Sew Along: Strips and Nines Doll Quilt - in downld

[Vanessa]

This is a great project for learning how to strip-piece a quilt. This same block could also be assembled with many of them together to make a larger quilt as opposed to just one block to make the doll quilt size.

There might be a name for this block, but I don't know it. It was just an idea I had a few months ago as I was sketching out ideas for projects.

Here's a sketch of what I thought of:



Here's the quilt in green/brown. This is hard to see the contrast in pictures.



Here's the sample that I made for the sewalong so that it would be much easier to see:



Finished size is approx 15.5" square. If you were setting these in a quilt, your finished blocks would be 15". You'll need 1/4 yard each of fabrics A and B, a square at least 18" each for the backing (a fat quarter will work great) and batting, and about 5" of fabric for the binding (buy a quarter yard if you're shopping).

Step 1: Cut 5 strips of Fabric A (white in my example) and 4 strips of fabric B (pink in my example) that are 1.5" wide and the width of the fabric from selvage to selvage. A rotary cutter, mat, and good quilting ruler will definitely make this job easier.

Step 2: Assemble two sets of strips ABA and one set BAB. Accurate 1/4" seams are very important for this.



Step 3: Press the strips carefully to one side. I always pressed to fabric B (pink). This will make construction much smoother in the long run. It helps to elimate the arching effect by laying the fabric perpendicular to the ironing board instead of parallel.



Step 4:
Square up the strips and get ready to cut your pieces.

From strips ABA, cut (4) 9.5" long, (4) 3.5" long, and (9) 1.5" pieces. If you notice the long strip getting off square, it helps to retrim it up to square and then continue cutting.

From Strip BAB, cut (18) 1.5" pieces.

I like to line up the ruler along the center strip of the strips to keep it even. If it starts to get wonky on you, re-square the end before you continue cutting.



Step5: Lay out all of your pieces in the design of the finished block. This will make it easier to sew them together properly.



Step 6: Sew together the nine-patch squares, taking care to nest the seams. Throughout this project, carefully nesting seams and pinning will help you to get good results.

[Vanessa]

Step 7: Press towards the outer edges on the 9 patches. This will help you to be able to keep nesting seams.



You should now have this:



Step 8: Get ready to sew together the three sets of blocks. The two edges and the center:



Sew them together:



Step 9: Sew the three assembled pieces together. Your block is complete.




The results of all that nesting of seams...



Step 10:

Make a quilt sandwich with your backing and batting. I used fusible batting for this project since I had a scrap piece sitting around. I would usually use basting spray.

Straighten up the edges.



Step 11:

Quilt as desired and bind.



Step 12: Enjoy your little quilt!

[sewingmel]

I thought that was going to be a LOT harder when I first saw it! You make it look so easy! I love it!

Thanks for the great tutorial!

[Bobolots]

thanks so much for this! I may actually try it one day, ha ha.

[hershyyyy]

What exactly is nesting?

[Vanessa]

What exactly is nesting?

I tried to get a pic of that, but it's hard. Basically, the seam allowances go in opposite directions, so you can push or "nest" them right up next to eachother. It makes things much more precise in quilting.

Clear as mud?

[hershyyyy]

Okay, now I get it! Thanks!

[countrycuttins]

Thanks for the tutorial!!! I will have to give this a try, you make it look pretty easy, so hopefully it will be, LOL!

[Kathy_818]

Very attractive! Thanks for sharing.

[boongie74]

this has been my reference for my first official quilt! Great Tutorial! You do make it look easy!

[suprneko]

Very nice tute, thank you!