Thank-you all for being so patient while I finished my blocks. With each block being 13.5 inches square once sewn, this is one huge quilt. I'm hoping there won't be any more blanket wars between me and L-man once we start using it.
Here's a snippet of my blocks sewn together.
I say "snippet" because this isn't even half of the quilt. It's so huge I can't get it all in one pic and so heavy that I wouldn't dare ask my husband to hold it up for 10 minutes while I get the perfect shot, so this will have to do. It is currently 95X108 and the quilt as you go method is the only way I would ever attempt to make and quilt a piece this size on my home machine.
Ok, so before we begin part three, I'm going to let the "instructor" in me come out to say a few words.
Since we just got through sewing thousands and thousands of stitches directly onto batting, I want you each to take a moment and:
- open up your bobbin door and clean all that lint out of there.
- Then, oil your machine, (come on, it's been good to you, be good to it and give it a drink).
- And lastly, put a new needle on. You'll be happier if you do. Think about it, you just finished quilting an entire quilt! You NEEEEEEEEED a new needle.
Alrighty, lets get started.
Square up your blocks to a perfect 14 inches-using a cutting mat, rotary cutter, and ruler.
Then, arrange the blocks to your liking.
Using a walking foot and 1/4 inch seam, sew the blocks together in rows, then sew your rows together making sure to press your seams open as you sew the blocks together and the rows together. (before you think I've gone crazy, remember, I did some experimenting with this before I started. I wrote about in part one. If you need to ease your mind or refresh your memory, go ahead and reread it. It's ok, I'll wait.....)
Ok, satisfied?
Make the backing for your quilt- I like to make the backing for my quilts about 4 inches bigger width-wise and length-wise. I'd rather have it a bit bigger than too small.
Ok! I'll be back towards the middle to end of this week with part 4 (which will be the final installment of the quilt-along). If you haven't done so already, please do join the qayg |quilt-along| group and post pics of your quilt in progress!
Looking for part one and two of the quilt-along? Check the patterns and tutorials page at the top, they're in there!
OH! I almost forgot, due to a possible opportunity with the cat-house tutorial, I will be taking it down from sewtakeahike in the next couple of days. I hope you all understand!
