magicmoonmusings

I sew into 4 patch blocks. Then put those together as larger 4 patch blocks. Repeat. Easy to square up the blocks this way, ends up way more accurate for me than sewing rows together.

maryb119

I put my rows together the same way you do. This is a beautiful quilt.

sloscotty

Thanks! This is "Vintage Checkerboard" by Kristina Brinkerhoff from the book "Best of Moda Bake Shop". I've got my 7 rows down to two groups (4 and 3) and the last seam is pinned. Want to get a fresh start in the morning to finish it off!

bkay

Nice quilt!
bkay

aashley333

I like the idea of the 4 patch method for ease of squaring! Good thread!

GingerK

I also sew pairs of rows together first. If I am using borders, I will sew the border to the outside rows before sewing the whole thing together. Then I only have two borders to add at the end. A little less handling.

QuiltE

Smart Lady you are, GingerK!
So obvious and yet, as I had never thought of that before.
Must remember for the next time I can do this.

copycat

Ginger K, do you mean that after you sew pairs of rows together, you then add the outside borders to fit just the 2 rows?
Thank you for your help.

GingerK

Copycat, most of us have been taught to sew the body of the top together, measure the two outside edges and also through the middle. Then cut the border length using the average of those measurements. You can still do that but you don't have to work with the whole top, just a few rows at a time.

If my blocks have some bias edges, which are prone to stretching, instead of just pinning at strategic places, I will mark the finished block size on my border. Example: if my block finishes at 12 inches, I will mark the border at 12 1/4, 12, 12 and so on until the last block at 12 1/4.

I also always sew a line of stay stitching about 1/8th inch from the outer edge of my borders--before they are attached to the top. I do not like handling the whole top any more than absolutely necessary.