quilt club with stacey lee

WEEK 3 – RAIL FENCE QUILT – SEWING YOUR QUILT TOP TOGETHER

RAIL FENCE QUILT

This week is a really fun week, because once we sew our blocks together we will really see our quilt top coming together.

Here’s what I want you to do: Watch my YouTube videos and read the notes, then let’s sew our blocks together and then our column together to make our quilt top.

VIDEOS TO WATCH

Week 3 – Part A – Rail Fence Quilt – Sewing Your Blocks Together

Week 3 – Part B – Rail Fence Quilt – Nesting Your Seams

TO READ

Week 3 – Rail Fence Quilt – Sewing Your Quilt Top Together

Checklist

TOOLS NEEDED

Pins, scissors, seam ripper, quarter inch foot, sewing machine needles, sewing machine, iron, ironing board

SUPPLIES NEEDED

Your cut & arranged blocks

NOTES
 

This week I would like you to take extra care with your sewing, no rushing, enjoy the process and focus on getting nice straight lines. Slowing down and taking your time will reduce mistakes and dates with Jack the ripper! It will also help get those seams nested perfectly.

Please be super careful to not lose any pins when pinning your quilt top together. Don’t put them loose on your bed, table or floor. Take one as you use it and put them back when finished

1/4” seam allowances are standard when quilting and always what you should use when sewing your quilt top, unless it is stated otherwise

When sewing quilt tops you do not need to backstitch at the beginning and ending of your sewing because we will be sewing across these seams later

Setting the seams sets the stitches into the fabric, making the stitches stronger and lay flatter when ironed

When pressing you may choose to use steam and/or starch, that is entirely up to you

SEW YOUR BLOCKS TOGETHER

Take blocks for column 1

Follow the *** Sewing a column steps***

*** Sewing a column steps***

Starting with the first pin

Remove the pin

Line up the beginning, end and edges of your blocks

Pin together at the beginning, middle and end

Sew

Repeat these steps until you have sewn all your blocks together in the column

Take your blocks for column 2, repeat *** Sewing a column steps ***

Repeat for all of your columns

SET AND PRESS YOUR SEAMS WITH AN IRON

Take column 1

Set your stitches by pressing every piece sewn together in your column

Work out what direction you are pressing, you want to press towards the straight strip

Ensuring you are going in the right direction

Finger press the seam

Press the seam with your iron

Repeat for all your columns

SEW YOUR COLUMNS TOGETHER

Pin columns 1 & 2 together, paying extra attention to where the seams meet, and nesting them together

Sew columns 1 & 2 together

Check you are happy with your where all your seams meet, if you are not happy unpick your stitches and start again

Repeat until all your columns are sewn together in the correct order

SET AND PRESS YOUR SEAMS WITH AN IRON

Set your stitches by pressing every column sewn together with your iron

Press seams in the direction that works best for you

Finger press the seams in the direction you decided on Press the seam with your iron

CUT OFF LOOSE THREADS

Cut loose threads that are on the right side of your quilt top


COMING UP IN WEEK 4 – MAKING AND ATTACHING YOUR BORDER

TASK

Making and attaching your border

TOOLS NEEDED

Pencil/washable marker, pins, sewing machine, iron, ironing board/mat, ruler, rotary cutter, self healing mat

SUPPLIES NEEDED

Fabric for your border, your quilt top


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