New Growth {Part 5}

Quilt-A-Long, Part 5: Come Together!

Welcome to the New Growth Quilt-A-Long.  If you need to catch up on the Quilt-A-Long, you can visit Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, or Part 4.  Be sure to share your progress pictures and fabric selections with the Flickr Group!

{A Note Before Starting}:  Mathematically, the seams on the end squares of the white panels made in step #1 should match up perfectly with the second seam in on each end of the main color checkerboard panels; however you actual panel width might be slightly different  Be sure to measure your all five of your checkerboard panels, take an average, and adjust the length of your white panel accordingly

1.    Sew a white background 4.5” square to each end of the four 4.5” x 40.5” strips, to create 4 – 4.5” x 48.5” background panels.  Press seams open.

 2.    Sew a white panel to the top and the bottom of both of the main color 2 x 24 checkerboard panels.  Press seams towards the white panels.

3.    Lay out the multi-color/white panels alternately with the white/main color panels (made in step 2), as pictured.  Sew together into rows, carefully matching the ends together, to complete the quilt top.

 4.    Layer backing, batting, and quilt top together; baste/pin and quilt as desired.  Personally, I’m more of a minimalist when it comes to quilting, so I suggest a simple diagonal cross-hatch, as pictured.

 5.    Sew the 5 – 2” strips of binding fabric together, end-to-end, for a straight-grain, French-fold binding; match raw edges together lengthwise and iron along the fold to crease.  Attach the binding to the front of the quilt, aligning the raw edges and sew.  Fold the binding over and hand sew to the back side of the quilt with a neat blind stitch.  A nice tutorial for this method is available here.

Thank you so much to all those who participated in the quilt along.  Be sure to share your pictures in our Flickr group.  Happy Sewing!