Your kit should contain 18 strips of varying color and width, one large piece of fabric for backing, and 4 or 5 2.5 inch strips for binding.
Step 1: Lay out the 18 strips in an arrangement that you like.
Step 2: Using a quarter inch seam allowance, sew the strips together, starting with the first two.
Press seams to one side
Repeat until all strips are sewn together and seams are pressed.
You have now finished the quilt top! I told you it was easy!
Step 3: Trim your quilt top. Try to make the top square. Size is up to you, but remember to measure the top against the backing fabric that is included in your kit. I trimmed off about 6-8 inches.
I like to incorporate my trimmings into the back of my quilt. (If you don't have a rotary cutter and acrylic ruler, just mark your quilt using a straight edge and pencil, then cut with scissors.)
Now you are ready to "quilt" your quilt. :). There are several options, take it to a local quilt shop and have them quilt it for you, or you can do it yourself. If you would like to do it your self, keep reading to see how I do it.
Step 4: Make your quilt sandwich. Layer your backing, batting and quilt top. I like to use cotton batting. Hobbs Heirloom and Warm and Natural are my favorites, but feel free to use what you like.
This is where I usually trim excess fabric and batting. Try to leave about 2-4 inches on all sides. Your quilt can shift while you are quilting it, and the excess gives you some breathing room.
Step 5: Baste the quilt. The most common way to baste a quilt is with safety pins. I prefer the quick and easy way...basting spray. My favorite brand is Dritz, but most work fine. Just be sure that it washes away! DO NOT use permanent adhesive!
I like to baste in my garage. It eliminates worry about getting sticky stuff inside my house. I lay out an old sheet to keep my quilt clean, then I put the batting on the sheet.
I put the backing on first. I roll it up inside my house,
I spray my batting--the entire width, and about 2-3 feet of the length. Next lay your roll where you have just sprayed.
Now is the important part. You want to make sure there are NO puckers or wrinkles. Take your time unrolling. Smoothing from the center out. If you have a pucker, unstick it and smooth it out.
Keep spraying and rolling until you finish the back of the quilt.
Flip the batting/backing over and repeat with your quilt top, take extra care with the top to not stretch your fabric making your seams wonky.
Your quilt is now basted!
Step 6: Next we quilt. Starting in the center of the quilt and working outward, I quilt "in the ditch" of my horizontal seams.
Once the horizontal stripes are finished, I quilt vertical stripes. I do not even mark my lines. I completely free hand them. They aren't perfectly straight, but I like that look. If you like perfection, be sure to mark lines on your quilting using chalk or a water soluble fabric pen.
Step 7: Once the quilting is finished, trim the excess batting and fabric from your quilt. (pictures coming soon)
Step 8: Attach Binding! We are almost done. Pictures coming soon! I like to use Heather Bailey's directions for binding.
Step 9: Clean up the quilt. Snip off the threads that hang around, and wash and dry your quilt (I use a delicate setting for washing, and low heat for drying), it will have a wonderful soft and puckery feel.
Step 1: Lay out the 18 strips in an arrangement that you like.
Step 2: Using a quarter inch seam allowance, sew the strips together, starting with the first two.
Press seams to one side
Repeat until all strips are sewn together and seams are pressed.You have now finished the quilt top! I told you it was easy!
Step 3: Trim your quilt top. Try to make the top square. Size is up to you, but remember to measure the top against the backing fabric that is included in your kit. I trimmed off about 6-8 inches.
I like to incorporate my trimmings into the back of my quilt. (If you don't have a rotary cutter and acrylic ruler, just mark your quilt using a straight edge and pencil, then cut with scissors.)
Now you are ready to "quilt" your quilt. :). There are several options, take it to a local quilt shop and have them quilt it for you, or you can do it yourself. If you would like to do it your self, keep reading to see how I do it.
Step 4: Make your quilt sandwich. Layer your backing, batting and quilt top. I like to use cotton batting. Hobbs Heirloom and Warm and Natural are my favorites, but feel free to use what you like.
This is where I usually trim excess fabric and batting. Try to leave about 2-4 inches on all sides. Your quilt can shift while you are quilting it, and the excess gives you some breathing room.
Step 5: Baste the quilt. The most common way to baste a quilt is with safety pins. I prefer the quick and easy way...basting spray. My favorite brand is Dritz, but most work fine. Just be sure that it washes away! DO NOT use permanent adhesive!
I like to baste in my garage. It eliminates worry about getting sticky stuff inside my house. I lay out an old sheet to keep my quilt clean, then I put the batting on the sheet.
I put the backing on first. I roll it up inside my house,
I spray my batting--the entire width, and about 2-3 feet of the length. Next lay your roll where you have just sprayed.
Now is the important part. You want to make sure there are NO puckers or wrinkles. Take your time unrolling. Smoothing from the center out. If you have a pucker, unstick it and smooth it out.
Keep spraying and rolling until you finish the back of the quilt.
Flip the batting/backing over and repeat with your quilt top, take extra care with the top to not stretch your fabric making your seams wonky.
Your quilt is now basted!
Step 6: Next we quilt. Starting in the center of the quilt and working outward, I quilt "in the ditch" of my horizontal seams.
Once the horizontal stripes are finished, I quilt vertical stripes. I do not even mark my lines. I completely free hand them. They aren't perfectly straight, but I like that look. If you like perfection, be sure to mark lines on your quilting using chalk or a water soluble fabric pen.
Step 7: Once the quilting is finished, trim the excess batting and fabric from your quilt. (pictures coming soon)
Step 8: Attach Binding! We are almost done. Pictures coming soon! I like to use Heather Bailey's directions for binding.
Step 9: Clean up the quilt. Snip off the threads that hang around, and wash and dry your quilt (I use a delicate setting for washing, and low heat for drying), it will have a wonderful soft and puckery feel.
