Sew Let's Quilt Along: Final Quilt Setting
I can’t believe Sew Let’s Quilt Along is coming to an end! We just released block 13, so that means it’s time to share our setting ideas for the final quilt. But before I get to that, do you have all of the blocks? If you’re missing any of them, go get them before it’s too late! They’re only free until the quilt along ends on September 24, 2019.
I’m really thrilled to be able to share my finished quilt top with you. I know that many people struggled to get their blocks to all come out the same size, so I’ve designed a setting to account for that. All of the blocks get framed and trimmed to size. Even the sashing and cornerstones are designed to be trimmed down. There aren’t even any points to match between the sashing triangles.
If you’re looking for a nice sized quilt to snuggle up with or put on a bed, this is the setting for you. And if you had any trouble at all getting your blocks to come out the right size, this setting will make it all ok. I hope you’ll give it a try.
Get the Pattern
Just like the blocks in the quilt along, this pattern is only guaranteed to be free until September 24, 2019. So if you’re thinking about using this setting, make sure you download the pattern before then.
Tips For Success
Staying Organized
I really like to keep my pieces organized on a baking sheet. It makes it so easy to move around my sewing room without losing anything. For easy counting, I stacked all of my pieces in groups of 10 or 20. It also helps to label the stacks with sticky office labels.
Make Flying Geese Your Way
I didn’t want anyone to need special tools to make this quilt, so I wrote the pattern to use stitch-and-flip corners for the flying geese. But there are a lot of flying geese in the quilt, so if you prefer a different method, don’t hesitate to use it! Personally, I used my Easy Angle Ruler and Companion Angle Ruler to cut all of my geese pieces. You should do whatever works best for you.
Trimming Half Square Triangles
To trim Half Square Triangles (HSTs), line up the 45° line on your ruler with the diagonal seam in the HST. Trim the first two sides (making sure to leave enough space to trim the other two sides next).
Rotate the block 180°. Once again, line up the 45° line with the center seam. This time, you also want to line up the edges with the 2” lines on your ruler. Trim the remaining two sides. Now you have a perfectly trimmed half square triangle!
Spinning Seams on a Pinwheel
Spinning your seams will make the center of a pinwheel lay so much flatter! There are 8 different fabrics coming together in that point, so anything you can do to help the bulk will make a big difference. It’s easier to see in a video than a picture, so I recorded a tutorial for you.
Stitch and Flip Corners
My favorite tool for drawing the diagonal lines is a Sewline ceramic pencil. They come in several colors, but I just bought one pencil and change out the lead as needed.
The secret to making a successful stitch and flip corner is to stitch just outside of the drawn line. The line you drew isn't the stitching line - it's actually where the fabric needs to fold! By stitching just outside of the line, you give yourself the extra fabric you need to reach all the way to the corner when you flip it over. Just to be safe, I always test to make sure my corner is covered before I cut away the excess fabric from the back.
Make Your Own Non-Slip Ruler
The best way to instantly turn any regular ruler into a non-slip ruler is with clear bumpy bandage tape. Just put the tape on the back of your ruler, and you’re good to go! Since it’s clear, you can still see what you’re cutting. And if you don’t want to leave it on the ruler, it peels right back off without any trouble.
Trimming the Sashing
It’s so nice to be able to trim everything to size! It makes such a difference in how the final quilt goes together.
To keep the sashing centered, line up the 2 1/4” line on your ruler with the long center seam. Line up the 7 1/4” line with the tip of the middle flying goose. Once it’s all lined up, trim the first two sides.
Turn the sashing 180°. You can still line up your ruler the same way, but this time make sure the 4 1/2” and 14 1/2” lines are on the edges you just cut. Now you’re ready to trim again.
Voila! One perfectly centered sashing unit.
Enjoy the Process
I’m not going to lie - this setting has a lot of pieces. That’s part of what makes it look so cool, and most of what allows you to end up with a nice, big quilt. I hope you don’t let the piecing overwhelm you. Instead, grab a nice drink, and work on it just a bit at a time. (My sister made that tumbler for me!)
Or dive right in! I find chain piecing to be meditative. No thinking; just sewing. Perhaps you feel the same way. It can be so satisfying to power through a whole bunch of pieces at once while you let your mind wander. Nothing beats a few hours of blissful sewing time.
Other Ideas
The center medallion in my quilt top would make a gorgeous wall hanging all on it’s own.
If you would like a little bit smaller quilt, you could use the medallion as a wall hanging, and make a quilt with the rest of the blocks. My setting from our last quilt along is amazing for a 12-block quilt! It has all the same advantages of the setting I’m sharing this time - All of the blocks get framed and trimmed to size, and the sashings are also designed to be trimmed down. What’s more, the sashing points all float away from the seams, so there’s no chance of chopping them off!
More Quilt and Project Ideas from Our Lovely Hosts
Just like you, our hosts got to choose whether they would make small projects or one big quilt. All of them have wonderful ideas to share. Be sure to check them out for inspiration! And if you love what you see, don’t hesitate to leave a comment. Your appreciation is why we do this.
Small Project Hosts
Abbie Danahy @ Sparkle On!
Jennifer Fulton @ Inquiring Quilter
Karen Thurn @ Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats
Kathleen McCormick @ Kathleen McMusing
Sandy Maxfield @ SandyStar Designs
Quilt Hosts
April Adams @ JANDA Bend Quilts
Becca Fenstermaker @ Pretty Piney Quilts
Bobbi Bridgeman @ Snowy Days Quilting <— That’s me!
Sherry Shish @ Powered by Quilting
Prizes
It’s time for our final prizes! We have a prize package for segment 3, as well as a grand prize package for the whole quilt along. The giveaway is open to all participants that are at least 18 years old.
How to Enter for the Segment 3 Prize Package
To be eligible to win a segment prize, you need to make all of the blocks from that segment. Share a photo or photos of your blocks (in a single post) to be entered. The segment 3 blocks were the buttons, bolts, rotary cutter, and thimbles.
For segment 3, entries will be open from 12:00 am August 27 to 11:59 pm September 9, 2019 (Eastern time). There are three places you can share your blocks to be entered in the drawing:
Facebook - share in the Partners in Design Facebook Group
Instagram - share with the hashtag #SewLetsQAL
Blog Linky - Scroll down to the Segment 3 Linky near the bottom of this post
Segment 3 Prize Package
We have a wonderful array of prizes for each segment! Here’s the prize package for segment 3:
4” Needlecraft Scissors from Omnigrid (a Prym Company)
5 Piece Fat Quarter bundle from the “Ring Ring” collection by Hoodie Crescent (color Cinnamon) by Paintbrush Studio Fabrics
13 piece Fat Quarter Bundle of the Colette Collection from Timeless Treasures
And, a free PDF pattern from each of these Partners in Design:
April Adams @ JANDA Bend Quilts *Christmas Tree Farm table runner
Becca Fenstermaker @ Pretty Piney
Laura Piland @ Slice of Pi Quilts
Sandy Maxfield @ SandyStar Designs
How to Enter for the Grand Prize Package
To be eligible to win the grand prize, you need to make all 13 blocks from the whole quilt along and turn them into a quilt or other project(s). Quilt tops don’t need to be quilted, but projects do need to be finished. Share a single post that shows all of the blocks in a quilt or project. It doesn’t matter how many projects or what projects you make, or how many blocks you use in each project as long as you show that you’ve used all 13 blocks in a finished project or projects.
For the grand prize, entries will be open from 12:00 am August 27 to 11:59 pm September 23, 2019 (Eastern time). There are three places you can share your quilts and projects to be entered in the drawing:
Facebook - share in the Partners in Design Facebook Group
Instagram - share with the hashtag #SewLetsQAL
Blog Linky - Scroll down to the Grand Prize Linky near the bottom of this post
Grand Prize Package
We really have an amazing grand prize package for this quilt along. Thanks to some truly amazing sponsors, we’re able to offer you this bundle that retails at $300.
Color My World Quilt Kit by Nancy Smith featuring Boundless Blenders Ombre fabrics from Bluprint! This kit includes the quilt top and binding fabric with the printed pattern. Quilt size 58” x 70”.
Plus 4 yards of 44” Warm White Boundless Solids fabric for backing!
A fat quarter bundle plus a 24” panel from Timeless Treasures “Moon and Stars” collection!
A fat quarter bundle from the "Jungle Cruise" collection from Island Batik!
Two Vintage Blessings table runner patterns; October and November and two packets of l2 piece laser-cut appliqués; Butterflies and Pink Ribbons from Shabby Fabrics!
I’d like to include a special thanks to Timeless Treasures and Shabby Fabrics for supporting us throughout the entire quilt along.
Important Note
To keep the contest portion of the quilt-along fair and fun for everyone, only quilters that use all of the designers' blocks [in a quilt or project(s)] will be eligible for the grand prize. Likewise, our segment prizes will only be open to those that make all of the designers’ blocks for that segment.
Fabulous Sponsors
We are really lucky to have some amazing sponsors on board for this quilt along! Please check them out as thanks for supporting us. Bluprint, Dear Stella, Everything Mary, Island Batik, Paintbrush Studio Fabrics, Prym, Shabby Fabrics, Timeless Treasures, Warm Company Additionally, many of the block designers are donating their quilt patterns.
