part three of the quilt-along in a couple of weeks to give us time to complete our blocks before moving on. Since we are quilting as we go, they will take a little more time to make than normal blocks.
As you get your blocks made, make sure to pat yourself on the back and post photos to the quilt as you go |quilt-along| group and the scraps to treasure group! I'd love to see what you're coming up with!
~Penny
p.s. looking for quilt as you go |quilt-along| part one?
