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!
Brilliant! Thank you for this tutorial! I'm using it to make a really whizzy cover for a basic cream IKEA chair but I think I'm going to love the technique so much that I make a humungeous quilt too! Fab! Lucy x
Posted by: Lucy Locket-Pocket | 11 April 2010 at 12:18 PM
Wow! worth the work, huh? at least it's all done instead of having to quilt it AFTER it's so big!
Good job.
Renea
Posted by: Renea | 11 April 2010 at 12:22 PM
Beautiful! I love it, what a cool way to make a large quilt. Thanks!!
Posted by: Jeannette | 11 April 2010 at 07:13 PM
Oh, I am absolutely in love! You are inspiring me to get going on my log cabins which have quietly been sleeping in the sewing basket. I'm thinking the quilt is going to be giant as well...we can have giant log cabin quilts together!
Posted by: jessica | 11 April 2010 at 07:24 PM
So so so fabulous!!!!!
Posted by: Allie | 11 April 2010 at 07:52 PM
Great job Penny! Can't wait to see how you finish this one.
Posted by: Arlene | 11 April 2010 at 07:55 PM
yours is so beautiful! hope the cat house project opportunity turns out how you want. :)
Posted by: Anna | 11 April 2010 at 09:30 PM
Can't wait to start sewing my blocks together. I still have more blocks to make, first.
Great tutorial! And you are fast!!!
; )
Posted by: Marit | 12 April 2010 at 01:54 AM
so cool!
we have blanket wars at my house too.
What's this opportunity with the cat house? Sounds good! And when did you get sponsors?! Cool! I need to talk to you about that. :)
Hope you are having a nice Monday.
Posted by: amylouwho | 12 April 2010 at 07:04 AM
Wow! This is great! What a pretty quilt.
Posted by: randi | 12 April 2010 at 07:09 AM
I love the randomness of this quilt.. I tried to do random but the control freak in me just wouldn't let me!
Still enjoying the process though.
Posted by: Effie | 12 April 2010 at 12:34 PM
Wow, Penny, it looks awesome!
I had gotten Patchwork Style a while ago and totally forgot I wanted to try out this technique. I'm in love. Though, I wasn't brave enough to do a whole quilt, just a dog bed cover! :)
Posted by: Liesl | 12 April 2010 at 04:14 PM
I can't wait to get to this step - I am deciding on a wall-hanging because the middle prints I am using are so happy, my office needs a pick me up:) Thanks for doing this for us all...:)
Posted by: stacey | 17 April 2010 at 06:22 PM
your quilt looks AMAZING!!!
Posted by: amandajean | 06 September 2010 at 02:04 PM
What is that little pink doodad on your ruler?
Posted by: Linda | 30 September 2010 at 05:57 PM
I realize that I am quite late to the party, but when I made my quilt, my machine won't sew reliably through all of the layers at the seams when I join my rows. My seam allowances are ironed open, but I am having difficulty with the joins. Has anyone else had this problem?
Posted by: Jan | 17 February 2015 at 07:00 PM
I'm late. I'm late. But I'm happy to be here. I'm sure everyone has been enjoying their beautiful quilts
Posted by: Carolyn | 17 May 2016 at 11:12 PM