Hints and Tips 10- Quilt as You Go Method 1

For the next few hints and tips I am going to be discussing my favourite methods of quilt as you go. These are the ones I consider to be the most user friendly and easiest to accomplish.

 

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Method 1 Using Lace and Ribbon as Sashing

 

 

 

With this method you are able to quilt right up to the edges of the block. You do need to allow for the part of the quilt block that goes under the lace sashing when determining the size of your blocks. Basically all the blocks butt up against each other and there is no need to leave the backing larger etc.

 

Complete your embroidery and quilt block as desired.

 

 

 

Trim the block to the desired size.

 

Cut 2 inch wide strips from the fabric that you are going to use for the sashing on the back of the quilt. I usually just cut a long strip and cut as required as  I am going along.To turn a cut strip into a finished sashing strip fold it in half right side facing half and press.

Open it up, fold each side into the middle and iron flat, similar to the method in making the straps of a bag. Your strip should now be 1 inch wide. For this reason your lace needs to be at least this width. If it is not then you need to make this back sashing a little narrower. There is no reason why you cannot see if these strips will go through a bias tape maker and get pressed that way. However, you can skip all of these pressing steps and I will explain that later. 

Lay your two quilted blocks down side by side with the backs of the block facing upward.

 

 

With the wrong side of the block facing the unfolded right side of the sashing , match up the right hand side edges as shown. If you wish you can pin in place.

Stitch along the right hand side fold of the sashing as shown. This seam should be close to ½ inch.

####If you know how to get an accurate 1/2 inch stitching line then there is no need to press the lines in. This line must always be 1/4 of the original cut width of sashing.###

 I no longer press these lines in.

The back of your block with the sashing should now look like this.

Flip  the left hand side block over on to the right hand side block as shown so that the  left hand sides of the sashing and block now match. Once again stitch down the folded ½ inch seam allowance.

The back of your blocks should now look like this.

The front of your quilt blocks should look like this, evenly butted up together

 

Centre the lace evenly over the butted edges of the front blocks. I like to stitch down close to the right hand side edge of the lace before laying the ribbon in behind it. It is always a good idea to use ribbon that is about 1/8 -1/4 inch narower than the lace so that it fits nicely under the lace.

 

 

Finally stitch down the left hand side of the lace. The back of your quilt blocks should look like this. You can see the stitching lines from where the lace was stitched to the front.

Back of quilt with ribbon lace sashing

Front of quilt with ribbon lace sashing

 

 If you wish to find out where to source cotton lace both cluney lace (as in my quilt above) and heirloom French lace (as in my nightgown etc) at very good prices please email me and I can give you a list of good suppliers.