Patch-working Promises

Pieced and ready to stitch the ditch

Pin Cushion Art, Free Form

While sewing a very long seam, the pins flew. By the time I looked up ...



I think it's sort of pretty.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Bordering on Nerves

At my last Basics Class, I didn't have time to add the border.  I was able to get my fabric cut out, but sent away knowing I had the skills to make it happen.

Except I didn't. The Basics Book is a little vague on how one should attach a border on. She maintains that the fabric determines how the border is added.  That may be, but I don't have the relationship with fabric she has.  Fabric hasn't spoken to me so intimately.  So, what did I do?  What every good librarian would do: I did a Google Blog search for "border tutorials" and found Saltwater Quilts' Quilt Border with Mitred Corners tutorial.  Candace explains mitred corners rather easily.  Suddenly, the fabric for my border is speaking "mitred" to me, so I decided to give it a try.

I folded the quilt top right sides together in a triangle and made a line with my ruler and chalk.  Just to be sure I did it correctly, I used the 45 degree line on the ruler:  woo-hoo!  Correct.  I sewed the line as Candace described. Repeat. Three times.  I did a lot of checking to make it sure it actually worked -- and mostly it did.  I had a few issues... but this is a learning experience.



Okay, the seam is sewn, the fabric is cut, and now we press open the seam.

What's this?  Little rabbit ears... drat.  No biggie, I cut them off and viola.

My Basics quilt:

So, it's not perfect.  The border isn't a perfect 1/4" seam. The seams aren't perfectly pressed... but I'm pretty proud of myself. And, as expected, the border brought together a seemingly unorganized mound of fabric.  I'm pleased.

Did you see it?  If you've been following the posts on Basic Blocks, you'll know my Ohio Star wasn't right.  I fixed it!

What's next?  I contacted a woman to get the quilt top machine quilted.  I think that I need to learn one skill set at a time.  First let's get those 1/4" seams down.  Machine quilting will come.