Monday, February 18, 2008

finishing your quilt top, part 2

Today we will be working on the borders....

cut out 430 squares 2.5"
yes, that's right, 430.
I think you may have 2 leftover, but that will be helpful when you are laying out your squares randomly.
(I know that is a lot of squares...please don't hate me. It'll be worth it.)

Sew the squares together making borders for the quilt.
The squares should be 2 deep on the bottom and the top.
The squares should be 3 deep on the left and right sides.
(Click on the photo to see the detail.)
These should go around the entire quilt.

Once the squares are sewn around the perimeter, add your solid border. This should be cut 6.5" x the length of your quilt.

Then, add one square border around the perimeter of the solid border and your quilt top should be done.

I'll show you photos of the completed quilt top when I am done. That's right...I can't even keep up with my own quilt-a-long. :)

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

i am impressed!

Leah said...

Wow! What a lot of squares!

Debbie said...

I'm excited. I have a quilt retreat this weekend and what a great way to while away some time while chatting....looking forward to a great quilt. This is just like taking a quilt class on my own time...thanks again!

Lissa Jane said...

Amanda Jean

I have two words to say to you...
"strip piecing", there is NO way I am gonna cut out 430 squares (mine will be more cause my quilt has 25 blocks) but I like the idea, and I'll strip piece the fabrics and work it out that way, if you are clever (which I am not) it wont look like you strip pieced petal!


take care

Lissa

Philigry said...

oh that looks like an awesome border. i bet it will be worth it. I can't wait to see it!

Mama Urchin said...

430, wow, that's a lot of squares.

Aunt "B's" Backyard said...

As you can see, I'm a newcomer. And, wow, what a place to jump in...430 squares!!! I think it's great of you to do what you are doing and I wish I had been able to start with you at the beginning. I need to do a star quilt for my daughter. Any ideas of a cool star for a 21-year-old? I will certainly be following you now.

Amy Jo said...

430??? WOW!! I'm kinda glad I messed mine up, I mean - made more squares - and don't need to add a border of that size. I will be adding a border, but not made up of 430 squares. Maybe I try the same concept, but on a smaller scale. Hmmmmm.......gotta think on that one.

Lina said...

430? Really? Wow. That's dedication.

*~hj~* said...

I love the colors amanda. I can't wait to see it quilted! ~hj

mikawendy said...

Oy vey, 430! Even if you cut them from strips to make separate squares, that's a whole lotta cutting!

And even if sewn by string piecing (not cutting threads between sets), that's a whole lotta piecing!

Bee said...

This is turning out so beautiful....I am catching up with my squares and will be on my way to piece the top together. This has been real fun thank you for putting this together:)

Heidijayhawk said...

i really love seeing that all together! amazing! 430? whoa!

kat | Taylor Made designs said...

holy gamoly! 430 squares! that is incredible. Look at you with all your beautiful crafted squares. You are really amazing and so are your quilts.

Jodie said...

It all looks so fantastic laying there like that.... I can't wait to see what it looks like all sewn up... I'm way behind with this one but when I catch up I'll let you know. BTW... I think the green quilt looks gorgeous, I just love green!

Jodie

Hernik Widowati said...

I think I'll do strip piecing like Lissa Jane, it's easier than making 430 square, just hope I can do that.....

dutchcomfort said...

OMG, 430 squares... this is really getting a fun-project! Still pondering on putting the star-blocks to come together with the sampler blocks.... If I wait too long to decide, I will never catch up however, 430... 430... 430......

Marcia said...

I signed on to make this quilt. I'm not going to let that 430 # get in my way. I do have a charm pack of the fabrics in my quilt. Hopefully I can layer those up and cut several at one time. I think I'm going to need a good movie to watch while doing this. It really is looking nice. Thanks for helping us to finish this up. Anyone who doesn't want to do all that piecing could just do solid borders and frame it in.

house on hill road said...

i thought about doing something along those lines on the x quilt, but now i am not so sure....430 is a lot! but it does look sooooooo good. really. i wish i would have had the time to make one.

Anonymous said...

Hi I'm so in awe of your quilts - they look so complex and beautiful. I bow down to your quilting prowess!

dee said...

I've been following along and this type of border is one I have used successfully several times in the past few years. People always think it takes a lot but I do the strip method and it's a breeze. You just have to think ahead a little to make your strip sets. I made a scrappy twenty-five patch mini the same way. I love the way your piece is coming along. Really pretty.

Roxanne said...

Wowza! That is going to be beautiful! Can't wait to see it, but no rush, really! :)

Katherine said...

Ahem. 430 squares? It's a good thing that you followed that up with photos of your amazing quilt top. You are a wonder, Amandajean. This looks even more beautiful than what I anticipated.

Anina said...

I love it all! I'm steadily working on finishing this one.

Anonymous said...

That is going to be a beautiful quilt.

I hope that you'll be leaving the instructions for the different blocks up in the sidebar for a bit. I just discovered your blog a few days ago and have decided to give this a try. I know that I would be 12 weeks behind everyone else... but I'd still like to give this a try and see how I do.

Beth said...

This border is lovely. You are so skilled at piecing your squares so that they are all lined up evenly. Do you have any tips or tricks for that? Do you cut your fabric one piece at a time or do you layer it? I don't know if my cutting mat and ruler are off but my pieces so often come out not quite perfect which is such a bother when I sew (and more bothersome when I look at my quilt). Maybe I just need to keep practicing. I'd love to hear your tips. Beth

Oiyi said...

That is so many squares! But the border will be so lovely.

Eva said...

TU BLOG ES IMPRESIONANTE
!!!!FANTÁSTICO!!!!
SALUDOS -PAMPLONA-ESPAÑA-

Gizmo said...

Your quilt is beautiful, as are the others throughout your blog. I will come back and visit often.

sulu-design said...

I love that I came to this post a little late, since it allowed me to read all of the comments above on that 430 square cutting job. You are one intense quilter, Amandajean! Go, go, go!

Lucy | Charm About You said...

I've finished my quilt top and am thrilled!
http://charmaboutyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/little-miss-motivated.html

Zmmzn said...

Hi Amanda Jean,

I have doing your first quilt along and am up to sewing the little squares together around the borders. How did you sew them all together? Did you do single rows and then sew them together in a long strip or did you sew pairs or 3 squares together first (depending if they are for the top or sides) and then sew those together to get the borders?
Thanks in advance for your advice.
Tamsin