Welcome to week one of the On the Road to Spring quilt-along!
Over the next six weeks we are going to be working towards make a quilt together (the finished quilt size is approximately 60" X 50"--a lap quilt). Anyone is invited to join in at any time. The posts will stay up so that if you fall behind or join in later, you can find the information you need.
This is our schedule:
week one--January 25th: choosing and preparing your fabrics
week two--February 1st: cutting the pieces for the quilt (all squares and rectangles)
week three--February 8th: sewing your quilt top together
week four--February 15th: assembling your "quilt sandwich"
week five--February 22nd: machine quilting
week six--March 1st: binding your quilt
If you would like to join the Flickr group, please click here. Flickr is free and simple to use, and it will be the perfect place for showing off your progress and discussing quilt-making. (Joining the Flickr group is optional, but I do recommend it).
This week we will be choosing and preparing fabrics. Basically, this week is as simple as it gets. Plus it is just plain fun to buy sewing supplies, don't you think?
This is the list of fabrics you will need (feel free to wait on the binding and backing if you need to, but if you have the money, buy it now so that the store won't run out of a fabric you love).
For the quilt top: 1/3 yard pieces of 10 different prints (for the rectangles)3-1/3 yards total
2 yards of a solid/neutral fabric (for the squares)
For the binding: One yard of a coordinating print
For the backing: Three yards of a coordinating print
For the batting: Two yards of 90" wide Warm and Natural batting (You won't need this for a few weeks so you can wait until it goes on sale at your local quilt store or try using the Hobby Lobby coupon).
This is my stack of prints (be sure to post yours in the Flickr group):
Also, you will need to gather these supplies at some point:
rotary cutter, ruler and mat
thread to match your fabrics (I almost always use beige or white)
sewing machine
free-motion foot for the quilting (about $10)
scissors
pins
If you need to some advice on choosing fabrics, click here.
Once you have made your purchases or raided your stash, you can get to the preparing part of your fabrics.
It's simple.
Just unfold your fabric and toss it in the washing machine with some detergent and fabric softener and wash on the normal or gentle cycle. You can machine-dry your fabric, but I always line-dry mine. I also never machine-dry my finished quilts because the colors last longer and the fabric doesn't deteriorate.
When your fabric is dry you can iron it on a cotton setting. This is honestly the only time you will ever find me with an iron in my hands. The smell of freshly-washed fabric being ironed is just wonderful, if you ask me.
Now fold your lovely stack and set it aside.
And, believe it or not, that's it! When you finish these things, you are all set for week two. Now you can relax and imagine what those fabrics are going to become. You can also grab a cup of coffee and feel good about accomplishing something.
See you next week!
***IF I HAVE FORGOTTEN SOMETHING, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND I WILL EDIT THIS POST.
