patchy makes

QUILTING BASICS

Gather your supplies

• Walking foot

• Rotary cutter

• Cutting mat

• Square quilting ruler

• Long quilting ruler

• Matching sewing thread

• Sewing needle

• Thread

• Scissors

All measurements in inches.

Usual WOF for quilting is 40-42in or 101-106cm

Abbreviations

WR wrong sides together

RS right sides together

WOF width of fabric

HST half-square triangles

First things first

• Before you begin, read all the instructions for your chosen quilt through to the end. This will ensure you understand the pattern and have everything on hand.

• All fabric should be 100% cotton or linen, washed and ironed. You may want to colour-test coloured fabrics first to ensure they will not run.

• These quilts have been designed using imperial measurements. To maintain accuracy, our instructions are in inches, although the quantities of fabric are in metric measurements.

• Check all measurements carefully. All measurements given include a 1/4in (6mm) seam allowance unless stated otherwise. Stitch with right sides facing and press all seams to the dark side.

• It’s useful when you are constructing and laying out your quilt top to use a design wall. This can be a piece of flannel, batting or an old sheet that you lay your pieces on to view and move around, then fold up and put away when you are not working on the quilt.

Here’s how

How to finish

STEP 1 Cut and piece backing fabric to measure at least 4in (10cm) bigger on all sides than the quilt top. If you are having your quilt long-arm machine-quilted by someone else, please ask them what they require in extra width and length with the backing and batting, as it can differ from the standard 4in.

STEP 2 Cut the batting to the same size. This allows for the amount of both fabric and batting to shrink when quilted.

STEP 3 Press seams to the dark side. Iron both the quilt top and back.

With right sides of fabric facing out, sandwich batting between the quilt top and backing. A convenient way to do this is to lay the backing wrong side up on a large flat surface (you can tape it to secure). Place batting on top,