For those doing the quilting tutorial

**homesteadmamma** · 11-07-2003, 08:27 PM

I'm almost finished the tutorial on putting it all together. I only have the binding left to do (where there are a few little tricks), but I forgot to take in the film when I went in this week.

I probably won't be in the city now until I get back from my trip, so I promise to get it finished the week of the 17th. That way if anyone is making a quilt for a Christmas gift, you'll be able to get it done on time.

Can you tell me where you are in the tutorial and the quilting process. Any questions you might have?

**SewCrafty** · 11-07-2003, 08:35 PM

Yup!

I am putting the sashing on. What is the best way to cut your sashing, lengthwise or across the fabric?

I cut my borders across the fabric because they were short lengths and the sashing lengthwise because of the longer pieces. Well when it came to sewing, the borders looked great, everything was square, nice and neat. The sashing between the blocks went great too.

Now we come to the longer pieces of sashing and

Now my blocks don't line up underneath each other etc.....

The only way I think I can save this one is to remove the sashing and sew it on the first row of blocks in one direction, the next set of blocks going in the other direction etc.....

What is the proper way to cut the strips for the borders and sashing? I'm guessing both in the same direction on the fabric?

**homesteadmamma** · 11-07-2003, 08:38 PM

Dee, can you post a picture. I need to see what your saying. I think I know, but it would help if you can post a picture. It doesn't have to be large.

**SewCrafty** · 11-07-2003, 08:41 PM

I'll post one tomorrow morning when I have more light, okay?

It isn't really noticeable until the last row of blocks and then

**homesteadmamma** · 11-07-2003, 08:43 PM

Okay, I'll watch for it tomorrow. Don't take it all apart though, because usually you can fix it without going through the trouble of taking it apart.

Its easier if I see it though than trying to explain it without seeing the picture.

**Missy** · 11-07-2003, 08:45 PM

I am waiting ot go fabric shopping for the rest of the fabric i need.

**Michelle** · 11-07-2003, 08:47 PM

Where am I on the tutorial? Welllll....I did 2 blocks, working on a third, but my first two aren't going to make it into the finished quilt.

I am going to do them over again, as well work on the others, soon. I printed out most of the tutorials yesterday.

So I guess I'll be working at my own pace. Look for the finished product next June or so

**homesteadmamma** · 11-07-2003, 10:46 PM

Michelle, I have faith that your going to finish it, even if it is in June of next year. My first quilt took longer than that to finish, so don't give up.

**frugalmel** · 11-08-2003, 01:34 AM

I have done 3 plus the jar block. Going to get going on some more blocks soon.

**Michelle** · 11-08-2003, 08:45 AM

I'm working on Patience Corner now. I've cut and laid it out, need to assemble it now. It's funny that this one is supposed to be simple, because it was like a word problem for me trying to figure out how to match up my colors with the ones CJ used. I know I'm not explaining that right, but there are several colors, and I just couldn't figure out which ones were her mediums vs. darks. I think I only ended up using 4 different colors instead of the 5 or 6. Ignore me if I am making absolutely no sense...it will all be clear when I post a picture of the finished block

**homesteadmamma** · 11-08-2003, 09:20 AM

Michelle, when I get back from my trip, I'm thinking of doing a tutorial just on color. I'm going to see what I can put together to help you and others who are having a problem with colors.

Its something that is learnt and takes time, so don't feel bad is you are having trouble with it. It will come together for all quilters.

**SewCrafty** · 11-08-2003, 09:40 AM

Here is the pic CJ, the first 2 rows of blocks came out great then the last row is shifted at least 1" to the left!

**homesteadmamma** · 11-08-2003, 10:30 AM

Dee, nice job!!

Okay, here is a couple of hints that might help. First I cut my material both ways and haven't had that trouble. So I don't think its the cutting.

-first, are all your sashings between your blocks the exact size. The reason I'm asking that is because sometimes when the material is doubled, you will undercut the bottom piece, kwim. It looks like your bottom sashing in the left hand corner is a bit smaller. It may just be the picture though. So check those first.

-are all your blocks 12 1/2 inch squares. This will make a huge difference when it comes to putting your blocks together, because you'll have to adjust your borders a tad bit. If you don't have a 15 x 15 inch ruler, here is where you sometimes come into trouble because even though you think your blocks are exactly 12 1/2, they could be over a hair or under a hair, possibly on only one side, possibly just in a corner of a block, kwim. (Remember, I'm just throwing these suggestions out to help everyone here.) And if they aren't exactly 12 1/2 inches square, you would then have to adjust your seam allowance when it comes to putting your borders on. Your blocks should measure EXACTLY 13 1/2 inches with your border. If they don't, your sashing will be out and you'll have to adjust your 1/4 inch seam allowance.

-Now rather than taking it all apart, I would take the bottom row out. (I had a wonderful teacher who always said - never take it all apart if you don't have too, BECAUSE you usually end up more frustrated and in taking it apart, it sometimes "stretches" a tad bit out of shape and you'll be out even more.) I've followed her advice throughout my quilting. She knew what she was talking about and I so appreciated having a teacher like that. Okay, back to the bottom row. Take it off, making sure you do it slowly so that you don't stretch any of your blocks and make them "out of shape". If your blocks, with your borders, don't measure 13 1/2 inches, then adjust your sashing between the bottom 3 blocks. Don't cut your sashing again, just adjust your 1/4 inch seam allowance, either out a bit or in a bit. Thats why I love borders and sashing, because you can do that. (Just make sure if your not using your 1/4 inch seam allowance, that you do have a seam allowance - I know from experience this does happen.)

Now when you put your row back together, line up the sashing from the middle row (between the blocks), to the sashing in the bottom row (between the blocks). Pin the the rows together, making sure you don't move the rows a tad bit while doing that. Don't worry if your row is a bit over on the outside, because when it comes to doing the sashing on the outside, you can adjust it a bit when it comes to the bottom row by not sewing quite the 1/4 inch seam allowance.

- I just looked at your quilt again, and when I look at your outside block (I think it would be the right side to you in the middle row), the block looks like it goes in towards the quilt a tad bit at the bottom. It again may only be the picture, but if it isn't the picture, you'll have to make sure you adjust your seam allowance when it comes to sewing the long strip.

There is another way to do your sashing. I don't have any pictures here, but I'm going to start another post, in this thread, explaining it. Hang tough!!

edited to add: Its tough for me as a teacher to do this because I don't want anyone thinking I'm picking Dee's quilt apart. She has done a wonderful job on her quilt. I'm only giving suggestions to her so she doesn't have to take the whole quilt apart. Its also hard seeing only a picture, because everything could be absolutely perfect and the quilt may have just hung the wrong way when it comes to taking the picture. I know that from experience. Dee, thanks for giving me the opportunity to try to help. And for anyone reading this, my first quilt sure didn't look like Dee's. It was awful!!!

**homesteadmamma** · 11-08-2003, 10:40 AM

Okay here is another way to do your sashing. It does take a bit more work, but you might want to do it this way.

Your sashing between your blocks would be cut exactly as it is right now.

When it comes to the long strips between rows, instead of having a long strip, you would cut your sashing the same length as for your middle strips. If your sashing is 3 1/2 inches wide, you would cut out squares 3 1/2 inches. In your quilt, you'd need 2 for each row.

You would take your 13 1/2 inch strip, sew a 3 1/2 inch block, sew another 13 1/2 inch strip, sew a 3 1/2 inch block, then your last strip.

Once that is done, you would line it up with your row that already has been sewn together. Here again though, you have to be accurate in your cutting, because your 3 1/2 inch blocks would have to line up with your sashing between your blocks. If you were to do this, your 3 1/2 inch blocks would be a different color or pattern than your 13 1/2 inch strips.

When you got to the outside sashing, you'd do exactly the same thing. So you would never have a long strip of the same material in your sashing, it would be broke up with your small squares.

This is just another way to do your sashing, although I wish I had some pictures to explain it better.

I sometimes do this, in fact thats what I did with the charity quilt. It just does take more time and I wanted to teach the easiest way for our first quilt.

I'm going to send you a pm Dee, so watch for it okay.