Adding the sashing

Due to circumstances beyond my control, my photo shop is not working tonight...could be my slandering it, who knows. I am going to cry later. If anyone has any questions about the quilt along, please ask. I apologize for the inconvenience this has caused~~
Be sure to measure the block BEFORE cutting the strips into the sub-cuts! If you have decided to go with the 2 1/2" wide strips for the blocks, the sashing will be smaller. Don't forget to press well after each step.

Adding the sashing by machine:
Cut the red and white stripe into 8 strips 9 ¼” x 2 ½”, attach to an edge of one block. Sew opposite side to another block. Attach another red/white stripe strip to finished block, and attach another block. You should now have 3 blocks separated by 2 of the strips. Repeat with remaining blocks to form 4 rows of 3 blocks each.

Take one of the remaining red and white stripe strips and attach to the side of one row of the blocks, press well, attach another 3 block section to the same red and white stripe. Repeat for the next 2 rows of three block sections.

For you handpiecers: Do a backstitch every inch or so when handpiecing to keep your patches anchored, and also prior to and after a seam.

After your blocks are complete and pressed, subcut the sashing strips (always add 1/2" to the width of the strip, and mark the 1/4" seam allowance...the same mark you will sew on) the exact length of your block. Pin on the beginning 1/4" mark and on the ending, pin every few inches to keep the sashing strip and block well aligned. Refer to the prior post about sewing THRU the seams and not over them.
Attach a 2nd block to the opposite side of the strip, press. Sew a 2nd strip to the second block, as before, press, attach the 3rd block.

Repeat to make 4 units of 3 each. Measure each unit and cut a sashing strip to the side of the 3 block unit, press. Sew a 2nd three block unit to the opposite side of the strip. Continue until all of the 4 of the three block units have sashing strips in between, see picture.

Tomorrow we get to add the inner border, wahoo~~~some fun is acoming!

Red, White and Blue quilt along

I made this quilt originally for my grandson Liam, prior to his birth. I knew he would have a July birthday so I leaned towards patriotic colors for his baby quilt. Ya'll know, I am a little to the left..right? So here are your fabric needs:

RED, WHITE AND BLUE BABY/LAP QUILT


Blocks~8 ¾” square

Quilt~42” x 53”

Fabrics:

For the blocks:

White with small blue print~6 strips 3 ½” wide x WOF

Blue with white print~total 6 strips 3 ½” x WOF

Red with white print~2 strips 3 ½” x WOF

For the sashing:

Red and white stripe~4 strips 2 ½” x WOF

Inside border:

Blue with medium white print~4 strips 2 ½” x WOF

Outer border:

White multi-colored print~5 strips 5” x WOF

Refer to photo for color placement as needed. Cut the block prints into 3 1/2” squares. Piece 2 blue squares on opposite sides of 1 white square, repeat once for 2 sections. Piece 2 white squares on opposite sides of red square. Now sew all 3 sections together to form 1 square. Repeat to make 12 squares.  (If you are machine piecing, leave the strips in one piece, lay 2 strips face to face and sew together, press and repeat with the third strip, press. I use the shape cutter and cut 3 1/2" wide segments, then piece the 3 block segments together into a block)
 

                                      

                                                                                 
                         

 

As an added treat for you quilters itching to learn something to do on the go, how about some hand stitching pointers/directions?

 
      ~~ Hand Piecing~~
If you want to use scraps and hand piece, mark the backs of your squares with a 2 ½” mark and cut out each one leaving ¼” all the way around. Lay 2 squares face to face and pin at each end of your marked lines. Sew with a running stitch and one strand of thread from one mark to the other. DO NOT SEW PAST THE SEAM LINES!

                                                                                      
                                                                     
Press the seams towards the dark. Sew three blocks together, repeat 2 more times. Take one section of 2 blue and 1 white and butt the seams together with a section of 2 white and 1 red. Pin the first and last seams and as needed keeping the butted seams together. Sew on the line, as before, until you reach the butted seams. Make a backstich as close to the vertical seam as possible. Now, take your needle and insert @ the backstitch you just made, and run it thru the seams to the middle section. Make a backstitch as close to the seam (that you just went thru) and continue with the running stitch to the next seam. You don’t want to sew the seam down, just go thru it to the next section. Continue in this manner until all 12 of the 9 patches are sewn together.

Stay tuned for the next installment tomorrow. If you have not tried hand piecing, I encourage you to try it. It is a lot faster then you would imagine and quite portable. Simply cut your blocks, mark them and off you go! All you need to work with is: marked patches, a few pins, needle, thread and scissors. Stash them all in a small container or baggie and go watch the kids play ball! You can even get creative and use the bowl edge of a spoon to "press" in a pinch.