Fabric Detail

Bring to Class:

 

• Your pre-cut fabric strips and left-over yardage.  We'll be cutting more strips in class.

• Sewing machine, thread, pins and bobbin

• Rotary cutter (with a fresh blade)

• Ruler for cutting strips

• Cutting mat large enough to cut strips of fabric

• Iron and ironing surface

• Pencil or pen and paper for taking notes.  There'll be lots of notes:)  

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Let's Talk Fabric

 

What makes this pattern work so well?  Contrasting fabrics.  And how many different fabrics?  Only two.  I find that a dark and a light fabric, even in the same color family work the best.  And blenders do the trick.  Any fabrics that read as solids from a short distance (and no, not from a galloping horse) work well.  You definitely want to avoid large prints, directional fabrics and fabrics that are too close in color value.  Also, sometimes a really "bright" fabric can interfere with the illusion.  But in the end, the choice is yours.  

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It's also best if your fabric has "body".  If it's been pre-washed or doesn't have a lot of dye or sizing, it's best to starch it first.  Your seams will be crisper, flatter and you fabric will sew straighter.  I use a mist bottle with liquid starch and water.

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For the class it might make sense to use fabrics you have on hand .  Since you're ultimately investing in 6 yards of fabric, you might want to see how the quilt is made before deciding on your fabric choices.  The cutting specs below are for the class, and below that, the full quilt.

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The Ever-elusive 1/4" seam

 

If you don't want to trim your blocks to size after sewing, an accurate 1/4" seam allowance makes the construction of this quilt easier and quicker. So try your best to achieve an accurate 1/4" seam allowance.  The best way to do this is to take two 2-1/2" strips of fabric and start sewing them together.  Stop after about 6", finger press the seam open and flat and measure the sewn part of the strip.  It should measure 4-1/2".  If it doesn't, you'll need to either move your needle or landmark your machine and try again.  My machine is a straight stitch only machine.  My 1/4" foot doesn't give me the accuracy I need, so I use a seam guide.  However, fret not.  You can always trim your blocks to size after they are sewn​

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It's best if you test your 1/4" seam with the fabric, thread and needle you intend to use for your quilt.

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Cutting Specs For Class...You Only Need to Cut

 

FROM EACH OF YOUR TWO FABRICS CUT:

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• Four 1" Strips

• Three 1-1/2" Strips

• Two  2-1/2" Strips

• Two 4" Strips

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Cutting Specs For Full Quilt

 

If you're like me, you're going to want extra fabric just in case.  Using the yardages below should give you more than enough

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• Light Fabric 3-1/4 yards (includes a 1" inner border) 

• Dark Fabric 4 yards (includes a 5" outer border)

 

All strips are cut WOF or selvage to selvage, and assume at least 42" of useable fabric.

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