Pieces of My Life ~ Section IV & "Finishing School"

 

Congratulations! 🎉 You have completed all 24 blocks of a quilt that tells the story of your life.  We recently watched the movie Mona Lisa Smile, and that prompted the title of this story.  I'll not go into the emotions that surface when I watch it.  Rather, I'll jump right into the final instructions for finishing your quilt.

The final section (IV) of the Quilt-as-you-go layout uses the same layout as Section II.  

Cutting instructions:

2 - 2-1/2" x 12-1/2" strips

2 - 2-1/2" x 18-1/2" strips

2 - 3-1/2" x 12-1/2" strips

Layout your blocks and strips as shown in the photos.  You can join units together as you desire but I used the following order so that I could chain piece until the final seam.  

Join your 6-1/2" blocks together.  

Add one 3-1/2" strip to the block intended for the upper right unit.  

Join your 6-1/2" blocks to the lower left block.

Add the second 3-1/2" strip to the upper right block.  

Sew a 2-1/2"x12-1/2" strip to each of the remaining blocks. 

Join the 18-1/2" long strips to the remaining units. 

Join the 18-1/2" long units to the 12"+2-1/2" strips units. 

Join the two units together to complete the section.  

Each section should measure 28-1/2" wide by 30-1/2" tall.

NOTE:  I used a variety of fabrics for the sashing strips within the section.  My original plan was to use the same fabric throughout.  I was not fully pleased after auditioning my idea on the design wall, so I started reaching for the scraps and discovered I was much happier with it.  

Prepare a backing piece a few inches larger, approximately 30" x 32", as well as a piece of batting.  Prepare to sandwich section 1 as you would any quilt.  

I use the fusible batting from Hobbs on a regular basis.  (It not only eliminates the sticky mess but also the smell from spray basting.)  For this QAYG process, especially when joining the four sections together and eventually the border, I highly recommend using a fusible batting.  I have no affiliation with Hobbs, just a big fan of this product.

There are multiple videos out in cyber-land but I follow the process as shared by Pauline from Pauline's Quilters World. I considered making my own short video (for about 10 5 seconds), but quickly talked myself out of it since Pauline demonstrates the process so well. She says that there is no need to pin.  I choose to use some pins... a few all over but mostly along the edges.  I find that this helps to keep the top from shifting or moving if not fully fused or if it pulls loose in the handling of the fused piece.  

Quilt as desired... don't you just hate when a pattern says that??? I felt that each block deserved some special quilting to enhance the pattern or design, so I used a variety of straight lines and soft curves.   I quilted the strips with FMQ of vines and leaves first.  Not up for vines and leaves?  Try a stitch-in-the-ditch paired with a 1/4" "echo" line.  Or stitch a continuous soft curve to create a single wavy line... or return back over that line with stitching in the opposite direction making a single serpentine line or chain.

Still unsure or not up to custom block quilting?  You could certainly do an all over stippling, lattice or grid or a hanging diamond design.  Here's a site that offers some simple beginner quilting ideas...

There are sashing strips between each section.  You will not need to be overly concerned with making certain that the stitching from section to section align perfectly.  Whatever you do... have fun with the quilting! 

My method of QAYG is as follows:

Trim/square your quilted piece to the precise size that you need, 1/4" seam allowances included.  Each section should measure 30-1/2" x 28-1/2".  

Cutting instructions for sashing strips:  Cut 2 - 2" x 30-1/2" (back sashing) and 2 - 2-1/2" x 30-1/2" (top sashing).

Layer the 2" strip (right side up), the quilted piece (top up) and then the 2-1/2" strip (right side down) on Section I.

I am not generally a pinner... but, since it is important to have the sashing strips cut to the exact length of the quilted piece, I did use pins.

Sew your 1/4" seam through all layers.  Flip and press the strip on the back.  Pin back the wider strip to keep it from getting in the way as you add the next quilted section.  Again, pin into place on Section II and sew your 1/4" seam.

Press seams to the center of the back sashing strip, forming a channel.  Cut a piece of batting the size of the channel.  Mine was 1" wide.

I use fusible batting so I don't have a worry that it will shift or slip as I move the piece from the ironing board to the machine.

You will then press the front strip over that "channel" while folding under the excess, being careful to just cover the 1/4" seam line and not cut off any points that you may have.

Pin into place and topstitch into place.  Topstitch the opposite side as well.

I am now ready to add the FMQ twisted ribbon in the sashing strip to prevent the batting from pulling away or bunching up in the channel.

You can see that I top stitched both sides of the sashing strip, making them match

Repeat this step of sashing to join Sections III and IV together.  To join the upper and lower sections, cut/make a 2" wide strip that measures 57-1/2" for the back sashing.  Make a second strip of the top sashing fabric to 2-1/2" x 57-1/2".  Pin into place on the lower edge of Sections I & II.  Join with Sections III & IV.

For the top and bottom outer borders cut/make:

2 - 2" x 57-1/2" from sashing strip fabric

2 - 4-1/2" x 57-1/2" from outer border fabric

2 - 6-1/2" x 57-1/2" from backing fabric*

Using 1/4" seam allowance, join together along the long edge of the sashing strip and border fabric to make units ready to join to the top and bottom of the quilt.  Join to the quilt in the same manner as you joined your sections together.  Insert a piece of batting that measures 6"x 57-1/2".  Fuse batting into place (and pin, as an extra measure) to secure while you add the side borders of the quilt.

For the side borders cut/make:

4 - 5-1/2" squares (cornerstones of the quilt border)

2 - 2" x 65" from sashing strip fabric

2 - 4-1/2" x 65" from outer border fabric

2 - 6-1/2 x 65" from backing fabric*

*NOTE:  The backing pieces are oversized and should be trimmed down before binding.  

Using 1/4" seam allowance, join together along the long edge of the sashing strip and border fabric. Add a cornerstone unit to each end of these border units.  Join to the sides of the quilt using the same steps as you did to join the upper and lower borders.  Fuse batting into place and secure to avoid shifting as you quilt.

You are now ready to add quilting to your borders.  

Binding (1/2 yard):  Cut 7 - 2-1/2" strips.  Join together and press in half.  I you are a beginning quilter you can find details about binding techniques here.

For the traditional layout you will need to cut the following:

Cut 9- 2" squares for cornerstones

Cut 8 - 2" strips - sub-cut into 24 -12-1/2" sashing strips

Cut 6 - 2" strips for the outer sashing/border.  Make four 2" x 52-1/2" strips.

Cut 6 - 1-1/2" strips of a contrasting color for the narrow border.  make four 1-1/2" x 52-1/2" strips.

Cut 6 - 4" strips of the outer border fabric.  Make four 4" x 52-1/2" strips.

Layout 4 rows with 4 blocks each.  Join sashing strips and cornerstones between blocks and rows.

Make your border units.  The first border should be the same fabric as the sashing strips.  Join three strips together to make the four 6-1/2" wide border units.

Add a border unit to the top and bottom of the quilt top.  Add a 6-1/2" block of your choice to each end of the remaining two border units.  Sew to the sides of quilt.  Your quilt is ready for sandwiching, quilting and binding.

Good job!  I'll have a linky party open here for you to share your completed tops/quilts.  I would love to see the quilt that tells YOUR life story.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for joining me in this sew along. Taking the time to reflect on your life can be fun... but it can be difficult as well.  As I have stated before, life is not only made up of the warm and fuzzy moments.  If not for the hard times and challenges in life, we cannot truly appreciate those good times.  

Did you learn anything new in this sew along event?

It may have been a new technique...

or something new about you!

Did you have a favorite block?

Leave a comment... I'd love to hear from you!

Keep Piecing,

Melva

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Tips are always welcome :)