Mini-Marathon Mystery, Part III Part III allows you to see the end of the tunnel! At the end of this part, the top will be completely pieced, but not necessarily done! You'll have to tune in to Part IV to see where this mystery leads you next. So, on with the show! |
 January 01, 2002 |
Let's begin by reviewing what you should have finished thus far. You should have your panel/fabric piece cut into four (or more, if it's large) equal pieces, and sashed with a 1/4" strip of dark fabric (which started as 3/4", but finishes at 1/4"). Next, you added a contrasting 4.5" border to the right and left sides. Here is a picture that depicts where you should be:
With the addition of two of the borders and the outdoor scene, it should be looking familiar. Can you take a guess as to what this is going to be yet?
OK, enough dilly-dallying around. Time to continue!
- For now, set aside the panel piece that you have made. We'll get back to it later!
- Take a good look at
the color choices you've used so far. In the
example used for this MQ, the panel is primarily
blue, with a pale yellow used for the border. It
is now time to choose yet another two pieces
of fabric (check out your stash!) to be used
as cornerstones in the border. For my example,
I'm using a blue to compliment the panel, and a burgundy red to contrast it. Notice that these
two colors also contrast the yellow border. You
can use any colors you want here, really. After
you select your two fabrics, then cut
one 22" strip of one color and then cut
another 22" strip of a second color. These
strips should be 2.5" wide. Here are my two
strips:
- Place these two fabrics right
sides together, then using a scant 1/4" seam
allowance, sew them together,
lengthwise. The height of this sewn strip set
should be 4.5". Press the
seam to one side (it doesn't matter which). Refer
to the diagram for an illustration of this.
- Cut the sewn
strip from step 3 into segments, that are
2.5" wide (and are also 4.5" tall).
Refer to the diagram for an illustration.
- Next, flip
every other segment upside down, as shown in the
diagram below.
- Using two segments, place
them right sides together, snugging
them at the seam. Since the seams were pressed in
one direction, the segments should
"lock" into place. Pin
these, then sew them together
using a scant 1/4" seam allowance AND making
sure that opposite colors are next to one
another. Press the seam to one
side (again, it doesn't matter which). Refer to
the following diagram for an illustration of this
step.
- Following the instructions in step 6, make 4 of the four-patch units: One for each corner of your quilt top.
- Now, to finish making the top
and bottom border for the quilt top. You should
already have two strips that are 4.5" wide
cut for these two borders (done in step 5 of the
instructions on Part II),
Take one of those strips and two
of the four-patches made in step 6 above, and assemble
the top border according to the diagram below
(using a scant 1/4" seam and being careful
to note the placement of the colors in the
four-patches). Press the seams
toward the border.
- Next, assemble
the bottom border in the same manner, using the
following diagram.
- We are going to now attach the borders. Take the top border and pin it, right sides together, to the top of the quilt top, being careful to line up the four-patches with the borders. Press toward the border.
- Lastly, pin the bottom border to the bottom of the quilt top, right sides together, being careful to match the four-patches with the borders. Press toward the border.
So far, here is what your project should look like:
Does this look familiar yet? If it looks as though you're looking out of a window toward the outdoors, then we've accomplished our goal!
Don't think we're finished yet, though! There are still a few tricks up my sleeve before we call this quilt top finished. :)
Ready for Part IV?
Click here!
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