Beginner's Guide to Quilting - UK (2020-02)

5

Sew three blocks together to form a row
(Fig 1). Repeat to make four rows, then sew
these rows together (Fig 2). Make sure you
mix up the blocks, rotating some so you can’t
see the original block pattern (Fig 3).

QUILTING

6

Layer the two pieces of solid fabric
together and place your patchwork on
top, right side up (Fig B). Press the layers
together and then baste using your
preferred method to secure them together.

7

Choose one of the larger fabric sections
to start your Kantha stitching. Select a
contrasting coloured thread. Sew a running
stitch in lines, backwards and forwards,
covering the chosen section. Gather a number

ASSEMBLING THE BLOCKS

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01

02

03

of stitches at a time on your needle for extra

speed (Fig C). Your stitches can be quite large

and you can start and finish threads with knots

on the back because you will be adding a

separate backing. Try not to pull your stitches

too tight and make sure they lay flat, especially

at the end of the lines. Stitch a random

selection of fabric areas, from single squares to

longer strips in this way, using a different

coloured, contrasting thread each time.

FINISHING THE QUILT

8

Remove any basting threads or pins and

press the quilt from the front. Trim away

any excess fabric and square up. Place the

quilt on top of the flannel backing, right sides

together, and trim the backing to the same

size as the patchwork.

9

Pin together around the four sides and

then stitch around the outer edge using

a^3 / 8 in seam. Leave a gap for turning about

14in wide in the centre of one short side,

starting and ending your stitching about 8in

from the corners.

10

Snip off excess corner fabric, turn right

side out and press well. Pin the gap

closed and then hand sew using matching

thread and a ladder stitch or similar (Fig D).

11

Finish the quilt by tying the layers together.

Take a double length of perlé cotton and

sew a small stitch from the right side, through

to the back and up to the front again. Tie the

ends together with a simple reef or square

knot (Fig E). Repeat the knot, alternating the

direction of the thread ends (Fig F). Repeat

this process to add these ties all over the top

of the quilt, at each intersection and in the

centre of fabric areas with no Kantha stitching,

using different coloured threads throughout.