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

SPIRAL QUILTING

1

To a achieve a quilted spiral,

like we did, use a water soluble

fabric pen to mark the start of

your spiral onto your quilt top.

Draw on a couple of loops, not

just the very centre. Start quilting

using a free-motion quilting foot

with an open toe, always working

in a clockwise direction. Follow

the spiral line you’ve drawn, until

the spiral is well established.

2

With your needle in the down

position, switch your FMQ foot

for a walking foot.

3

While the spiral is still tight

set your stitch length at a

fairly short 2.0 then as your spiral

gets larger increase the stitch

size bit by bit until you’re at your

preferred quilting stitch length.

3.3 was used on the ombré quilt

and the hoop.

You will need

MATERIALS

QAssorted prints: sixty (60)

2½in squares

QScrap fabrics: four (4) 2½in squares

and four (4) 2½in x 16in (these fabric

scraps will not be visible in the

finished hoop)

QBatting: 20in square

QBacking fabric: 20in square

QOne (1) 15in embroidery hoop

FINISHED SIZE

Q15in diameter

NOTES

QSeam allowances are ¼in,

unless otherwise stated.

QPrint fabrics for the quilt top should

all be varying shades of the same

tone – we used blues.

QFMQ = free motion quilting.

PIECING THE PATCHWORK

1

Arrange your sixty 2½in squares in rows

with six in the top and bottom row, and

eight in rows between. Work diagonally from

the bottom left corner, from low to high

volume (light to dark).

2

Place your four 2½in scrap fabric squares

in the spaces in each corner.

3

Sew the squares into rows and press the

seams. Then join those rows together into

a 16½in square. Sew a fabric strip along each

side. The strips don’t need to go the full width

of the pieced square, as the corners will be

lost in the hoop, just place centrally along

each side before attaching.

QUILTING AND FINISHING

4

Place the backing fabric right side down,

then lay the batting and the quilt top

centrally and right side up. Quilt as desired

(see the boxout to the left to learn how to

quilt a spiral, like Susan did).

5

Using your hoop as a guide, trim your

quilted top into a circle, allowing for

sufficient excess to be folded over in the back

of the hoop and secured down.

6

Place the quilted piece centrally in the

hoop and use fabric glue to secure the

excess to the inside back of the hoop. Secure

a length of twine to the sides and hang the

hoop to finish!