Obviously this part is super simple - you have 4 quarters and you sew them together to make one big block. I'm not going to tell you how to do this in minute detail, but I will give you some tips on how to make your (possibly) wonky blocks match up.
Keep your 4 quarters in stacks - marked with a post it note or something on the top. You're sewing the blocks together like this;
Quarter 1 to Quarter 2.
Quarter 4 Quarter 3
So the numbers go 1,2,3,4 in a clockwise direction (see page 11 of your pattern for a diagram)
I didn't trim my quarters before I assembled the blocks. I simply shaved off any overhang on the background and then put my quarters togethers. I matched up the rings rather than any other seam - as long as the rings were formed nicely it didn't really matter whether the centre seam was a little off centre.
Try not to get too stressed about things possibly not matching as perfectly as you would like. What you have to remember is most of the fabrics were cut by hand, which isn't as precise as rotary cutting with a ruler. There are bound to be a few bits that might not be super sharp matched. But that's ok. Really, it is.
Just try to make sure your seams are nice and flat and your blocks aren't stretched out of shape. Plenty of starch/best press and steam will be your best friend.
Now - onto row assembly.
Lay all your blocks out on the floor/design wall and shuffle them around til you like the way they look. Take 'em to the machine in stacks of rows and get to work....
Sew your blocks together with a half inch seam allowance. Yes people a HALF INCH SEAM ALLOWANCE.
The larger seam allowance makes the blocks easier to handle at the ring outer edge (says Denyse).
So that's it - the basic rules here are simple.
- don't stress about things not matching up super perfectly (if they do - you get a gold star and class presentation)
- use a HALF INCH seam allowance when assembling the rows
- plenty of steam and starch or best press will help your seams lay flat and your quilt look beautiful
- head to the support group if you need a helping hand. It's not called a support group for nothin'
Next week Nova talks all about hand quilting (14th March)
13 comments:
gah. that purple is super elegant. thanks for posting these tips!
Thanks for all of these tips, Katy! I'm excited to start assembling...that is, when I catch up on adding the outer backgrounds. :)
Well done Katy! I must confess I'm behind and need to finish sewing all my curves. Your purple is looking lovely!
i love your version! I am in need of this quilt... wink!
that will really be a great quilt....the eggplant color will make all your pieces pop!
I love your blocks, they are lovely. I am falling so faaaaar behind on my blocks :-( Got to get my sewing on!
Thanks for the tips! Mine don't line up too badly, but I was beginning to panic about my less than perfect edges, so you've reassured me a bit :)
I kind of suspected I should square up my quarter blocks...thanks for the post.
That's beginning to look good!
oh Katy, I'm totally loving that plum background with the single girl!! It's so striking!
Katy...just to clarify and make sure I'm reading this right - when I sew my arcs together, I'm using a 1/2" seam allowance? Or is it when I sew the Q1/Q2 to Q3/Q4 that I use the 1/2" inch seam allowance? Thank you!!!
To clarify - when you sew each block to the next block assembling rows you use the half inch seam allowance!
I assembled 4 blocks. I don't know what i would have done with that extra seam allowance. Now my silly question is leave it right? There is no trimming?
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