It's day one of our sew-along! Are you feeling ready? I am!
Let's get started!
***If you have any questions, please feel free to ask here in the comments, or over on the Flickr page in the discussion area. I will answer your question wherever you post it. Also, be sure to post your progress pictures in the Flickr group too!
A few little things about me and sewing: I am terrible at cutting threads. In my opinion it's a waste of time until the end of the block. You will note this in the photos. I iron a lot when I quilt. I consider patchwork to be a beautiful but imperfect art. Most of the time my seams are a little "off" and even when I use the same sized pieces, my finished blocks will not measure the exact same size. For me, this is part of the charm.
Now on to the tutorial.
The fabrics you cut up will make 3 mini-quilts. For each quilt will need a pile like this and it will create a block like the one shown (the strips will be sewn on each side of the center block):
Take one of your colored pieces and place it right sides together with the center square, as shown:
Sew them together using a 1/4" seam. The 1/4" seam on my sewing machine is just short of the edge of my presser foot. Be sure to stick with whatever seam allowance that you start with:
Here is what you will end up with:
Trim the excess fabric at the edge of the center block:
Now take that same piece of colored fabric and place it right side together with the center block, as shown:
Sew together using a 1/4" seam allowance:
Now trim the colored fabric against the edge of the center block and iron flat with the seams facing the outer edge. I want you to be sure and iron after each fabric is added. This helps to keep your project flat and helps you to sew your pieces on straight. Plus it just looks nice:
Now pick one of your neutral fabrics and place it on the edge of your sewn pieces, right side together, as shown. Sew together using your 1/4" seam:
Trim the neutral fabric against the edge of your sewn pieces:
Now attach your neutral against the other side of your sewn block as shown, right sides together, using a 1/4" seam:
Trim excess fabric once again:
Iron nice and flat, keeping the seams facing the outer edge of the piece:
You probably get the idea at this point. You will alternate colored pieces with neutral pieces until your block is completed. Be sure to double check your fabric placement each time you are about to sew on a new piece. It is very easy to accidentally sew on the wrong print. I did it twice while building my blocks.:
Remember to iron after each addition of fabric "sides":
After a short period of time, you will end up here. Iron nice and flat:
Now all you need to do is repeat this process two more times and you will end up here, which is today's finish line!:
I hope that your sewing time is fruitful and successful!
See you tomorrow for "sandwiching" tips and machine-quilting how-to's!